Page 26 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
I’m not misremembering, am I?
After that conversation, the night becomes hazy, but I do remember bits and pieces.The shuttle…coming back to the room…Leo’s bottle of Smirnoff.
Shit.I haven’t gotten that drunk inyears.
I sit up and instantly regret it.I haven’t had a hangover since well before the pandemic.I don’t like losing control of myself, even just a little; I can’t remember the last time I had more than three drinks in a night.
Deciding that sitting up is too much effort, I slide back down and curl up under the blankets with my eyes closed.That’s better.Except there’s some really loud shuffling.I open one eye—to expose myself to less light—and see Leo packing up his suitcase.He’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
Leo and I don’t look much alike, except to people who think all Asians look the same.He’s stocky and five inches shorter than me, but his arm muscles are probably twice as big as mine.
“You’re awake,” he grunts.
“Please.Don’t be so loud.”
“I was whispering,” he says, in what is definitely not a whisper.“I have to get home, but I’m glad to see you’re alive.Checkout time is eleven, remember.”
I don’t like that he’s trying to look after me.I’m five years older than him; it should be the other way around.
Something else occurs to me.I’m pretty sure of the answer, but… “Did Mom see me drunk?”
“No, Evan claimed you were in the washroom when they were saying goodbye.”
Good.Because me getting wasted would make Mom worry, and I don’t need that.
In an attempt to show that I’m not a complete mess, I sit up again, managing not to wince too much.
“I made you some coffee.”Leo puts it on the bedside table.“It’s pretty weak stuff, so you’ll probably want to get something else before you drive back.”
“Thanks.”I reach for the cup.It takes far more effort than it should.“What did you tell me about Yvonne last night?”
He shoots me a murderous glare, confirming my suspicions.
“But you haven’t said anything to her, right?”I want to be clear on what’s happening.
“God, no.”
We don’t speak again as he picks up his suitcase and exits the room.I down my coffee, then have a shower, which makes me feel marginally better but not much.Painkillers should help, though, and I always have a small bottle in my toiletries case.
Except I can’t find it.
I look everywhere in my suitcase, but it’s nowhere to be found.Shit.Okay, I’ll have to find a pharmacy.Then I’ll go to Tim Hortons before I begin the drive.
I try not to look too hungover as I head down to the lobby, but then I seeher.
She’s at the front desk, handing over her key card.She’s wearing tiny shorts, and it’s the first time I’ve seen her in something other than a dress—or nothing at all.I nearly mutter a curse under my breath, and it’s not because I’m hungover.
Okay, Max, don’t stare.Last night, you told her you wanted her squirming against your face, but it’s no biggie.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t help.
However, something occurs to me: she might have Tylenol, and my desire to calm the throbbing in my head wins out over my desire to hide behind the group of people who have just entered the lobby.
When she turns around and heads for the exit, I say, “Hi, Kim.”
Chapter 12
Kim
