The Beat of Safiri Bay Read Online Free Page B

He slumps forward. I think of putting on his safety belt but dismiss that thought. What if he needs to be sick again?
    I stop twice on the way to his house. Geez, if he carries on like this he might dehydrate. As I pull into his yard, I spot what must be Karin’s car under the carport. I grab his keys and press the remote button. The garage opens slowly and I drive in. As quietly, as possible, I turn the key in the door that leads to the kitchen through the garage and all is dark inside. Karin must be sleeping. I switch on the kitchen light and walk to Matt’s room. He is still in the Jeep. I quickly open the covers of his bed and walk back to the garage. Good, he is still awake, but just. He just about falls out of the Jeep and we walk slowly and systematically to his room. “I want to be sick,” oh no, not again. I almost carry him to his bathroom and he falls to his knees in front of the toilet. Okay, I am out of here. As I leave the room, I feel guilty for wanting to leave my friend when he clearly needs me. I grab a glass in the kitchen and go back to his bathroom. He is lying on the floor half-asleep. I fill up the glass with water and help him to sit up “drink this,” and I hold the glass to his lips. Man he is a sorry sight when he is drunk. He sips the water and I help him up. We walk to the bed and I help him down onto his back. I go back to the bathroom and wash my hands and face. 
     
    I sit there in his armchair while he is rolling around on the bed. I wish he would just go to sleep so I can stop worrying. He doesn’t so I pick up his Gibson and start playing softly. Seventh chords have a very calming sound to them and I sing along softly as I play Tracy Chapman’s ‘Baby can I hold you’. He says something but I don’t understand a word. Maybe I should stop, no, he won’t remember any of this anyway. I play a few more songs and at last, his breathing is soft and rhythmical so I stop. My eyes feel so heavy and I walk to the open plan lounge. The couch looks very comfy so I decide to spend the night there. Just in case he needs me. I am too tired to drive in anyway. I’ll text my dad in the morning. I lie awake thinking of everything that happened during the day. Must be the most action packed day I’ve had in a while. Wow, is my life that boring? I need to get out of this village. With that thought, I drift off.
     
    I suddenly have this eerie feeling that someone is watching me. I open my eyes and a pair of ice blue eyes are drilling into mine. What the hell? I sit up faster than I thought is possible. “I see your foot is better,” what? Why is he in Matthew’s house? Oh no, Matthew, is he all right. I get up quickly and stumble over my own feet. He catches me and frowns “had a bit too much last night did we?”
    “I don’t drink,” I say through gritted teeth and take his hands off me. He walks to the kitchen. “Coffee?”
    “No thank you,” I will get it myself but I need to check on Matt first. As I walk into his room, I hear the shower running. Ok good, at least he is awake. I hear Karin’s voice and turn back to the lounge. “Lane, good morning,” she gives me a hug and kisses both my cheeks. Geez she is so affectionate it makes me nauseous. “Have you met my brother Alex?” Have I met him? What a question.
    “Not really no,” I say without looking at either of them. So Matt has two cousins visiting. Did he say cousin or cousins? I don’t know. It doesn’t matter; they are both here now anyway. “Lane this is my baby brother Alex, Alex this is Matthew’s friend Lane,”
    “How do you do?” he holds his hand out for me. I take it reluctantly.
     
    My stiff hand freezes in his. His hand is so warm it almost burns. He looks at me with his luminous blue eyes. He releases my hand and smiles at me. Boy, he is hot. I need to get out of here. As I am about to leave I hear Matt. “Good morning everyone,” I turn around to find him looking as fresh as ever. “Good