Page 46 of Brassy Bigwig

I never sleep this late. I must have been a lot more intoxicated than I thought I was. I should have already picked up on that by the massive pounding in my head, but it seems my hangover has left me both physically and mentally sluggish. I’m shocked to find I only have two text messages since last night and even more surprised just one of them is from Shelby. Unlocking my phone, I pull up my messaging app and open them, starting with the one from Shelby at two-thirty this morning.

Shelby: Reed told me I should apologize for being such a dick. But I’m not really that sorry about it. I don’t like when people hurt my best friend. I just want you to be careful.

I smile softly at my best friend’s words. Shelby is goofy and sarcastic ninety-nine percent of the time, but every now and again, she says something meaningful, straight to the point, and exactly what I need to hear.

Me: I know you do, and I love you for it. I’ll be home in a bit.

The second text was from my mother.I groan as soon as I see her name.

Genevieve: Hi, sweetheart. I wanted to see if you’d like to grab some lunch with me today? It’s been a while since we’ve gotten together, and I miss you.

I take a deep breath and try not to roll my eyes. I have a love-hate relationship with my mother and can only take her in small doses. But she’s right. It has been a while since we’ve seen one another. I give it some thought and come to the conclusion I am in no shape to deal with her today, but I respond with an alternative option.

Me: I can’t today. Plans with Shelby. What about brunch tomorrow?

Immediately, I see the three dots appear at the bottom of the screen.

Genevieve: That sounds wonderful. I’ll call around today and make us a reservation somewhere. 10:00?

Me: See you then.

As I hear footsteps approaching, I put my phone back into my clutch and tuck the bag in between my leg and the chair.

D puts a tray down on the table between my chair and the one next to it. As he does so, in addition to coffee, I also see a bottle of water and some pain medication. The thought he’s putting in to taking care of me right now is very sweet. This is the guy I met in Greece.

“I brought you some ibuprofen, in case you needed it.”

“Yes, please. I don’t know what possessed me to drink as much as I did last night. It was stupid.”

Really? You can’t think of one reason?

“I think I have a bit of an idea why. And I am sorry, again, for the way I treated you yesterday.”

“I really appreciate that,” I admit. “But I need to take some of the responsibility, too. Plus, Shelby is also somewhat to blame.”

We both laugh, knowing the wild party girl she is.

“How did you sleep?”

“Fine,” I confirm. “Um, thanks for… putting me to bed.”

I scrunch my nose, hating that I had to be taken care of. I pick up the bottle of water and pain medication as he speaks.

“It was my pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed sleeping under the same roof last night. I’m hoping we can do it again sometime. Soon, perhaps?”

I nearly choke on the water as I swallow the pills down. The dark and dangerous look in his stare is back, making me squirm in my seat. My breathing increases, and I can feel the blood in my veins warming up as it flows to the place between my legs I’ve fantasized about him touching over and over again for the past month.

The corner of his mouth curves upward, and I know he knows if he were to touch me down there right now, he would find I’m nearly drenched already.

“There’s… still a lot I need to think about,” I explain, placing the bottle of water back onto the tray and picking up my coffee.

“Mmhmm.”

He rubs his hand over his chin. Distracted by his fingers, all I can think about is us in the bathroom last night. For the first time, it hits me that he stopped it. Not me. Nor did I have any intention of stopping it. If it weren’t for the strength of his willpower, I probably would have let him fuck me over the bathroom sink.

Oh my god, how hot would that have been?

Clearing both my throat and my mind, I speak again.

---