She tries to sit up, grabbing my hand for support until she’s sitting against the back of the couch with her head thrown back. She squeezes my hand tightly, and in the same second her face turns an unnatural shade of green. I jump up and grab the trashcan from under the kitchen sink and make it back to her just as she starts to vomit again. I’m unsure how to help, so I move behind the couch and hold her hair out of her face until her puking episode subsides again.
Throwing her head back on the headrest, she runs a shaky hand down her face and then looks up at me. She gives me a weak smile. “I am so freaking hungover,” she mumbles out.
Well that makes sense. She basically had half a bottle of Fireball to herself last night, and she’s not a large person in any regards. Mix a small amount of food and no water in between shots…it’s basically a hangover cocktail.
I run my hands over her forehead, just to make sure she’s not feverish, and she grabs my hand and presses it against her cheek. “Your hands are so cold,” she groans out. I try to pull my hand away thinking that the temperature is bothering her, but she holds it firmly in place. “No stay, please. It feels amazing.”
Her alarm goes off minutes later and she fishes it out of the sweatshirt she borrowed from me last night. “Oh crap! We need to get to the bakery!” She jumps off of the couch and sways back and forth where she stands.
“Oh no, you can stay right here and nurse that hangover of yours. I’ll go to Adalene’s and get our next task,” I tell her firmly. No way I am making her go deal with all of this feud nonsense when she feels this poorly.
She sits back down, cradling her head in her hands over the trashcan I placed at her feet. “What if we get eliminated? Dad said if we didn’t show up then we wouldn't get to join in on the next task.”
I walk into the kitchen and grab her a cold Sprite from the fridge, along with some Saltine crackers and some marshmallows and bring them over to her. Placing it all on the coffee table, and grabbing the remote from the armchair I usually occupy during my days off. “You stay here. Rules are meant to be broken. After all, when have we ever been allowed to partner up in this game?” I flash her a smile and place a quick kiss on her forehead before making my way into my bedroom and changing.
When I come back out, she’s lying comfortably on my couch and watching Game of Thrones, taking small sips of the Sprite I left for her. I grab my keys and kiss her cheek goodbye before heading out.
I really could get used to this.
Chapter Seventeen
Phoebe
Asidefromthemassivehangover that I 100% inflicted on myself…last night was…wow. I don’t think there are enough words in the English language to describe how truly wonderful last night was. I’ve never been able to get off from oral before, and it’s hard to believe that it was Spencer’s first time too. Because he was really, really freaking great at it. I saw a side of him that nobody else in the world has seen, at least I hope not. He said he was a virgin, but I guess that doesn’t mean he’s never fooled around with anyone before.
The thought leaves a sour taste in my mouth that fits right in with the taste of my own vomit. Really though, I’m pretty sure last night was a first for him. The look of hesitation in his eyes before he went down on me…there’s no way he’s done that before with anyone else.Thatthought leaves me giddy with those pesky butterflies.
My phone buzzes loudly from its spot on the coffee table, and when I grab it I see that it’s an incoming Facetime call from Piper. I feel like death, but I’m curious to know if Spencer made it to the bakery in time, so I hit ‘answer’.
Piper’s face shows up right as she’s shoveling a large maple bar into her mouth. “Oh my—you answered!” She yells, not caring one bit that her mouth is full of donuts. “You look like death, dude.”
“Urg. I feel even worse,” I tell her. “Did Spencer make it in time?”
“Yeah, he’s here. He’s talking to Dad right now. Hold on.”
“No you don’t need—” I stop mid sentence when Piper and Spencer show up together on the small screen. Every thought leaves my body when I see them together, pressed so closely and effortlessly together.
Envy.
That’s the feeling flooding my bones right now. I know Piper has zero interest in Spencer, but seeing them together so soon after…what we did last night. Jealousy overcomes me.
“You feeling any better, Pheebs?” Spencer asks. He pulls the phone out of Piper’s hands and walks somewhere more private, it looks like it might be the hallway to the bathrooms at Adalene’s Bakery. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Tears well up behind my eyes, and I feel so damn stupid. So stupid for allowing myself to forget that he’s always wanted my sister. Stupid for letting him replace her body with mine last night. Was he thinking about her the entire time?
“Phoebe, talk to me,” he says, his voice full of concern. “Please?”
I put the phone down for a second so I can calm myself. I will not let him see me cry. When I lift it back up, he’s still there with that same look of concern in his eyes, waiting patiently for me to answer him.
“I’m fine, just tired. I’m going to take a shower. I’ll see you when you get back,” I tell him quickly, trying like hell to keep my voice steady so he doesn’t hear it about to crack with unshed tears. “Bye, Spencer. Drive safe.”
I hang up on him before he’s able to get another word in, and I finally let the tears I’ve been holding back flood out. I’m the biggest idiot in the world to think I’d be able to do this. To be able to have him for one night and be okay with the aftermath. Seeing him with Piper though, well that really hurt. It just brings back all the feelings of doubt and inadequacy I’ve felt my entire life. He’s always wanted her, and I’m a fool for letting myself forget that.
After a much, much needed hot shower, I’m feeling a little better. I’ve put on my favorite dalmatian print pajama pants and stolen another one of Spencer’s oversized sweatshirts because I just really enjoy torturing myself.
I had planned on going out to our poor attempt at a snow-fort to clean up while he’s gone, but the second I opened the door and got blasted with the frigid air, I decided I’ll just wait on him to help with all that. I’m not sure I can stomach going into the tent right now anyways.
My stomach is still on the topsy-turvy side, so I’m nibbling on the crackers Spencer left for me. Rewatching Game of Thrones and trying to quiet the incessant voice in my head that keeps trying to remind me that Spencer doesn't wantme. I’m just a copy and paste backup version of Piper, and I hate myself for feeling this way. I’m not mad at her, but I’m jealous of her for something she can’t control.
