8
Derrick
"Are you freaking out?" Alex asks Audra. "You look like you're freaking out."
"Well, I'm almost naked under this shirt and I don't know if one or all of you got a peek at the girls," Audra confesses, chewing on her bottom lip.
"I told you, we'll never tell," Mark tells her.
"Don't even start," I tell him with a laugh. I look over to Audra who's still looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Change of subject. Yeah. That's what's needed here. "You think you could eat something?"
Her stomach growls, and she blushes. "I'm hungry but I'm afraid to eat. I really hate throwing up."
"I can relate," Alex agrees.
I walk to the bathroom and grab my bathrobe which is going to be way too long for her, but it's better than her feeling exposed. When I hand it to her, she looks so grateful. "We can start with toast and go from there. Guys let's let Audra have some privacy for a bit. Kitchen's down the hall. You can't miss it—especially with Mark around."
She grins. "Thanks."
I nod and we leave the room, closing the door behind me.
"She looks scared," Mark announces.
"Wouldn't you be?" Alex counters.
"We'll just make her something to eat and hopefully she'll feel well enough to go home. If not, she can hang out here until she does. I can work from home on Monday if I need to," I tell them. They both look at me like they don't recognize me. "What?"
Alex shakes his head and smirks. "Nothing. Just… wow."
"I knew it," Mark declares. "You've had the hots for her all along."
"You're just now figuring this out?" Alex asks.
I cross my arms and lean back against the counter, listening to my two best friends tell me how I feel. It's a good thing they do, because I thought I just wanted to bang her. Turns out, it's more than that.
They stop bantering and look at me. I shrug. "I like her." I take a sip of my coffee and their smiles grow. Shit. "She's behind me, isn't she?" I mouth and they both nod.
I turn and there she stands. The sleeves of my robe rolled up about fifty times and it drags on the floor behind her. She looks so cute. Her face scrubbed free of makeup, her hair twisted up on her head, and her normal fireball sass showing with just a touch of insecurity mixed in.
"Mark made you some lemon tea," I tell her. "Toast is in. Do you want to chance butter? Jam?"
"Um, just a teaspoon of sugar in the tea. I think I'll try dry toast, but that bacon Mark's frying smells delicious."
"If you can hold down the toast, you can dive into the bacon," I offer.
She nods. "Sounds good."
"Here, have a seat," Alex offers her one of the stools at the breakfast island.
"Your tea, milady," Mark teases.
"Thank you." She holds the cup, blowing on the tea to cool it off a little. Those lips are the things dreams are made of. One day, when she's feeling better… I shake myself out of the thought and notice her staring at me much the same way I'm staring at her.
"Damn," I mutter.
"What?" she asks.
"I lose."
