Falling From Disgrace

“I know but we have med school coming up and then internships and our residencies; that’s going to take a long time. I would want to wait until I’m done before I get married and I don’t know if Jason will.”

The light turns green and I press on the accelerator while I say, “I’m sure Jason will understand. He knows how important being a doctor is to you.”

Rachel does not get a chance to reply. There is an ear splitting explosion and everything goes black.

Chapter 1

Adrianna Adello’s first thought upon waking up was, “What the hell is that smell?” Her second thought: “Where are my pills?”

She reluctantly opened her eyes, squinting from the morning sunlight sneaking in through the slivers of space between the blinds on her bedroom window, and then recoiled from the large, wide-open mouth that was exhaling morning breath literally an inch from her face.

It seemed Adrianna’s guest had forgotten about her no sleepovers policy and not only had he overstayed his welcome, he was now on her side of the bed affronting her delicate senses with his stale whiskey and cigarette scented snores. Irritated with how her day was already starting, she shoved Ryan firmly in his shoulder and told him to get up before she dragged herself from the bed and shuffled her naked body to the adjoining bathroom. Ryan mumbled something and then continued to snore.

Adrianna’s head was pounding, her back was sore, and her stomach was clenched from nausea and pain, as it usually was when alcohol aided her in getting more than four hours of sleep. She ignored it; however, knowing that in just a short time she would be given respite. The bathroom lights were left off but she was still able to navigate her way to the toilet first and then over to the sink to access the plastic bottle that held her salvation. Two white, oval shaped pills fell into her shaking hand before they were washed down her parched throat with water from the faucet. She instantly felt calmer and more alert. Her eyes averted the mirror, studying the white porcelain of the sink instead, as she brushed her teeth and ran a wet washcloth over her face. She took a few deep breaths before heading back into her bedroom to rid her sheets of Ryan and his halitosis.

Ryan’s arm stretched across the bed in search of Adrianna when he finally woke and when he came up with nothing his head lifted to find her pulling on a black tank top and red boy shorts.

“Why don’t you get your gorgeous ass back in this bed, woman?” he asked with a pat to the mattress.

“Why don’t you get your ass out of my bed and head on home,” she retorted. “You know I don’t do sleepovers, Ryan.”

He laughed and stood, bringing his arms above his head to flex his stiff muscles. His morning hard-on was prominently on display as he stalked over to where Adrianna was standing near her dresser, and he wrapped his long arms around her waist. Before he could plant his lips on hers, Adrianna brought her hand up to cover his mouth with her palm.

“You have some serious morning breath.”

Ryan shook his head and laughed again and huffed, “You are such a guy sometimes, Adrianna,” and then left her to use the bathroom.

Adrianna heard him relieve himself while she stripped the sheets from her bed and then sprinted across her room when she perceived the telltale sounds of teeth cleaning.

“You are not using my toothbrush,” she admonished while leaning against the doorframe. Ryan winked at her while he continued to do just that and then leaned over to spit a white, frothy mass into the sink. At least he had the sense to rinse it when he was done.

“You said I had bad breath,” he said nonchalantly, like it completely justified his actions. “I thought you’d want me to do something about it.”

“Yes, I wanted you to go home first though,” she said, returning to her bedroom once again with Ryan following.

He grabbed her and turned her to face him, pressing her body firmly against his naked one. Without an excuse to push him away this time, she let him kiss her, his tongue making several deep sweeps through her mouth.

“Better?” Ryan asked and then pressed his closed lips to Adrianna’s once more.