The Entitled (The Entitled Duet 1)

I open up Tess’s boat anchor, or what she calls her purse. I need some Advil this morning. Shaking out three, I grab a couple bottles of water and go back to bed.

Her eyes are fluttering open. She sits up and bolts toward the toilet. I throw the water bottles on the bed so I can hold her hair back as she throws up all of last night’s wine.

“You okay?” I ask, stroking her hair as she sits up. Her eyes are still watering, and despite having puked, she’s so beautiful, I almost laugh at how bad I have it.

“God… I’m never drinking wine again.”

“Kitten, this happened last weekend.”

“I know. You know how I hate throwing up.”

“I do, baby.” I pull her into my arms, and her small frame feels almost fragile. I don’t like this. For some reason, unease shivers up my spine.

Kissing her forehead, I say, “I’m going to get you some Advil and order us room service. Then we are relaxing the rest of the trip. I want you to sleep, sunbathe, and get pampered.”

She smiles as she grabs her toothbrush.

“That sounds great. Let’s start with coffee and lots of bread. Maybe a banana.”

Smiling, I dial room service. I get a kick out of Tess’s diet. It mostly consists of coffee and bread. If I didn’t make her eat vegetables, she never would. I order us some real food—not only bread and a banana. Then I go to get her some Advil.

“Reed? Can you grab my birth control pills? I think I forgot to take one yesterday.”

“Of course. Where are they?”

“My purse.”

I grab the bag. “Here. The Advil’s in there too.”

She sits up, pushes her hair out of her face, and starts to look. I open up a bottle of Smartwater for her. She could certainly use the electrolytes.

“Thanks, babe,” she says, not looking up. She’s found the Advil and takes two, then goes back to digging inside her bag.

“What the hell?” Dropping her bag onto the floor, she marches past me to our suitcase and starts to rip the shit out of it.

“While you are destroying our clothes, can you hand me my sweats? Room service will be here shortly.” She throws me my sweats.

“Are you sure they are not in my cosmetics bag?” she says, frowning at me like it’s my fault she can’t find them.

“Kitten, go check and while you’re at it, put on a robe.”

There’s a knock at the door and I point toward the bathroom. She huffs but obeys. Waiting until she is safely in the bathroom, I open the door. I’m greeted by a friendly server and a frowning Brance standing next to him.

Brance brushes past me. “Not even a hello?” I yell after him.

Signing for the breakfast, I roll the cart into the room myself. I hear Tess and Brance in the bathroom and call out, “What the hell, you two? I know you’re gay, but I don’t like you in the bathroom with my girl.” Opening the door, I find Tess in a robe and all the shit from her cosmetic bag scattered over the bathroom floor.

“What are you doing?”

Her eyes shoot up to mine. “I forgot them, Reed! You rushed me so much, I fucking forgot them. And I already forgot to take them yesterday and the day before I think.” She’s clearly distressed because she is starting to pace.

“Somehow I knew this would be my fault.” I rub the back of my neck.

“Tess, you promised you would be more responsible.” Brance scolds. “One of these days you’re going to get pregnant, and I don’t want to hear any whining.”

Tess presses her fingers to her temples. “Brance, I can’t deal with you lecturing me right now.”

Stepping into the large bathroom, I say, “Okay, relax you two. Tess, you’re fine. It’s only a couple days. Brance, what crawled up your ass?”

Both of them stare at me. “I need coffee,” he grumbles.

I cup Tess’s face. “This is not the end of the world. You’ve been on the pill for years. You’re not going to get pregnant.” When I rub my nose against hers, she softens and relaxes into me. “Come on. I want to have a good day. Let’s eat breakfast.”

She holds me tight. “I’m sure you’re right.”

“That’s my girl.” Kissing her plump lips, I whisper, “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She sighs, and I almost bend down on one knee to propose. But I don’t, even though I can’t wait to slip that ring on her finger. The timing is all wrong. Brance is being a drama queen. Tess is stressed out. So instead, I kiss her again and pull her into the dining area in the suite.

Brance is sitting, drinking coffee, and helping himself to the bacon and eggs along with the pastries I ordered. Thankfully, there is plenty because I’m famished. Tess goes straight for the coffee.