Page 44 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
Blinding pain behind her eyes caused her to curl up on the floor beside the toilet, clutching her stomach. “I’m never drinking again.”
“Everyone says that, but they rarely stop.” Nex brushed hair off her clammy forehead. “Are you done?”
“I think so.” Kat tried to sit up.
He helped her sit against the bathtub. “You need food.”
Kat made a face. “Ugh, no.”
“French fries are a hangover miracle.”
Fast food was a rarity, but she could this one time. Kat relented. He set his hand on her back and massaged with his thumb, helping relax the tense muscles.
“I’m going to shower,” Kat muttered. Nex helped her up.
Gripping her throbbing head, Kat winced as she stumbled to the sink and grabbed mouthwash. She thoroughly cleaned out her mouth with a toothbrush, then leaned against the counter, clamping her eyes shut. Everything was too bright.
Nex grasped her shoulders and turned her to the shower. “Get in. I’ll get clothes for you.”
Kat didn’t want to think or move much, so she nodded. He left the bathroom, and she got in the shower. Once finished, she peeked out, surprised there were clothes stacked on the counter. She hadn’t heard him come in.
Concerned about what clothes he brought, she scrunched up her nose, but when she picked them up, she almost smiled. Leggings and a big, warm sweater. Exactly what she wanted today, to be covered and wrapped up.
She got dressed and wandered into the living room. Nex was seated on the couch, a fast-food bag and take-out cup sitting on the coffee table. She still couldn’t believe how fast he moved.
Kat shuffled over, placing her hand on her forehead where the headache was most powerful. She plopped down on the couch and closed her eyes to ease the pain. When she opened them, Nex held out the cup and painkillers.
“The caffeine in the soda will help. You can stand to be unhealthy for one morning.”
Kat took the pills with soda, sipping out of the straw slowly to test how it would hit her stomach. Better than she thought. Nex handed her the bag containing french fries, and she nibbled a bit at a time. The food settled her stomach, and she ate a little faster. Pain from the headache faded, but the horrible feelings from last night returned. Strangely, they’d gone away enough for her to sleep peacefully, but now they were back. Tears spilled down her face.
“Come here.” Nex opened his arms.
Too upset to worry how he’d take it or what position it would put them in, Kat lay between his legs, placing her head on his chest. Nex pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over her before wrapping his arms around her.
They stayed like that for the rest of the day. And the next. Kat called into work at Nex’s insistence, and he convinced her to eat more ice cream doused in chocolate and whipped cream than she ever had. Most of the weekend was spent watching TV and crying. Nex never left her side.
Sunday night, Kat fell asleep on the couch, so Nex carried her to bed. He lay facing her.
Her eyes fluttered open and welled with tears. “I don’t want to go to class tomorrow. I have class with him and rehearsal with both of them.”
“I understand why you don’t want to go,” Nex scooted closer and brought his hand up to her cheek, “but you should. Don’t give them power. I’ll come with you, but you shouldn’t miss class, and you definitely shouldn’t miss rehearsal. It’s important to you. Don’t let them take that away from you.”
“They’re going to talk about me to the rest of the cast.”
“Kitten.” Nex tucked her head under his chin. “Trust me when I say it’s not an issue. I took care of it.”
“You keep saying that, but I don’t know what you mean.” Kat rested her cheek against his chest.
“Don’t worry about what it means. Trust me.”
Something in his tone and presence gave her confidence to go the next day. She was tense as she walked in the door, though Nex was there with his hand on her back. She searched the room for Jason, but he wasn’t there. Whether not knowing where he was made her feel better or worse, she wasn’t sure.
Kat sat in her usual chair, and Nex sat beside her, leaving his hand on her back throughout class while she took notes. She thought she wouldn’t be able to stand anyone touching her, but Nex had a way of touching that didn’t leave her uncomfortable. Not one dirty joke left his mouth the entire weekend. Although his display of affection may have looked like more to someone else, he was careful, never going too low on her back, never doing anything inappropriate. Kat hadn’t known he was capable.
Class finished, and her stomach twisted as they made their way toward the theater. Entering the building, Nex wrapped his arm around her waist.
Backstage, Kat almost turned to leave, but Nex urged her forward. Other students whispered, and she was terrified to know what they whispered about. Kat thought she might throw up when one approached her.
