Page 76 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
My stomach started churning, and a wave of nausea hit me out of nowhere.
“Well, I’d like to make out with you again, but I fear the tequila is catching up with me at the moment.” I jolted forward, then jumped to my feet and ran to the bathroom. “Good night, Archie. Thanks for everything.”
I pushed the door closed as the most overwhelming need to vomit took over my body. I leaned over the toilet and heaved several times, hoping like hell that he’d left my room.
Another couple of heaves, and the door opened.
“Don’t come in here. It’s a crime scene,” I groaned.
A deep chuckle came from behind me as his big hands gathered my hair and he reached for an elastic on the countertop and tied it up on my head. “Stop being dramatic. We’re friends, right? This is what friends do when one friend drinks a ridiculous amount of tequila.”
I flushed the toilet just as he handed me a wet washcloth, and I wiped my mouth with it and sat so that my back was leaning against the wall.
He sat beside me and wrapped an arm around me so that my head could rest on his chest.
“Don’t say that word. I’m never drinking again.”
He handed me a Gatorade, and I looked up at him with confusion. “Do you have magic powers, Archie?”
He chuckled. “Nope. When I heard the first heave, I went to grab you a Gatorade from the kitchen.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry I can’t make out with you now.” I peeked up at him, my eyes heavy.
He snorted as he moved to his feet, taking me with him.
He carried me to bed and found a tee in my top drawer and handed it to me. “I’ll turn around while you put that on.”
“Always the gentleman.”
“You’re drunk, Winnie. Put the shirt on,” he said as he showed me his back.
I unzipped my dress and let it fall to the floor before slipping the tee over my head. “I’m dressed, but I want you to know I usually engage in a very detailed skin care regimen, but I don’t feel like tonight is the night for that.”
“I agree.”
“I need to brush my teeth.” I sighed as he turned around and lifted the comforter for me to slip in. “Get in bed. You can do all of that in the morning.”
“So bossy,” I chuckled as I moved beneath the comforter.
And then he did the most surprising thing of all.
He turned off the lights, kicked off his shoes, and slid into bed beside me.
“What are you doing, Archie?” I said, my voice coming out hoarse.
I was a weird mix of exhausted, drunk, and emotionally charged because I was so happy that he was in here with me.
“I’m going to stay with you in case you get sick during the night.”
“You can’t stay away, can you?” I whispered.
“That’s not untrue. Go to sleep, Winnie.”
I rolled onto my side so I was facing him, and I tucked my head beneath his neck. “Sorry for the vomit breath.”
He chuckled before kissing the top of my head.
And I listened to the sound of his heart beating, and sleep finally took me.
