Page 130 of Cold As Ice

AUSTIN

“Rise and shine, asshole.”

Something cold and wet landed on my head.

“The fuck?” I murmured, trying to peel my eyes open—immediately regretting it when the light poured in, and a bomb detonated in my skull.

Holy shit.

That hurt.

“Jesus, you’re a mess,” Noah said with a smug lilt that would have usually got my back up. As it was, I was too hungover to give a fuck.

“Get cleaned up. Rory made breakfast, and she expects you to be present.”

“Can’t I—”

“No. Ten minutes, or I’ll be back with a bucket of cold water. Seems like you’ve got some explaining to do.” He stalked out of the room and slammed the door behind him. Asshole.

I gave myself a minute before I pushed up onto my elbows with a pained groan.

Their apartment was a one-bedroom. So if I was in their bedroom, where the fuck had they slept?

Shit.

I managed to sit up, but the room spun so violently, I almost puked all over Rory’s pale blue rug.

Once I was sure everything was going to stay on the inside, I dragged my sorry ass into their bathroom and washed up. I couldn’t stomach the thought of a shower, but I did swill my mouth with some toothpaste and water to try and wash away the rancid aftertaste of one too many whiskys.

Coach was going to fucking kill me if he got wind of my little pity party for one. But everything had gone to shit after Madison left me standing on the sidewalk without so much as a backward glance.

The suspicious-looking stain on my shirt had me reaching for one of Noah’s t-shirts. Then I headed to find them.

“You look relatively alive, considering how unconscious you looked last night.”

“I… Shit, Rory. I am so fucking sorry.”

“Hey, asshole, it’s my apartment too.” Despite his serious tone, Noah smirked.

“Here. Drink, then eat something. I’ll get you some Advil.” Rory’s cold shoulder was impressive.

“In case you haven’t noticed, she’s pissed you didn’t tell Madison about her.”

“I— You know.”

“Of course, I fucking know. Even if Rory hadn’t told me, which she did, you wouldn’t shut up about it on the ride home. You’re welcome by the way.” He snorted. “We got you out of there before you could make a total fool of yourself or get yourself reported to Coach.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.”

“Seriously, Austin. Do you have any idea how hurt she is after that stunt you pulled last summer by not telling us she was transferring to LU.”

“I fucked up.”

“Yeah, you did.” He got up and squeezed my shoulder. “And I’d love nothing more than to stay here and watch her string you up by your balls. But I figure the two of you need to talk. So I’m going to meet the guys at the gym. Sort your shit out and get your head in game mode, yeah.”

“Thanks,” I said, realizing it was long overdue.

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