Page 16 of Loved By You

Nerves flutter in my stomach as I open our message history and sink to the floor, my back resting against my bedroom wall as I read through them.

Ria

Home, thank you for your fancy driver, duck he’s cute ail thinks he's a daddy

Jack

LOL I will let Graham know. Glad you got home safe. I hope the hangover isn't too bad in the morning, DRINK WATER please.

Ria

Okay daddy!! I don't want to brush my teeth. I want to keep the taste of tequila and you in my mouth forever.

Jack

Careful calling me that, sweetheart *winking emoji* *laughing emoji* Happy to give you another taste. Just say a time and a place.

Ria

My house tomorrow, bring a bottle *winking emoji* *eggplant emoji*

Jack

It's a date sweetheart winking emoji

“Fuck my fucking life. I told him I didn’t want to brush my teeth because I wanted to keep the taste of him and tequila in my mouth and sent him an eggplant emoji. Oh, and I called him Daddy. Fuck!” I groan, getting up off the floor, stumbling to the bed and flopping face-first onto it.

“Smooth, honey, real smooth,” Ali says, laughing

I look up, my untamed hair falling over my face. Ali is sitting up in bed wearing big black sunglasses, rubbing her temples with her fingertips.

“Look.” I pass her the phone. “And I invited him over for more tequila. Oh God, my first night out as a single woman, and I’moffering myself up on a plate. Why am I like this? Why didn't you stop me?”

Ali lifts her glasses while she replies, looking at me with her bloodshot eyes. “Don't blame me, boozy. You know what you get like on the tequila and you had three more after that body shot.”

The memory of licking salt from Jack’s body floods my mind and I feel like I’m going to be sick. “Fuck” I shout. “I can’t see him again. I’m such an embarrassment.” I cover my face with my hands, shaking my head and groaning as I get up off the bed.

“A shower. I need a shower. I need to wash away the memories of last night. Do you reckon if you scrub hard enough you can wash away regret?” I’m speaking so fast, I sound like I've been put on x3 speed.

I’m spiraling

“Ri, indoor voices,” Gabby mumbles from under covers.

“Gabs, I'm having a crisis here. Jack now likely thinks I’m an alcoholic who doesn't brush her teeth.” I begin pacing the room. My stomach rolls.Shit, I need to eat something to soak up this alcohol.

“I'm sure he doesn’t think that. Just text him back and say you don’t remember anything and that drunk Ria and sober Ria are very different people,” Gabby says as she sits up, rubbing her eyes.

“Yes, good plan.” I take my phone back from Ali, and just as I start to type a text, my doorbell chimes.

“Wow, that DoorDash was quick,” I declare as I head for my bedroom door.

“I haven't ordered yet,” Ali replies, sounding confused.

I walk down the stairs, stumbling as I trip over something sharp. Looking down, I notice the heels I was wearing last night.

“Damn shoe,” I mutter, kicking it down the stairs. Heading for the front door, weaving in and out of moving boxes, I haven'tunpacked, I open it to be greeted by a man holding three large Starbucks bags and a tray of what smells like vanilla lattes.

“Ria is it?” The driver asks with a smile far too big for this time of the morning.

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