Chapter 76

“Drugs are an escape for her,” he went on.

“Paula looks like death,” I said.

“She needs help. This is her way of asking for it.”

“My poor mother. I don’t want her to see Paula this way. I don’t know if she’ll be able to handle it.”

“You need to get Paula some help.”

“It’s not enough that her fuckwit boyfriend is three sheets to the wind in my mother’s house right now. He isn’t helping.”

“Marshall doesn’t seem drunk. I was talking to him earlier when you were with your sister.”

“He looked like death warmed over.”

“I think he was engrossed in his football match. Can you blame him?”

“What do you mean?”

He winked. “Muscle guys in tight uniforms, body contact, and slapping each other’s asses.”

I laughed. “Only you’d think of sex at a time like this.”

“What better way to alleviate stress.”

I smiled. “I love your sense of humor. I’m glad one of us has it.”

“Come on. I’ve got fish and kale to sauté and you’ve got a sister who needs her loving brother.” 26