Three’s a Charm

The banging on the door sounded like kettle drums in Lauren Henderson’s head. She pulled the pillow around her ears to shut out the noise only it just got louder.

“Go away,” she shouted, cringing as sound reverberated through her skull. That would teach her to drink too many appletinis.

“Lauren, I know you’re in there.” Her friend Marcia’s voice had all the soothing qualities of a screech owl. “I’m not leaving until you open this door.”

Muttering curses and imprecations, Lauren dragged herself off the bed and stumbled to the front door, turned the lock and threw the door open. “I’m up, okay? Now go away.”

Marcia pushed her way inside and shut the door. “I think it’s great you decided to flash the neighborhood. You might want to brush your hair and put on some makeup first.”

Lauren squinted her eyes open and looked at herself. Naked from head to toe. Great, just great. She plodded back to the bedroom and grabbed her long T-shirt from beside the bed where she’d dropped it. Last night putting it on had seemed more effort than it was worth.

She opened one eye and stared at Marcia, too perfectly dressed and put-together for the night they’d just had. “How come you’re not hungover and looking like trash?”

“Because I stopped after two of those headbangers and drank iced tea.” She tucked her smooth blonde hair behind one ear with a nail polished with hot pink enamel. The emerald stud in her lobe winked in the sunlight. “Unlike you, my friend, who tied one on bemoaning your birthday, the lack of available men and the reasons why all the good ones got away.”

“Crap.” Lauren raked her fingers through her thoroughly disheveled hair and ran her tongue around her mouth. Her garbage disposal would probably taste better.

“Yup. That’s exactly what you look like. We’re going to fix that right now, though.”

“You’re going to shoot me and put me out of my misery?” Lauren looked at her friend hopefully.

“Better than that. I’m giving you a birthday present.”

“I told you I’m not celebrating anymore. I passed that stage,” Lauren pointed out.

“So this is an exception.” She pushed Lauren toward the bathroom. “Go shower and turn yourself into a human. I’ll make coffee. Go! Now.”