Page 140 of Sincerely, Butterfly

“Photo time.” I grab her hair, holding up her head. “Smile!” I take the photo, making sure only to get our faces and nothing else, before I let her head drop back to the trunk. Shaking out the photo, I place it to the side to deal with her.

Not feeling like dragging her heavy body, I roll it out, letting it drop to the ground with a hard thud.

I push her a few more times, rolling her body to the side of the street.

I go back and grab the photo, as well as the butterfly. “There we go.” I place it on her lips with double-sided sticky tape and tuck the photo into her shirt. “All done. I gotta get going. Long drive back. But you take it easy, you hear? Byeeeee.” I wave as I head back to the Jeep.

Pulling away from the side of the road, I turn around and head back towards New Orleans.

As fun as tonight was, I’m over it. This girl needs sleep.

I’ve never had a hangover before, but from what the internet says, electrolytes and foods that aren't heavy on the stomach shouldhelp cure one. So on my way to Callie’s house, I grabbed Gatorade and some avocado toast that I know Callie likes from the cafe down the street.

When I woke up this morning—or more like afternoon—I texted her asking how she was doing. I didn’t see the text she sent that she got home safe until after I dropped Rebecca off.

Her reply was a photo of her with her face buried in her pillow, looking like death. Poor girl. Another reason why I don’t see the use for drinking.

You feel great for the moment, but the end result is much worse than before.

I’d be cool with trying weed, though. From what I’ve read, you don’t get any lingering side effects.

Oh no, I’ll get the munchies and take a nap, the horror.

As I walk up to Callie’s house, I pause, chewing on my lip. Callie said she wasn’t sure if the guys were home or not, and she wasn’t leaving her bed to check.

I guess I’ll just have to find out for myself.

The perks of being besties with Callie is now I have the code to their house. No that doesn’t mean I can just come over whenever I want without Callie being here; they still have cameras in the front and back.

It just means more chances of running into the guys.

After what happened at the party, I want to see how much more I can push them. I want to get a rise out of them.

I’ve stopped stammering in front of them, no more blushing like a damn burnt lobster. Now I want to see just how far I can go.

Putting the code into the gate, it opens for me. I make sure it’s closed before heading up to the front door. This one has another code, which I know as well.

Once I’m inside, I look around and listen for any signs that the guys are here. Only I’m met with nothing.

Having no excuse for why I’d be looking around the house, I head up the stairs to Callie’s room.

“Knock knock.” I knock on the door, slowly opening it just in case she’s indecent.

“Shhhh,” she groans. “Not so loud.”

Chuckling, I step inside and find her buried under a pile of blankets.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, trying not to smile.

“Like death,” she mutters into the pillow.

“I brought offerings.”

“What kind?”

“Avocado toast and Gatorade.”

“What kind of Gatorade?” she questions.