Page 64 of Please Hate Me

Cold porcelain pressed against my hands as I continued to spew yellow bile into the toilet. Each time I thought I was done, the queasy feeling would return with a vengeance. Blood ran from my nose, sweat dripped from my forehead—I was a fucking mess. I should have known falling asleep with Cameron was a bad idea, but at least I didn’t wake up beside him.

Thump, thump, thump...

My hand shook violently as I reached out and flushed the toilet. Once the evidence was gone, I shut the lid and rested my cheek against it as I caught my breath. There was no use in getting up if I was just going to vomit again, so I closed my eyes, willing the nausea to subside.

Thump, thump, thump...

What was that noise? I perked my ears, listening through the faint rustling of leaves outside. Maybe there was a bunny nearby?

The thumping picked up, growing louder with every beat. What the fuckwasit?

As the mysterious noise drew nearer to the bathroom door, I realized:Someone was home.

A cold sweat formed on my brow. I tried to get up, but my knees were too weak.“Fuck. Fuck.Fuck!”

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

A knock came at the door.

“Just a second!” My voice was hoarse.

“... Are you decent?”

My heart stopped when I heard Lucian’s voice. He was probably pissed that I was vomiting all over his bathroom, and now he had come to scream at me. This was the worst. I was the worst.

“Mason.“ He growled my name like a warning. “Answer the damn question.”

“I’m naked!” I groaned, though Cameron’s button-down was still very much on my body. I woulddefinitelyhave to wash it before giving it back.

My stomach flipped as my mind raced—I was going to throw up again. The doorknob jiggled as I lifted the toilet lid once more.

“I don’t give a fuck if you’re naked, open the damn door.”

“Lucian—” My sentence was cut off, replaced with more retching.

“Mason!” he barked, shaking the door harder.

My head spun as I wiped my mouth again before leaning against the wall behind me. There was no way I could unlock that door even if I wanted to.

All of a sudden, the door stopped rattling, and I wondered if Lucian had decided to save his anger for a later date. As I breathed a sigh of relief, the door swung open and Lucian appeared, bobby pin in hand.

He was dressed in a white button-down that probably used to fit, but was now about a size too big. The black-cuffed sleeveswere rolled up, showcasing some of his tattoos. Heavy ink wrapped around his forearms like vines, constricting him from elbow to wrist. One small tendril curled around the back of his hand—I bet that one hurt like a bitch. His hair was pulled back in a low bun, with one coiled strand hanging in his face.

My pulse quickened as he approached with heavy, menacing steps. I braced myself, preparing to be the target of his anger. His stormy eyes bore into mine as he knelt just inches away from me.

I was in trouble. He was going to scream at me for disrupting him. This was disgusting. I was so fuckingdisgusting.

My bottom lip quivered as I took in the stern look on his face. I was expecting the worst.

But... the worst never came.

Lucian’s expression softened as he reached up to the sink and grabbed a toothbrush before loading it with green toothpaste.

“Brush.”

I stared at the extended toothbrush like it was a completely foreign object. Was this a vicious attempt at mocking me, or was Lucian genuinely being... kind?

Either way, I was desperate to wash the bitter taste of bile from my mouth, so I cautiously accepted his offer.

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