She screamed, her heart thrashing in her chest.
His face came into focus and she gasped in air. Jesse. It was just Jesse.
His gaze moved around the hall before he searched her face. “Are you okay? I heard you cry out.”
She looked down at his hand. “You’ve got a gun?”
“Of course I have a gun. I thought you screamed.”
“I—” The bile crawled up her throat, cutting off her words.
Oh no…not in front of Jesse. She turned into the bathroom and dropped beside the toilet. She didn’t even have time to kick the door closed before every drink she’d consumed that night came back up.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
He was right here. Inside the bathroom. Jesus Christ Almighty, someone kill her.
“Can you close the door?” she gasped when her stomach finally stilled. She dropped her forehead into her palms and closed her eyes.
The door didn’t close. In fact, she heard footsteps moving even closer.
No, no, no.
She wanted to tell him—screamat him—to leave before she died of embarrassment. But before any words could leave her throat, another wave of nausea hit and she started throwing up a second time.
Warm fingers brushed the back of her neck as her hair was pulled up. She opened her mouth to tell him to leave, but then he started to rub circles on her back. Warm, soothing circles that almost distracted her from her swirling belly and head.
The words died on her lips, and she leaned into his touch.
Dumb. She’d been so dumb tonight. Or last night. She had no idea what the time was.
“I should have listened to you,” she groaned, finally flushing the toilet and backing away, Jesse’s hand replaced by the cool tiled wall.
His brown eyes darkened with concern. “I should have made sure you ate something before you went to bed. I’m sorry.”
“Believe it or not, I am a fully grown woman and know better than to drink on an empty stomach.” She tilted her head. “I’m sorry you got a front-row seat to my stupidity.”
“I just want to make sure you’re okay.” His frown deepened. “Areyou okay?”
Right now? Or in general? It probably didn’t matter—both answers would be the same. “I’m not sure.”
His beautiful eyes flickered between hers. “What can I do?”
“Try not to be so perfect.”
He chuckled, and it transformed his entire face. “I’m far from perfect.”
“Liar.” She swallowed, breathing through some of the nausea. But she didn’t just feel sick. It was something deeper. “Can I tell you something?” she asked quietly.
“Anything.”
“I kind of don’t like who I’ve become.”
His eyes darkened. “Aspen—”
“No, it’s just… I used to think I was such a strong person. I used to pride myself on it. Now, I’m not sure that was ever true. I think I just neverhadto be strong.”
He seemed to think about that for a moment. “Do you know what I first thought when I met you?”
