“Fine. Let’s get you to bed.”
I wrap an arm around his waist, and I guide him toward his bedroom door.
“I can get him,” Zac offers, standing.
“Already got him.”
I open the door and help Rob inside. He falls forward, and I have to try to catch him and end up having to drag him over toward the bed. He places his arms on the bed and manages to climb onto the bed rather awkwardly.
“You can sleep in your clothes, in your shoes. I’m not taking them off. You’ll have a hangover in the morning.”
“Nah. I protected myself.”
“Oh, yeah? How so?”
“Drank a bottle of water with each bottle of beer. Perfectly hy-dro-dated!”
“Great. That’s just great.”
I start to walk away.
“Wait.”
I turn to see him flailing about. Maybe trying to reach for my hand? I’m not sure.
“Why aren’t you here with me?” he asks.
“Here?”
“In bed. Come on. Sleep with me.”
Has he forgotten that we broke up? Or is he that drunk? I really hope, for both of our sakes, that he doesn’t remember this in the morning.
“You need to sleep. Actually sleep. In the morning, we can talk if you want.”
Why the hell did I say that?
I turn back to the door. Once I reach it, I look back. Rob’s already passed out.
I shut his door behind me and walk over to Zac, who still sits on the couch.
“He still loves you,” Zac says.
I shake my head. “I don’t know about that. We never said the ‘L’ word.”
“Doesn’t change his feelings.”
“Yeah, well, he broke up with me, and drinking like this isn’t good for him.”
“Of course not. I’m going to get rid of all of the booze in the place before going to bed.”
“You are?” I ask, surprised.
"His mom's an addict. Rob's always been afraid to have more than two beers because he didn't want to get drunk. He didn't want to risk becoming an alcoholic. Afraid that he inherited his mom's addiction personality. If that's what he needs to keep himself on track… we can get alcohol elsewhere, the rest of us guys, and we might not have more parties for a bit, and we'll take care of him. If you won't take him back, he's going to be in a bad way for a long time, I think."
“I think you’re delusional. He broke up with me, remember? And I… I don’t know if he’ll want to be back with me.”
“But you still love him, don’t you?”