Page 16 of Please Open Me
Fuck.
I blinked twice as nausea rose in my throat. My lips tingled with an unpleasant warmth, but I tried toignore it.
“Ten,” I said out loud, trying to set myself straight.
“It’s a good thing you’re cute, because you can’t count for shit,” Mattie teased. “Six more. Keep going.”
Okay. Just six. Even better.
I took a deep breath, puffed out my cheeks, and kept going.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
Fuck.
My knees wobbled on the way back up. I had to shuffle my feet into position to keep from falling.
Mattie’s dark eyes widened with concern as I pushed through.
“Hey–okay, that’s enough,” she said, her voice far softer than usual.
But it wasn’t enough. I had seven more. Or fifteen more. Or something–I couldn’t figure it out.
So I went again.
“Five,” I muttered. The count came out warbled even to my own ears.
Mattie squatted behind me, arms out like she expected me to fall.
Lucky fucking guess; that’s exactly what I did.
A cool breeze rushed up my back as I collapsed against her. She pulled me close, and we both dropped to the mat. That’s when I realized I was panting like a dog in heat, totally unable to catch my breath.
“Okay. No more. We’re done,” she ordered, now looking more irritated than worried.
I didn’t like that.
“I’m—” I held up a finger and sucked in a breath. “Fine.”
“You arenot.” She pressed her fingers to the side of my neck. “Jesus fucking Christ–where’s your water?”
I thought for a second. “On the kitchen counter.”
After a meeting with my agent and producer, I’d fallen asleep and nearly missed the gym entirely. It was a wonder I had my shoes on the right feet.
“Are youkiddingme?” Her jaw dropped, and I shook my head.
“I thought I’d buy something if I needed it.” The second I said it, I realized my wallet was also on the counter—right next to the stainless steel bottle Ishould’vebrought. The one filled with ice, doing no one any good.
Drawing my knees to my chest, I pressed my palms into my eyes.
What the fuck was wrong with me today?
My whole body hurt. I was exhausted. And I couldn’t tell if I wanted to cry or vomit, maybe both.
