Page 24 of Let it Breathe
9
Chai
My head pounded, and my tongue felt two sizes too big. I rolled over with a grunt. Last night was a blur. I was in a bed, a soft bed. I really hoped it was mine.
One eye opened and then the other.
I sighed in relief. I was in my own room, in my own bed.
But I was naked. I sat up fast and paid for it.
"Ohhhh." I grabbed my head. I scanned the room. My townhouse was part of a row of houses near Main Street in a little town near Sonoma within walking distance of Matthews. I didn't remember driving home.
I crawled out of bed and pulled on a t-shirt and sweatpants I found on the floor. I might have had them on and peeled them off sometime in the night.
I heard a humming noise downstairs. I inched down the steps. Halfway down, I found the source of the humming. Donovan sprawled out on my couch facedown; the pillow cradled in his arms muffled his snores. His peaceful expression made me smile. I continued down the steps and into the kitchen. I needed water and drugs.
I grabbed a bottle from the refrigerator without making a sound. The cabinet where I kept the medicine was a different story. I pulled it open, but it slipped out of my hands and slammed back shut.
"Shit," I said.
Donovan gasped and sat up ready to fight.
"I'm sorry. It's okay," I said as he scratched his head and slumped back down on the couch. I grabbed another bottle of water and the Aleve and sat on the other end of the couch.
"Hey, how you feeling?" I asked and handed him the bottle of water.
"Not as bad as you look," he answered and declined the water. I giggled, but he didn't.
I pushed my hair down and shook my head.
"Thanks for taking care of me."
"Now that you're good, I'm going to order a car to take me back." He stood up and pulled his shirt over his head. He had his jeans on but unbuttoned.
"I can take you back. It's no problem. Just let me jump in the shower. It will clear my head."
"Nah, don't worry about it." He walked over to the kitchen and looked around like he’d lost something. Why was he in such a hurry to get out of here?
"Donovan ..."
"My phone." He snapped his fingers and grabbed it off the bookshelf where mine was charging. He unlocked his phone and tapped the screen. His shoulders were up by his ears, and he hadn't acknowledged me since I sat down.
"Donovan. What's wrong?" He turned to me, and I saw it in his eyes. My hangover didn't mask the effect his brilliant green eyes had on me, but they were dark, and he blinked in rapid succession. He stalked toward me.
"You know, I've been fucked for my money before, and don't get me wrong—you are good—but even your ass ain't worth five hundred grand. So I'm going to just go back to San Francisco and chalk this up to another lesson learned." He stared, but when I didn't respond, he headed for the door.
"Donovan, wait." I grabbed his arm, but he pulled it out of my grip. "Don't leave. Please. Why are you so pissed?"
"I don't know, Chai." He turned around, and I stopped in my tracks. "I don't know why I'm so pissed. I'm disappointed. I thought we had something." He shook his head. "I was wrong. Don't worry. If Calvin thinks it's a good investment, I'll give you the money, but we are done."
"Done." I crossed my arms over my chest. My neck tensed up. And last night became crystal clear; Keri, the bitch, and my sudden possessiveness. He played along, but maybe I took it too far. "I didn't fuck you for your money."
"No, then why did you?"
"I ..." I couldn't think of a reason.
"It's starting to add up. You told me last night how your reputation could use some bad press. You don't do this all the time, sleep around. You see me in a bar at an investment conference and figure I'll be an easy target. The only thing you had to decide was if you were desperate enough go through with it." He glared at me, and I cowered. "I guess the answer was yes. How does that make you feel?"
