“All set, Curtis has a bike for us.” Willow stands.
April, who hasn’t been in on the conversation, frowns at us as we all stand. “We’re leaving already?”
“We’re going down to Broadway.”
“Cool, then.” She leads all of us through the crowd and out the door of the club. When we get outside, we get two cabs and head for Broadway. After that, the night is mostly a blur of pretending to pedal, drinking too much, and laughing so hard my stomach hurts.
_______________
I wake up slightly disoriented, and groan when I hear Cobi chuckle and feel the bed move with the sound. What could he possibly think is funny when my head is pounding and my stomach is twisting is anyone’s guess.
“I’m guessing from that sound you don’t feel so good.”
“Please don’t talk.” I pull my pillow over my head to try to block him and the light seeping through my eyelids out.
“You won’t feel better until you get some food in your stomach and take something for your head.”
Even the mention of food makes my stomach roll. “I’m good. I just need to sleep.”
“It’s three in the afternoon. You’ve been asleep since I picked you up last night and put you in my truck.”
Wait what? I don’t remember that. I pull the pillow away and look at him. “You picked me up last night?”
“You called and said you were ready to come home and have angry sex.”
Okay. Apparently, I shouldn’t drink so much ever again, because I don’t remember doing that.
“Thanks for coming to get me.”
“Anytime, baby.” He touches his lips to mine.
“You seem okay,” I observe.
“Do you mean I don’t seem pissed?” he asks with a grin, and I nod. “I’m not mad. I know you guys didn’t stay in the club long. I also know you were having fun after you left, so it’s all good.”
I frown. “You know we didn’t stay long? How do you know that?” I question.
“I have my ways.”
My frown gets deeper. “Did you follow us?” He shrugs and I sit up. “Seriously?”
“With shit that’s gone down recently, I needed to make sure you were okay.”
“But following us?”
“Did I intrude?” No, he didn’t, but still…. “No, I let you do your thing and kept an eye on you from a distance. You didn’t even know I was around.”
“Your insanity knows no bounds,” I whisper, looking into his eyes.
“You’re mine to protect and to take care of.”
“I like how you make being insane seem so rational.” I roll my eyes then cover my face when the action hurts my head.
“Go get in the shower. I’ll make you something to eat and get you some pills.” He kisses the top of my head then gets off the bed.
“Just so you know, when I’m not feeling like I might die, we’re going to continue this conversation.”
“Just so you know, everything I do, crazy or not, is because I love you, baby, with everything I am.”
My body gets warm and my heart melts. “Don’t be sweet when I’m annoyed with you.”
“Get your beautiful ass up so I can feed you,” he orders.
My eyes move over him and I sigh. He looks way too hot wearing just a pair of black running bottoms and nothing else.
I want to say something sassy in return, but nothing comes to mind, so I just pick up one of the pillows from the bed next to me and toss it in his direction. It doesn’t even come close to hitting him, and he laughs as he leaves the room. Maxim wanders in the open door, and when he sees I’m up sitting on the bed, he jumps up next to me and licks the side of my face.
“Hey, buddy.” I rub his head, and he rests his weight against me, causing me to fall back against the mattress. I laugh, pushing him away so I can get up, and his whole bottom half wobbles and shakes with excitement as he stands on the bed. “I need a shower, big guy. We’ll play after I get out.”
He lets out a loud woof then bounds off the bed and out of the room. I head into the bathroom and go right to the shower, turning it on. When I get to the sink to brush my teeth, I gasp at my appearance. I look ready for Halloween. My hair looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket, my eye makeup is smeared down under my eyes onto my cheeks, my face is pale, and the red lipstick I wore last night is smeared across my mouth.
“Beautiful,” I huff in disbelief, grabbing a wipe to clean the residue of makeup off my face. “He’s so full of it.”
“Talking to yourself is a sign of mental instability.”
I jump in place then glare at Cobi where he’s leaning against the doorjamb, watching me.