The Sins of Our Fathers

Tequila & Bob

“Morning!” Nicole called from the kitchen making Astra groan.

Slowly rising from her bed, she winced at the light streaming into the bedroom attacking her eyeballs. Why did she have to drink so much?

Falling out of bed she hit the floor with a loud thud and a few curse words. Rising from the floor Astra stretched her arms out looking around her room to find a mass of hunk sleeping in her bed.

Did they sleep together? Running her hands through her bird’s nest of hair eyes wide in panic. She knew she drank way too much last night, but she didn’t think she drank enough to end up sleeping with Oliver.

Looking around her room she quickly slipped on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top tip toeing out of the room and away from Oliver.

“Morning.” Astra groaned walking into the kitchen to find a cheerful Nicole making breakfast.

“How are you in such a good mood?” Astra asked in disbelief.

“High tolerance I guess.” Nicole slid a plate of bacon and eggs over. “Eat up it will help.”

“How do you know it will help?” Astra asked her one eyebrow lifted in question.

Nicole stopped her cooking her back now to Astra.

“You know.” Nicole slowly turned around spatula still in hand. “I’m not really sure. It’s like it just popped into my head.”

“Oh well thank you for breakfast.” Astra said looking down at the feast before her.

Something didn’t really add up, her gut screamed that Nicole was lying, but Astra ignored it digging into her breakfast. Who was she to judge Nicole, she herself had discovered she knew how to make alcoholic drinks and coffee without any memory as to how?

It was as if her body still remembered everything her brain did not. What is that? Body memory? No that doesn’t sound right. Oh wait! Muscle memory. Yes, that sounds right.

“Morning.” Oliver walked into the kitchen rocking only a pair of sweatpants that sat dangerously low.

A goofy grin spread across his face like he had won the biggest stuffed animal at the carnival.

“Morning.” Nicole said pushing a plate of eggs and bacon across the counter toward him.

Astra avoiding his gaze kept her head down shovelling food into her mouth attempting to avoid having to speak to him. She knew she would have to face him sooner or later, but in that moment she couldn’t. She wasn’t ready to face the music and find out if they had taken things to the next level or not last night.

After their breakfast they each took turns getting showered and dressed before heading out for Astra’s grand tour of the town. Even after the delicious breakfast and hot shower Astra still needed to sport some sunglasses to block out the evil sun’s rays from her sensitive eyes and throbbing head.

Stepping out into the sun Astra groaned rubbing her temples for much needed relief. Keeping it simple she wore a pair of black jean shorts that cut off mid-thigh, a black tank top, and a pair of sneakers. Her hair no longer a rat’s nest but instead it was now tossed up into a messy bun.

The only thing keeping her from falling to the cement and curling up into a ball was her shades that thankfully was blocking out any ounce of sunlight from her aching eyes.

She couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed that she seemed to be the only one sporting a hangover after last night’s events. Oliver and Nicole must have been heavy drinkers before getting stuck in this town.

Nicole had a pep to her walk happily swaying her hips humming some tune to herself. Even her outfit was way too cheerful for someone who had drunk the amount she had last night. Just looking at the bright rainbow cropped top, and hot pink leggings was giving Astra a headache.

First place she headed was to the Starbucks making everyone a much-needed coffee before she took Nicole through the rest of the town.

Glancing over at Oliver made Astra groan in irritation. How could someone look so good? He had drunk more then she had and still looked so yummy. Astra couldn’t help but smack her forehead at that thought. She needed to stop undressing the tall mountain of a man and focus on the tour.

There he stood on the other side of the counter, shades covering those mesmerising eyes that promised all the love in the world and yet burned with a danger that if not careful would get you hurt.

He wore a pair of ripped jeans and a tight black t-shirt that hugged his torso showing off his well-built body.

DING!

The dinging sound of the coffee machine nearly made Astra squeak in surprise quickly adverting her eyes from Oliver and back to the coffee. She needed to stop undressing him with her eyes, they were just friends and nothing more.

“Come and get it while it’s still hot!” Astra shouted pushing two steaming hot cups of coffee across the counter toward Oliver and Nicole.

Taking her cup in her hands she lifted it to her nose inhaling deeply. A small smile curving her mouth her eyes closed enjoying the wafting smell filling her nostrils. This is all she needed to fix her hangover and worried thoughts. Caffeine truly is her best friend, especially right now.

Glancing over at the two that silently stood on the other end of the counter enjoying their coffees. Internally groaning she couldn’t help but want to run away and avoid having to do this tour. All she wanted to do was burrito herself with her blanket and hide in her room all day with big pot of coffee and a mountain of bacon.

Alas the universe is not that kind, and she had no choice but to move forward. Taking a big gulp of her coffee once they all finished their cups it would be time to start the tour.

“That is pretty much everything to see in this town.” Astra said turning around to look at Nicole.

The tour had gone surprisingly better than she had thought. Oliver kept quiet during the whole tour leaving Nicole to ask questions and chat with Astra. The tour seemed to be keeping Oliver from bringing up last night.

This allowing Astra to avoid the inevitable conversation about what happened last night. Maybe the universe had her back after all?

“Oh wait!” Astra spun around just in time to see the wacky inflatable man flailing around.

“Nicole this is Bob.” Astra said shooting her hand out toward the wacky inflatable man.

“Bob?”

“Yup. Me and this wacky dude go way back.” Astra smiled widely.

When Astra first woke up here Bob was one of the first things she had bonded with. There was no one around, and Astra had begun to slowly lose her mind with no one to talk to.

One night after way too much tequila she took to the streets stumbling around loudly singing 500 miles by the proclaimers in a thick Scottish accent between swigs from her bottle of tequila. It wasn’t long before she came across Bob in all his flailing glory.

“Aye wee bastard.” Astra slurred her fake Scottish accent thick.

“Yee may call me Astra.” She swayed a goofy smile on her face.

Astra began copying the wacky inflatable man’s moves singing louder as the two moved around to her music.

“Nice moves.” She exclaimed. “I think I will call you Bob.” Astra lifted her bottle to Bob with a nod before taking another swig.

She spent all night with the wacky inflatable man. They danced, she sang, and inevitably she broke down letting all her anger and sadness out.

She was all alone in this deserted town, no memory or anything to explain why she was there or what happened. Even though Bob is not alive it had helped for her to let it all out cementing her bond with that loveable whacky inflatable man. After that wonderful night Astra dubbed him the name Bob.

“I spent fourteen days all alone before Oliver found me.” Astra said shrugging her shoulders.

She wasn’t embarrassed by her odd relationships with these objects because they are what helped her not go completely insane during those lonely fourteen days.

“I’m glad I walked into that Starbucks.” Oliver said, his voice making Astra jump slightly.

She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she had completely forgotten he had come with them on the tour. She had been so focused on the tour and not thinking about what did or didn’t happen last night that she completely forgotten about him.

“I am glade too.” Astra looked up at Oliver a small smile on her face.

It is not like Oliver wasn’t attractive, he was like a walking talking God, but she didn’t really know him. Yes, she considered him a good friend already, but a lover was another story.

Astra couldn’t explain it, but she knew in her heart and soul that for someone to be more than a friend she needed to really know them. There had to be a trust built, and an unbreakable bond.

“Well since the tour is over why don’t we head back for some food and drinks.” Nicole clapped her hands loudly making Astra jump breaking her eyes from Oliver.

“Sounds great.” Astra said with a big smile.

More drinking? She internally rolled her eyes, she wasn’t sure if she could handle another night of drinking like last night, but she was not going to admit that out loud to these heavy weights.

“Let’s head back then.” Oliver said his jaw clenching tight as he looked over at Nicole.

Turning his back to them he started to head back in the direction of the apartment building. The tension was thick and suffocating. She didn’t know what had caused it, but Nicole and Oliver didn’t like each other.

They thought they were hiding their dislike well, but Astra could see it plain as day. With a quiet sigh Astra began following Oliver back to the apartment. She didn’t have to look back to know Nicole was following behind her.

This was going to be an interesting night. Maybe more alcohol could help mend Nicole and Oliver already rocky relationship. Or at the very least maybe Astra could get them drunk enough to spill their guts and the reasoning behind the tension.