Page 15 of Loved By You

“We've got to get this drunk home.” Ali gestures to Ria.

My phone beeps and I know it will be the driver, so I walk the girls out, practically carrying Ria and help her into the car.

“Can I give you my number so you can let me know you got home safe?” I ask Ria as I lean into the car, making sure she has her seatbelt on. Despite how drunk she’d seemed, the icy airseems to have sobered up slightly and she rifles around in her purse, finding her phone, unlocks it and hands it to me.

I save my number and send a text from her phone to mine before I hand it back to her. “Let me know when you get in, okay?” I lean in to kiss her cheek, but as I do, she turns to look at me and our lips crash together. We freeze, our lips pressed together, neither of us moving. Her vanilla scent wraps around me, and I swear she lets out a little moan.

Fuck, I wanna climb in this car with her and take her home.

She eventually breaks the kiss, looking embarrassed, tucking her hair behind her ear and clearing her throat. “Sure, ugh, thanks for tonight and the car. Next time I drink tequila I'll think of you.”.

“You better, sweetheart.” I wink. “Graham, get my girl home safe. Okay?”

My girl? Why the fuck did I say that?

“Sure thing. Sir,” Graham assures me. I shut the car door, tapping the roof, Graham taking that as his signal to pull away from the curb into the New York traffic. A feeling of emptiness creeps over me as I watch the Black SUV drive off.

Letting out a slow, deep breath, I feel Brad and Harry walk up next to me.

“Fuck, you’re in trouble,” Harry declares, slapping my back.

And I know I am. Ria is back in my life, and this time I’m not letting her go.

Chapter Seven

Ria

I open my eyes, my head feeling groggy. I swallow. The stale taste of tequila making me heave.

Water, I need water and Advil.

I reach out my hand to find the bottle of water I always leave next to my bed, my hand knocking my phone to the floor as I move.

Groaning as I try to retrieve it, squinting one eye open, I feel a shooting pain in my head.

Tequila is the devil's drink.

My phone lights up. 10.08 am. Shit, I can't remember the last time I slept in this late.

When I manage to focus on my phone, I have a couple of messages from Anne saying she hopes I had a great night and a photo of her making cupcakes with Lexi, while Elle is in the highchair covered in yogurt. The girls are so lucky to have them, and so am I.

Then I notice a message from ‘Jack’. I bolt upright and my stomach rolls. A groan comes from under the duvet and I look over to see Ali and Gabby are also in my bed, spooning.

“Don't make sudden movements, Ri. It hurts my head,” Ali mumbles.

“Excuse me. Why do I have Jack's number, and why does he appear to have mine?” I say, louder than necessary. My heart races and my head thumps in time with each other.

Shit, shit. Did I embarrass myself last night?

“You gave him your phone, and he added it and then you kissed,” Gabby tells me, barely moving her mouth.

“Sorry, what?” I shriek, leaping out of bed. “We kissed?” I press my hand against the wall to steady myself, the room spinning because of this killer hangover.

Ali sits up and rubs her eyes, hair everywhere and squinting to look at me.

“If you are going to be this hysterical, this early in the morning, I’m gonna need a Starbucks. Who wants?”

“Me,” Gabby mumbles, sticking a hand in the air. Ali reaches for her phone and I know she's about to DoorDash our order.

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