Sylvia's fingers trembled over her phone as she pulled Joey's number. She hated the thought of calling Joey. Her thumb hovered over the call button, hesitating just for a split second.
She took a deep breath and pressed call. The ringtone seemed to drag on. Anna's voice floated behind her. "Sylvia…" she said softly.
"Leave me alone, Mum!" Sylvia snapped, spinning on her heel.
*****
Joey groaned as the phone vibrated insistently. His eyes blinked open, the sunlight filtering through the half-drawn blinds, casting jagged shadows across the chaos of the Orchard mansion's living room. Bottles still clinked precariously on the tables, a stray feather boa from the previous night's debauchery draped across the sofa.
He stretched lazily, trying to shake off the fog in his brain, the remnants of last night's celebrations still clinging stubbornly.
