Page 16 of Should've Been Us
Since the door didn’t slam in his face, Connor followed her inside. Lulu had tipped the large cup back and was guzzling the liquid even as she stumbled around the room. A room that was a disaster area, he noted as he put the bag of food on the dresser. It hadn’t looked like this last night when he’d left her and hefrowned.
“I got cold in the middle of the night and had to find pajamas.” Lulu shrugged as if that was explanation enough for why it looked like her suitcase hadexploded.
He nodded but remained quiet as he pulled out the items he’d chosen for her for breakfast. He wasn’t about to mention the fact that she’d stripped down to her undies in front of him last night if she wasn’t going to acknowledge she’d gotten cold because she was mostly naked. He laid out the treats and motioned to themcasually.
“Take your pick, doll. Sugar. Carbs. Protein. I brought a little of everything because I didn’t know what you’deat.”
“Wow.” Lulu came closer, admiring the array of breakfast foods, “Where did you get allthis?”
“Breakfastbuffet.”
“They don’t give take out bags at buffets.” She eyed him suspiciously and hegrinned.
“No, they do not. Which is why I stole all ofthis.”
Lulu giggled, “You stole mebreakfast?”
“I need my buddy awake and alert if we’re going to build the best fucking sandcastle that beach has everseen.”
Lulu smiled and snatched up a blueberry muffin. Connor felt something in his chest ease just a little when she smiled at him like that. She wasn’t fighting with him. Hadn’t thrown him out. That was a good start. It wasn’t much in the grand scheme of things but even one little smile from her felt like he’d won the damn lottery because they were sorare.
“Thanks for the coffee and the food.” Lulu shoved a bite of muffin into her mouth and motioned at the bag, talking with her mouth full and not caring at all that he wanted to lick the crumbs from her lips, “You don’t happen to have any ibuprofen in there do you? My head is killing me and if we’re going to spend the day together I’m going to need apainkiller.”
“Funny.” He rolled hiseyes.
“No painkillersthen?”
“Not in the bag but there’s some in my suitcase. Hold on. I’ll grab them for you and then we really have to get moving, Lu.” He spoke as he moved to the little door next to the dresser and pulled it open. “We’re goingto…”
“What are you doing?” Lulu cut him off, her voice goingsharp.
“Going to myroom.”
“Our rooms are connected?” Her eyes widened as she peered around him, taking in his side of their little bungalow. “But, you were, at the front andI….”
“I thought I might scare you if I started banging on this side door.” He shrugged as he went into his room to get the little bottle of blue pills. “So I went around but now you know so, there’s no point. Surprise. Our rooms areconnected.”
Lulu’s lips pursed as he walked back through the doorway, “That door wasn’t locked. You didn’t just unlock it. And your side was open. Oh my God, did you come into my room lastnight?”
“Chill out, Lu.” He snorted as he handed her the bottle of pills, “I unlocked your side before I left last night. I was worried about leaving you alone in that condition. I thought if something happened it’d be good to have a fast way to get toyou.”
“You could’ve come in here and watched mesleep.”
“But I’m not a creepy fucking stalker so obviously I didn’t.” He frowned, “Come on Lu. You know me better than that. You trusted me to get you to your room last night. Now you don’t even trust me to be nextdoor?”
Her brows knit together but ultimately she finally gave a jerky nod, “Okay, fine, yeah, I know you weren’t being creepy it’s just… I didn’t know you were like, right on the other side of thewall.”
“I told you that was my room lastnight.”
“Strangely enough everything after my fifth glass of wine gets a little fuzzy.” She opened the pill bottle, shook two into her palm and then downed them with the coffee. “God, I’m tired and I feel like shit and my brain isn’t working properly yet. Just go to the beach withoutme.”
“Not a chance.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her around, pushing her towards the bathroom, “You’re not getting out of this. Now go in there and do whatever you have to do to make yourself presentable because in fifteen minutes I’m leaving for the beach and you’re going with me, even if I have to carryyou.”
“Asshole.” Shegrumbled.
“That’s one.” He chuckled, “Nowgo.”
“If I jump in the shower, will you go get me more coffee? There’s not nearly enough in that cup to make menice.”
