It was the sunlight that woke him up. God, was it that late?
Rob had only been home for 3 days, and he was already exhausted. Between family time, catching up with friends, and recovering from the aftermath of catching up with friends, he had barely had an hour to himself.
Luckily it was Monday. No one did anything on a Monday right? Just lunch with Josh, a beer if he could taste one without gagging, but that was it. He still had 6 more days, one night alone couldn't hurt.
He rolled over in bed and did his best to ignore the remains of Saturday night in his gut. Two day hangovers? At 25? At this rate he'd have to give up drinking by 30. He glanced at his alarm clock, the same clock that had been there since he was a boy. 11:30. Fuck. He clawed lazily for his phone, there were 5 texts waiting...all from different people. He groaned and buried his face in his pillow.
Not today. Just lunch. That's it.
He swung his legs out of bed and limped his way to the door. Not bothering to grab a shirt, he swung his bedroom door open and made his way to the bathroom. He could hear movement downstairs, a lot of movement. He quickly slid into the bathroom before anyone could yell for him. He started the shower, and as it warmed up he sent a quick 'I'm gonna be late, I don't wanna hear it, fuck you' text to Josh.
The shower seemed to brighten him up slightly, very slightly. As he was drying off there was a knock at the door.
"Rob!" yelled an annoyingly chipper voice, "Hurry up we have a big day today."
And just like that the brightness was fading.
"What are you talking about?" He asked with audible unease.
"Your aunt and uncle want to meet us at the cabin for the night." she answered, still chipper.
He hesitated for a moment, "Which aunt and uncle?"
"Dave and Kristy."
Rob's head fell dramatically and hung above his chest. He couldn't handle a Dave and Kristy night. Talk about menaces to society.
"Mom, I can't." He groaned as he continued drying off, "Not tonight."
"What??" She shrieked, "Why not?"
"Because I'm drying inside." He replied.
"But it'll be so much fun!" She said sounding giddy.
"I don't doubt that," Rob sneered, "But you may have to take me to the hospital after Dave forces me to drink 13 shots of fucking sambuca!" He pulled on his boxers and opened the door to find his mother leaning against the door frame.
"Plus shouldn't all of you deviants be working?"
"First of all, don't curse at me you little fucker." She said and punched him in the chest grinning. "Second of all it's the long weekend dummy!"
Rob buried his face in his hands and let out a muffled groan. Of course, and so many people to see.
"Normally I'd be all over it, but I'm really dying," he said with just the right amount of distress, "I need a night to myself to recharge, plus I saw them on Friday."
Her expressed softened, she stuck out her bottom lip and made a pouty face.
"Awe my poor baby has so many people that missed him." She teased as she stroked the side of his face with her hands.
"Fine, we'll have all the fun without you." She said with a playful hint of smugness.
She turned and started descending the stairs, "But if your sister dies of sambuca poisoning it's on your hands!" She declared.
He let out a sigh of relief and returned to his room, with a slight spring in his step.
---
It was a late lunch, as Josh reminded him multiple times, but it was glorious. He managed to stomach a beer, which ended up making him feel a whole lot better, so he stomached 3 more. That plus a hot meal and suddenly he was feeling something like his usual self.
He felt good enough to go for a walk along the river, which turned into a long and tipsy think on a park bench. The breeze was wonderful, and he felt a small ping of regret in his stomach. He probably should have gone to the cabin. He had hardly spent any time with mom and dad; there was still plenty of time, but he was only home twice a year.
He checked his watch, nearly 6, where did the day go. He started his walk home, felling a little sorry for himself.
---
He returned to an empty house. The SUV was gone, and so was the booze. He threw a couple of frozen mini pizzas in the microwave and combed the fridge for any forgotten soldiers. Jackpot. One singular coors light. He rolled his eyes, and then shook his head at himself. *They all thought you were a hungover piece of shit don't be a brat.* He collected his bubbling cheesy bread and slinked his way to the basement.
This was yet another reason he loved coming home. Rob's dad was an absolute sports fiend. The game day theater system he had set up in the basement was breathtaking. Two enormous couches that spanned almost the entire length of the room. No arm rests of course, how else would one lay down. Instead he had hand built individual tables, perfect for beer, wings, and frozen mini pizzas. Rob always thought they were a bit flimsy, he had lost track of the amount of times someone had bumped one mid-celebration and nearly coated the carpet in booze and wing sauce.
He constructed his table and settled in. It was the ultimate Netflix dungeon for lazy days in, and since he had the place to himself he was free to watch whatever embarrassing show he pleased. He was one and a half mini pizzas, and 2 episodes of love island in when he felt his eyes start to close.
---
