I startle—his eyes weren't open so I assumed he was still sleeping as I ogled him. He chuckles, a deep and throaty sound, “I could feel you staring.” They say sleepy voices are sexy but those sleepy laughs sent my ovaries into overdrive.
I brush him off, feeling heat crawl up my cheeks. I can almost guarantee I’m beet-red right now. Tatum’s hand comes up, brushing a hair out of my face and leaning into me. Just as luck would have it when I think he is going to kiss me, a wave of nausea rolls over me that I quickly realize is more than that. Jumping out of bed, I barrel into the bathroom and slam the door behind me. Once I am no longer emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet, I brush my teeth, shower, and fix my hair. Exiting, I find my room empty but see a Gatorade, a scrambled egg, and a piece of toast sitting on my nightstand.
My phone lights up with a text.
Tatum
Sorry that my *almost* kiss made you vomit.
Oh god. Another one pops through.
Tatum
Kidding, I know it was the blob. I had to go change and get to work. I may have slept in later than I was supposed to and was running very late. Sin should be there soon.
I do want to talk about that *almost* kiss later though.
Me
Yeah, of course, Tate. It definitely wasn’t the *almost* kiss. Thank you for breakfast.
Another text comes through, only this time from Sin.
Sin
Please tell this doorman I am supposed to be here before I lose my patience and the free massages I was promised for the next year.
I quickly call down to the front, letting him know Sin is supposed to be here, before heading to the entryway to greet my friend.
“Hi, D. Hi nugget.” She greets me, then my stomach, wrapping me in her arms before pulling away to look me up and down. Probably taking a physical inventory and mentally checking boxes as she does.
“I’m fine.” I involuntarily roll my eyes towards my friend.
“If you were fine, then I wouldn’t be here right now.” Sin fires back, “I know that you are capable of taking care of yourself,butyour baby daddy offered to pay for massages for a whole year if I came and Mother Henned you today. Who am I to turn that offer down?”
“Well you’re lucky that I’ve missed you, otherwise I’d be sending you on your way.”
“Oh, the drama.” She flails her arms in the air for emphasis.
“Who? Me?” I make a show of pointing at myself. “I saw a clip of some new, trashy reality love show, wanna binge it until I decide I need a nap?”
“Now you’re speaking my language, let’s go.” Sin laughs, linking her arm in mine.
We make ourselves comfortable on the black sectional that takes up most of the living room, each grabbing one of my fuzzy blankets. I curl up in what I’ve deemed my corner, while Sin makes herself comfortable on the other end. I press play on the first episode, immediately knowing we are going to eat this show up.
“Harry is going to go after Isla, but you know she is going to go for Dean and his big dick energy.” Not getting any sort of response, I turn to my friend who annoyingly has her nose in her phone like she has for the majority of the episode. “Earth to Sinclair.” I snap my fingers, her vibrant green eyes snap up to mine and her fair skin blossoms to a color akin to a freshly bloomed rose.
“Uh, yeah, sorry.”
“Sin, were you even paying attention?” I grumble in her direction.
“Of course I was. I think that Dean is going to go for Maya though because she seems unattainable.”
“Yeah, but Maya already said she doesn’t want anything to do with Dean.”
“It’s a challenge. Men like a challenge.” She raises her eyebrows suggestively at me.
“Who has you so entranced on your phone that you weren’t even keeping up with the show?” Sin is not often easily distracted, so whatever—or whomever—has her attention must be important.
