Page 57 of Time To Learn

“Go away,” Icry.

“Yes, do go away, Kristian,” Trish calls out while she does her best to make sure I don’t get puke all over my clothes and strands ofhair.

“Ugh, this is so humiliating,” I groan as dry heaves take over mybody.

My best friend chuckles behind me while rubbing my back. Her touch is soothing, just like always.

“Aww, don’t worry,” she coos. “I’ve got you. Hey, this is just like old times, eh?”

I narrow my eyes at her poor attempt at a joke and clench my teeth.

“Does that mean you’ve got a spare toothbrush and toothpaste in that clutch of yours?”

“Of course,” she laughs. “Old habits diehard.”

I nod and spit out, trying to free my mouth of the horrible taste.

“I’m never drinking again,” I groan. Keeping my movements slow and steady, I stand. My legs are shaking like mad, and I feel so tired. I’m afraid I could fall asleep right next to the toilet.

Eeww.

Trish helps me up. “Just like old times,” she smiles as she repeats her words, winking atme.

“Ugh. I’m too old for this crap,” I groan.

She turns to flush the toilet, a firm grip on myarm.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, and then I’m taking youhome.”

Yawning, I turn around, but freeze on the spot when I find Kristian leaning against the door, hands in his pockets. My eyes trail over his chest, up to his hair, and I swallow hard when I take in his tousledhair.

It’s got just-got-shagged written all overit.

“Please don’t tell me you just heard that?” I whisper, locked in place by the worry in hisgaze.

His frown doesn’t let up even when his lips tip up at the corners.

“No comment,” he whispers.

Oh, somebody shoot menow!

“Dead,” I groan, slumping back. “I’mdead.”

Trish’s laughter pulls me out of my stupor. Still drunk, and still very much mortified, I take a couple of steps, but then the room spins.

“I’ve got you,” Kristian says as he clamps a hand on my arm, pulling me close to him. I try to turn my head, squirming in hisarms.

“Don’t,” I beg. “I’ve got vomit breath.”

“I don’t care,” he rumbles, his breath fanning across my cheeks.

He smells sogood.

I blink a couple of times as he turns me around, keeping his hands on my shoulders. His hold is firm, but gentle, when he leads me to the sink. I’m taken by surprise completely. How can a man like him not care about vomit breath?

I don’t understand it atall.

I don’t understand anything anymore.