Page 69 of The Pass Protection
I need water. Desperately.
“Time for me to head back to Arizona.” Liv groans and sadness seeps through me. I’m not ready for her to leave, not yet.
Rolling over to my side, I blink my heavy lids as remnants of last night stick to me. Mascara is clumped up in my lashes as morning goop sticks to the inner corners of my eyes. The pitch-black room starts to come into focus the more I blink. I feel my long hair move as I find my new position, and I can already tell it’s sticking up all over the place as if it were a tangled rat’s nest. My skin feels sticky from sweat, andthere’s no doubt I smell like a dirty bar from all the alcohol seeping from my pores.
Liv cuddles closer to me as I wrap my arms around her as she acts as the little spoon. Her hand trails up my thigh. “Babes, are you wearing any clothes?”
Glancing under the navy comforter, I’m met with the sight of skin. “Uhhh…”
“Bret!” She chuckles, smacking my ass. “You’re such a brat.”
“I seriously don’t remember stripping my clothes off.”
Burrowing myself deeper into my covers, I continue lying there. Liv’s warmth radiates through the covers. I’ve missed this—time spent with my best friend.
“And your naked ass isn’t moving…”
We both shake with laughter. Our giggles are loud enough that we don’t hear the knock on the door as it’s pressed open.
“What the hell is going on here?” Turning our heads, we find a shirtless Tyler leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over his chiseled chest.
“Wanna find out?” Liv’s voice drips with seduction while Tyler’s eyebrows hit his hairline.
“No.” I shake my head, rolling away from Liv but keeping the sheets gripped tight underneath my chest. “I don’t have any clothes on.”
Tyler’s eyes widen. “Well, I…was just letting you know we made hangover pancakes if you guys are hungry.”
Liv sits up, pulling the covers with her. I frantically grab for them before I flash my roommate. “What are they, and why do they sound amazing right now?”
“They’re just thick, fluffy pancakes to help soak up the booze.”
“Count me in!” Liv bounces from the bed and looks back at me.
“Let me find some clothes.” She nods as she walks to the edge of my room and flicks on the light switch. I groan as the overhead light blinds my eyes. Blinking through the bright beam, I sit up, clutching my sheets as I take in the state of my room. Only when I sit up does the room begin to spin as I’m hit with a bout of nausea.
Clothes spill out from my dressers as parts of my costume are strewn across the floor. Tossing off my covers, I will my legs to work. On shaky legs, I stumble over to the dresser, pull out a pair of boy shorts and find an oversized hoodie.
As quickly as I can, I rush through, brushing my teeth and getting the stale taste of last night out of my mouth. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I watch the foam build around my mouth as I attempt to brush my tangled hair with my opposite hand—thoughts of last night flash in my mind.
We had been at the bar for an hour or so, all of us on the dance floor, with Tyler and Crew sandwiching Liv and me as we moved to the trendy club music. JP had a constant rotation of girls grinding against him. Chloe and Cody joined us. She wore a tight pale pink mini skirt with a pastel floral corset top. Her honey-blonde hair was braided with strands of baby breath and daisies pinned in her hair.
On the other hand, Cody was dressed in cargo pants, a tight white T-shirt, and a green apron. The flower and the florist. It was seriously the cutest costume and from what I know about Chloe, it fit their personalities perfectly.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I follow the sound of laughter to the living space, where I find my best friend and two of my roommates gathered around the table. Black clothing is spread chaotically around the floor and down the hallway.
“There she is.” JP claps. “The great flasher.”
Rubbing my eyes, I stare at him. “Flasher?”
“Yeah, baby girl.” JP grabs a pancake from the stack and sets it on his plate. “You don’t remember?”
I shake my head as I glance around the three. Tyler averts his eyes as Liv smirks around a mouthful of pancakes.
“You started stripping out of your clothes as soon as we walked in the door. There is literally a path from the front door to your room.”
Groaning, I cover my face with both my hands. “I need caffeine if we are rehashing last night.”
Passing pieces of my clothes in my hunt for coffee, I can’t help but shake my head. I’m notorious for stripping out of my clothes after a night out, but I was hoping drunk me would get the memo that I live with guys, and it’s probably not the best thing to do. Rounding the corner to the kitchen, I’m met with the hum of the coffee maker as the dripping sound of the brewing coffee hits a ceramic mug.
