Meanwhile, Dave was in the backseat of his friend Morrison's car, head pounding, stomach churning, on the verge of vomiting when Laurent's call came through.
The previous night, he had gone drinking with Morrison, gotten thoroughly wasted, and hadn't even made it home. This morning, Morrison had to drive him to finalize the divorce with her.
He had vomited several times the night before, with no hangover medicine, no sobering soup, no one to wipe his face with a towel, no one to help him to bed and watch over him.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to dull the pain as he picked up her call.
Her impatient voice came through the line, laced with frustration:
"Why aren't you here yet?"
Dave opened his mouth, trying to say something, but his stomach churned violently, and he nearly threw up. He couldn't get a word out.