“You’re gonna be okay, you’re just high for the first time and a little paranoid. It’ll wear off and you’ll be good to go. Let’s have some candy.”
“Candy?” I answered more excitedly than I’d intended, but I had to admit that eating candy sounded like the greatest proposition anyone had ever put forth to me.
For the next three hours I was on a magic carpet ride of gooey deliciousness. Orion was right. After a short while, and a few mini-counseling sessions with my personal guides, the paranoia subsided, and I felt lighter than I ever had.
Orion and Chan were excellent hosts and took turns playing the roles of DJ and dance partner as the lab became our makeshift nightclub. They played all my favorite jams and I danced until I didn’t have an ounce of sweat left in my lips. I ate two candy bars from Chan’s private stash. Okay, I ate three, but they were filled with pure magic and I regret nothing. My thoughts were both free and yet, hyper focused. I found myself able to attack thoughts from alternative angles yet holding on to them seemed slippery at times. I could already see the benefits Orion and others had talked about but was far from any conclusive thoughts. Right now, I wasn’t even sure what a complete thought was.
Somewhere around hour five, I began to get very sleepy and Orion carried me out to his bike…wait, no, not bike. “Where’s your bike?”
“Aero came by and swapped it out for Dad’s truck. I knew you’d be too tired to hold on.”
“You are correct.” I gave his neck a squeeze. “Are you okay to drive?”
“Yeah, baby, I’m sober. I haven’t smoked for hours.”
“Driving while high is just as bad as driving while intoxicated.”
“I know, Frazzle. I’m good. I promise.”
He chuckled and drove me home, helping me up to my room and undressing me. After he tucked me in, he kissed me on the forehead, and I drifted off to an amazing night of sleep.
* * *
Blinding light jarred me awake and I rolled to get away from it, bumping into Orion. “Sorry,” I whispered.
“I forgot to close that drape. My bad.”
“Yes, itisyour bad,” I grumbled, sliding my hand over his belly and kissing his chest. “But now I get to snuggle, so I’ll forgive you.”
Orion grinned as he slid his arm to my waist and gave me a squeeze. “How do you feel?”
“Wiped out, but in a good way.” I settled my chin on my hand and met his eyes. “Do you want to talk about your dad’s appointment yesterday?”
“There’s nothing much to talk about. He sat in a chair with a needle in his arm, surrounded by a few other patients dealing with the same shit. He pretty much ignored me. He was too busy chatting up the woman sitting next to him.”
“She was going through chemo?”
“No, her father was. She and dad got on like a house on fire. Well, no, she and I actually chatted more than he did, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her.”
“Oh,” I said, hopeful. “You think he’ll ask her out?”
Orion chuckled. “No, probably not.”
“Why not?”
“Babe, Dad’s the president of a 1% MC and she’s high-class. I’m not sure she’d give him the time of day.”
“I’m high-class and I gave you the time of day.”
“Because you came into the pit of the beast of your own free will.”
I snorted. “Whatever.”
“You slummed it and I knew if I didn’t lock you down, I’d never have the chance again.”
I frowned. “What?”
“The second you walked in, I claimed you, baby. Don’t ever doubt it.”
