Page 108 of Fake It For Love (Faux Love)
CLAIRE
My head was pounding. I opened one eye and groaned. The sun was out. I had no idea how late it was. I reached out to touch Ryan like I did so often. The bed was empty.
I opened both eyes and realized I was alone. The night flooded back to me. Pain hit my heart. The throbbing in my head was nothing compared to what my heart felt like.
My mouth was dry, which made everything just a little worse. I rolled out of the bed and almost puked. I wasn’t sure if it was just the hangover or the icky feeling of losing a man I was certain I had fallen in love with.
I made my way into the bathroom and cringed at my reflection. I looked like hell. I had makeup smeared all over my face. My hair was a hot mess and my eyes were bloodshot. After Ryan ditched me on the beach, I proceeded to drown my sorrows in liquor. All the liquor. Every kind of liquor.
“Shit,” I said.
I took a shower in the hopes it would help me feel better.
I dressed and went in search of sustenance. I went to the juice bar and ordered myself one of their promised hangover cures. With a smoothie in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, I headed for the pool area. I needed sun.
I needed a lot of things, but I hoped the sun and smoothie would bring me back to rights.
I stretched out with my sunglasses shielding my eyes. I sipped the smoothie that wasn’t exactly yummy, but it felt like it was helping.
“Hey, Claire,” someone said.
I opened my eyes. “Hi, Katy.”
“Where’s Ryan?” she asked. “You guys are always together.”
“He’s sleeping in,” I said.
She laughed. “Yeah, last night was crazy. Is the hangover cure working?”
“Not yet,” I said. “I think I might need two.”
“Me and you both. Have you talked to Norah at all this morning?”
I smiled and shook my head. “No. We agreed we wouldn’t talk for two days. She and Tony were supposed to be leaving for that private island retreat this morning.”
“I’m so jealous,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to go to one of those.”
“Tony’s family knows the guy who owns the island,” I said.
“It’ll be a nice getaway for them.”
“Yes, it will,” I agreed.
She walked away and I closed my eyes once again. I could feel my humanness coming back one slow minute at a time. The sun felt good on my skin. I could feel it bringing me back to life. I probably should have slapped on some sunscreen, but I just didn’t have the energy.
Just when I was about to doze off, Derrick stopped at my chair. “Where’s Ryan?” he asked.
I was trying not to lose my cool. “He’s sleeping,” I said.
“Keep him up late?” he teased.
“Yes, that’s what happened,” I said sarcastically. “It couldn’t have been the partying.”
“I’m up,” he said.
“Congratulations.”
“Is he going to be up soon?” he asked.
