Page 67 of Scrubbing In
Heading off to the bar, arms linked, Jace’s eyes follow them. But my fuzzy brain is easily distracted by Julian’s fingers dancing over my hip. Beaming, I look up at him and pull him down to kiss me again. “Wanna sneak off to the bathroom?”
“And that’s our cue to call it a night,” Sylvie declares. Pushing her chair out, she helps Mina down.
My sister hugs me tight, whispering in my ear, “I love seeing you this happy.” Before I can reply, she and her wife make their way through the crowd with waves tossed over their shoulders.
“How much have you had to drink?” Julian teases me.
Pouting, I stroke his stomach right above his waistband. “Enough for me to revisit the back hallway discussion. I’m not sure I can wait until I see you again tomorrow.”
“I can make sure Quinn gets back to the condo if you guys want to head out.”
We both turn to Jace. We’d been so lost in each other that we forgot that he was standing there. He widens his eyes in question.
“No, that’s not fair to Quinn. She’s here for her brother, too.”
Speaking from behind Jace, Quinn says, “Please don’t punish yourselves on my account. I’m sure JJ would appreciate going home with you. You know, so he doesn’t have to sleep on the couch.” She rolls her eyes.
“Quinn, no?—”
Interrupting her brother, she insists. “I’m serious.Go.We can have lunch tomorrow before I leave.”
Jace and Quinn wander down the sidewalk in the direction of the parking lot when an Uber arrives for Charlie, Julian, and myself.
In the dark backseat, I’m sitting in the middle with my legs hooked over Julian’s muscular thigh. Wrapped in his arms, I’m sneaking my fingers under his shirt to run along his side.
Charlie bumps my shoulder, interrupting my wandering fingers. “Mama, nothing freaky better happen while I’m sitting next to you, you horny bitch.”
Julian coughs out a choking laugh at her teasing comment. I guess I wasn’t being as stealthy as I thought.
“I should have sent you home in your own Uber,” I huff. Flopping back into the seat, I give my friend a nudge to her ribs with my elbow. She pinches my thigh back, then we erupt into a fit of giggles.
“I promise to be on my best behavior.” I rest my head on Julian’s shoulder with a contented sigh when our laughing dies down. “Besides, I ended up getting to spend the night with my man.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Leena
Cracking open bleary eyes,a water bottle and pain killers sitting on my night stand come slowly into focus. I lift my head and squint. I don’t understand right away why it's farther away than I’ve become accustomed to since Julian has taken up residence in my bed. Rubbing my scratchy eyes—surprised to find them free of mascara—I turn to look at his side of the bed.
Groaning, I take in the sinewy expanse of Julian’s back. He’s laying on his side, facing away from me, because I’m starfishing face down in the middle of the bed, crowding him to the edge.
Passing out in the Uber was not how I had hoped last night would end. But it appears that is exactly what happened because I can’t remember anything after saying I’d behave.
I flop onto my back on myemptyside of the bed, wincing at the dull throb in my temples. I drag my hands up to massage them, only to feel the fabric on my head. The silk bonnet I wear to bed is sitting in its place.
Movement next to me causes my head to turn. My rolling over—or groan I made moments ago—must have roused Julian from slumber because he rolls onto his back too, lifting his head to look at me. He greets me with a small chuffed laugh and lifted brow. He opens his arm to me in silent invitation.
With a mortified titter, I cuddle into him. “What happened last night?”
“You mean you don’t remember passing out in the Uber, trying to climb out on your own when we got home, and almost falling face first out of the car?” He can’t disguise the mirth in his voice. My groan has him openly chuckling. “I carried you inside and helped you to bed,” he murmurs against my forehead before pressing a kiss there.
“And washed my face and put my bonnet on, too,” I grumpily tack on. Then suddenly, I push up on my elbow. “Charlie?” I ask, tone urgent.
“She’s okay. I made sure she got to bed with water and medicine, too.” He gently pulls me back into his side.
“I’m usually the one helping everyone to bed, making sure they’re well hydrated with more water and pain killers.”
“You can’t always be the person taking care of everyone,” he tells me.
