Losing Control by Desiree Wilder Page A

you doing?”
    “I know, isn’t it crazy? Do you know who this is?” I said and looked at Rick. I was in an alcohol daze, smiling drunkenly.
    “Yes, Gia, I know who it is, that’s not what I meant. Sorry, Rick, Gia has to go bye-bye now. Go find another girl to take advantage of.” I was pulled away from his body. “Gia, look at me.” She slapped me across the face. “What the hell did you take?” I didn’t know what she was talking about. The room started spinning.
     
    ***
     
    I opened my eyes. “Gia?” I heard Dana. “Oh, thank God. Gia, are you all right?”
    “Dana, I’m fine, chill out. What the hell?” I said, looking around, half dazed.
    “Fucking Rick drugged you, that’s what the hell!” she yelled. I think she was starting to cry. It took me a minute to process what she just said.
    “Drugged me? How? When? I didn’t take any drugs.” I was confused.
    “He put it in your champagne. Someone saw him. Luckily you had only taken a few sips, so you’re gonna be okay, but shit, Gia, you scared me half to death!” She was scaring me.
    “Oh my God,” I whispered. “That’s fucked up.”
    Dana half laughed. “Yes, Gia, that is fucked up.” Then she looked up at someone and said, “Thank you, she’s back. She’s gonna be okay.”
    “Just relax for a bit, Gia!” Dana scolded me as I tried to get up.
    Jo and Brittany suddenly appeared. “Hey, Gia, welcome back.” Jo sat beside me.
    “How do you feel?” Brittany asked.
    “Good, I think,” I said. “I’d like to get up, though.” I felt like an idiot laying there with a bunch of people staring at me.
    Jo reached her hand out. I took it and she and Brittany stood me up. “Slow and steady. You okay?”
    “I think so,” I said. “I think I need something to eat, though.”
    “I think we all do. Let’s get out of here,” Dana said and we left some bed in the VIP bar.
     
    ***
     
    “How are you feeling, Gia?” Jo asked after we had eaten.
    “Actually, pretty darn good!” I said, and I did.
    “Yeah, Ethan said you’d be fine in about an hour,” Brittany said.
    “Ethan?” I said, surprised.
    “Yes, and you should see what he did to Rick. I don’t think we’ll be seeing his band around here ever again!” I could tell Brittany was impressed.
    “Is that who you were talking to when I was waking up?” I asked Dana.
    “Yes, he stayed there until he knew you were gonna be okay. He was scared shitless, Gia. He kept blaming himself. Poor guy, he’s got it bad for you.” She smiled at me. “You’ll be able to thank him soon enough,” she said. “We’re meeting him and Trey and a couple of their buddies to watch the concert, just like we’d planned.”
    “Okay,” I said, knowing by the way she was looking at me there was no other choice. “Can I still drink alcohol tonight?” I asked, not knowing if I could face Ethan sober.
    “Yes, just take it easy, okay?” She was serious.
    “Okay.” I knew I’d better, too. “Can we go freshen up before we head up to the VIP viewing area?” I bet I looked like hell.
    They all assisted me when we got to the VIP bathrooms. Between the four of us we had makeup, hair product, eye drops, breath freshener, and lip gloss. I felt like a sexy beast again. Now for a drink, and a cigarette to calm my nerves.
     
     
     

Chapter 12
     
     
    Ethan
     
    “Hey, man. You still alive?” It was Trey.
    “Yeah, what time is it?”
    “Three o’clock. You missed the a.m. meeting by about four hours.” He laughed, “Must’ve been a long night, Gia looked pretty spunky, though!” What? He saw Gia?
    “Come over,” I said and hung up. I jumped in the shower.
    The last time I was in here was with Gia. We washed each other’s hair and looked at each other naked for the first time. If she were here right now, I wouldn’t screw it up like I did then. I hoped she was going to give me another chance tonight.
    “C’mon, Sleeping Beauty, get a move on!” Trey hollered.
    I jumped out of