“Do you have any aspirin?”she asks, walking barefoot into the huge marble bathroom.
“I’ll order some.”
“Good.All the aspirin in Las Vegas might be enough.”She’s about to close the bathroom door, but she stops and stares at her feet.I wait for her to say something, but she just stands there.
“I’m sorry, Summer,” I tell her.
“We don’t know what happened.”She speaks without turning to face me.“Nothing to be sorry for—not yet, anyway.”
CHAPTER 19
Summer
I shut the bathroom door behind me and lock it, because I need some privacy to freak the fuck out without being interrupted.
I don’t like to freak the fuck out.
I’m not exactly a freak-the-fuck-out kind of chick.
But that’s changing right this moment, because of all the freaking the fuck out that I’m now doing.
I steady my breath.
All right.First of all, I just saw Declan naked.I’ve never seen Declan naked before, but now that I’ve seen him naked, in bed with me, looking horrified because he thinks we did the dirty deed while plastered, I can’t stop thinking about his nakedness.
Because he’s glorious.
I’ve known for a long time now that Declan’s perfect.Like Greek-statue perfection.I’ve seen him shirtless a thousand times and in his swim trunks and, yeah, I saw him in his boxer briefs on the jet.But now that I’ve seenallof him, I know just how perfect he really is.And howbig.
I’ve also seen his hidden tattoo.
I was pretty sure Declan had only two tattoos.The Celtic knot band that goes around the thickest part of his left bicep, chunky and a dark turquois in color.Then there’s the intricate aviation tattoo on the inside of his right forearm, in fine-lined black ink, featuring a stylized compass, globe, Navy anchor, and airplane.I’ve always liked both of those tattoos.
But the third one… of course I’ve never seen it.Because it snakes around his butt, then trails over his hip bone, and stops at an angle just above…
I think I might be hyperventilating.
I turn on the giant, fancy rain shower in the giant, fancy marble bathroom.I keep myself occupied by choosing from the suite’s selection of expensive toiletries—body wash, facial soap, shampoo, and conditioner.I grab a comb, too.
I see an assortment of packaged toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash.Boy, they think of everything in these fancy hotel suites.I appreciate it, too.It’s everything a girl might need after getting sloppy drunk and hopping in bed with her best friend.
I let the duvet drop to the tile floor.
“Yikes,” I mutter at my reflection.Mascara is smeared under my eyes.All of Bruno’s hard work is long gone.Yesterday’s sleek and shiny hairstyle has been replaced with a fetching cavewoman look.
The rest of me seems the way I remember it, except that I’m hairless in places that nature never intended.But I see no hints about the kind of mistakes I may have made last night.No tattoos.No bruises.No piercings.Everything looks like it’s still in one piece.
Except for my pride.Which is strange, because not only am I not a freak-the-fuck-out kind of chick, I’m not usually all that concerned about my image.
But I’m feeling super embarrassed right now.Because whatever happened last night, it’s changed everything between Declan and me forever, and I don’t want him to think less of me.
I step into the shower and close my eyes, standing beneath the strong spray of hot water.It’s soothing.I inhale the steam.I let the heat penetrate my muscles.I do all this while I build up the courage I need to face the facts.
“Well, shit.”
I chicken out and decide to shampoo my hair first.Twice.And apply conditioner.And wash my face.
And now, I’m all out of excuses.If I fucked around last night, it’s time to find out.
