“Here. Drink this.” Hugo handed me a large glass of cold water, and I started by throwing the Ibuprofen back, then drank the entire glass in one go.
It wasn’t the most elegant thing I’d ever done.
“Are you all right?” Hugo’s lips twitched.
“Fine.” I grimaced. “Sorry. I bet this isn’t how you planned your night to go.”
“Helping two drunk twenty-something year old women into their houses at the end of a night while I’m totally sober? Believe it or not, it’s not the first time that’s happened.” He sat down next to me and peered over at me. “Although you two were far more amusing.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that,” I muttered. “Oh, God, I am going to want to die tomorrow. And I have to have a meeting with your mother.” I buried my head in my hands.
“Not to mention the fact that I left with both you and Cait will likely be the talk of the village by lunchtime. Actually, make that breakfast.”
“Hugo. That is not helping.”
“You aren’t even going to remember this in the morning.”
I sat back up and looked at him, pointing. “I am not that drunk. I will, unfortunately, remember this.” I paused. “Probably.”
He smiled. “You sure?”
“Not at all. It’s all bravado.” I sighed, leaning my head back.
“If you’re all right, I’m going to head home.” Hugo pushed off the sofa.
I nodded and stood with him. “I’m good, thank you.” I followed him to the front door. “Hugo?”
“Hm?” He turned back to me.
“Thank you for making sure I got home safely.” I leaned against the wall, biting the inside of my lower lip. “And, um, I’m glad we were able to clear the air a little earlier.”
He raised his eyebrows, and the hint of amusement that flashed through his eyes manifested with a quirk of his lips. “Me, too, munchkin. Come here.” He pulled me into him and wrapped his arms around me.
Oh.
“Don’t tell anyone I hugged you. I’m not a hugger,” he muttered into my ear as I circled his waist with my arms.
“I’m not promising anything,” I mumbled against his very firm chest.
“That’s fine. I’ll just tell you tomorrow that you promised not to.” He pulled back and looked down at me, lips curling to the side. “If you even remember that I hugged you in the first place.”
“I doubt I’ll forget this.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” Stupid Sophie. I cleared my throat and glanced away. When my gaze met his again, my fingers twitched against his back. He knew exactly what I’d said, and I knew in that moment I’d never live it down.
Maybe that was why I rolled onto my tiptoes and kissed him.
His lips were soft and warm, and this was very, very wrong.
I shoved myself away from him and cupped my hands over my nose and mouth.
No, no, no, no.
Why had I done that?
Wine!