Page 9 of Love Off the Rocks
“The shower is all yours.” He brushes against my backside as he tries to pass in the small space. “Sorry, it’s a little cramped in here.” He lowers the towel from his face, and as I turn to move out of his way, our eyes meet.
His face whitens as my stomach plummets anew.
“Mags?” he asks.
“Dev,” I breathe, then lower my head to vomit again in the sink below.
5
Dev
Mags is here.
My Mags.
The girl I’ve thought about every day since she left after graduation and I moved to NYC.
What in the hell is she doing here?
She must work for the Seattle company. That can be the only explanation.
I hold her hair back as she throws up into the sink. It still just as silky as I remember.
I run my fingers through her soft strands as her body convulses and another stream of vomit spews from her mouth.
Not exactly the romantic reunion I’d imagined over the years.
The stench of vomit mixes with whatever Brittni sprayed on her, making me want to gag as well. I close my nose and try breathing through my mouth to lessen the effect. If I ever have any hope of a future with Mags, throwing up on her will squelch it.
Even though it’s absolutely the wrong time, I still ask, “What are you doing here?”
“Puking apparently,” she moans. We stand there for what seems like a year but is only a few seconds. The steam from my shower has since dissipated. I’d be cold in just my towel if it weren’t for my proximity to Mags.
“I think I got it all out,” she groans, pushing her torso up from the sink. Our eyes meet in the mirror and it’s like no time at all has passed. My body yearns to be closer to her. My heart aches already, like it knows the loss is coming again.
“I’ve got to get this stench off me. Will you turn on the shower, please? As hot as it will go.”
She didn’t need to tell me that. I remember it about her. One thing Mags and I had in common, well, one of the many things, was a love of showers that are too hot and way too long. I turn it on, adjusting it to just past the setting I’d had for mine, hoping I didn’t use all the hot water already.
She turns from the sink to step into the shower, clothes and all, tugging the curtain closed with a jerk.
“Um, I’ll just, uh,” I stammer, knowing I should leave but wanting to stay.
“You know I hate you, right?” she says. Her words emphasized by the sounds of wet clothing dropping to the shower floor.
The memory of her naked body forces its way into my mind, causing my dick to stir. Yep, definitely time to go. “Yeah. Okay. Hey, it’s good to see you. Let’s catch up. Soon.”
Face palm.
Could I get any lamer?
“Catch up?” She peeks her head out, her eyes narrowed. “Really, Dev?” Her eye makeup has run down her face, whether from vomiting or the shower, I’m not sure. Wet hair plastered to the sides of her head.
I’d almost forgotten how beautiful she is when she’s not even trying; all I can do is stare.
Until she breaks the moment. “What are you doing?” She blinks at me repeatedly. “Get out of here! Go!”
“Right.” I nod and duck out of the bathroom and into my room, flinging myself on my bed, feeling dumber than dumb.
