I glare at Ashley from the kitchen. She’s not helping the situation. Leave it to her to throw up unintentional roadblocks to my lies.
Noah bends over, rocking back and forth. “Oh God. I reallydon’t feel well.” He bolts off the couch and into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
Carter and I step further into the living room and stare at the closed bathroom door. Noah moans. A second later an explosion echoes off the walls. I bite my lip, hoping he at least made it to the toilet.
Ashley hops off the couch and grabs her purse. “I don’t think Noah’s going to make it to the movie. Tell him that if he feels better, he can meet up with us at the theater.”
Even though this is all my fault, I can’t help but frown at Ashley. “Aren’t you going to stay and take care of your boyfriend?”
“I wish I could, but I have plans that can’t be broken.” She glances at the bathroom and shrugs. “Plus, I don’t think Noah would want me to miss the movie. I’ve been dying to see it for weeks.” She turns on her heel and heads to the front door, leaving without even saying goodbye.
I’m just about to say something scathing when Noah lets out another groan.
“Call my mom, Daisy,” he moans. “I think I’m dying!”
I glance at Carter and find him watching me with narrowed eyes. I can almost see the gears turning in his head.
“What the hell did you do?” he growls, wincing as Noah whimpers.
To avoid fessing up, I run for my phone.
10
CARTER
Both Daisy and I have taken up sentinel outside the bathroom door. The sounds that are coming from inside…
I grimace.
At this rate, Noah is going to lose a solid five pounds. Maybe more.
I scrub a hand over my face in disbelief. What’s occurring in there could have just as easily have happened to me. If I’d come home earlier, I’m the one who would be crapping my intestines out right now. Another wave of anger rolls through me and I spin toward Daisy with a glare.
“I can’t believe you added laxatives to the brownies! And you weretotallygoing to let me eat them if Noah hadn’t gotten to them first!” I shake my head. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
For once in her life, Daisy has the good grace to drop her eyes and keep her mouth shut. “I shouldn’t have done it,” she admits quietly after almost a minute of silence, a guilty flush stealing across her creamy complexion.
I throw my hands in the air. “What were you thinking?”
“Payback,” she mutters under her breath before clearing her throat. “I wanted to get you back for telling everyone in class that I was yourbaby mama.” She sighs and adds, “Along with the other things you’ve done lately.”
“Seems like that backfired, now didn’t it?” I snipe.
Noah lets loose another long string of flatulence accompanied by a guttural groan. After a moment of blessed silence, he whimpers, “Is my mom here yet?”
Daisy moves closer to the door. “She’ll be here any minute, Noah. She was going to stop at the pharmacy and pick up some stuff to help your stomach.” She covers her nose and mouth with her hand and takes a few steps away from the bathroom.
She doesn’t mention the stench, but it’s hard to miss. I don’t know whose brilliant idea it was to put the bathroom right off the living room, but it seems like poor planning on part of the architect.
“Maybe you should light a candle in there,” she suggests.
“I’m not concerned about lighting a damn candle!” Noah snaps. “I’m worried that my intestines are falling out of my ass!”
Daisy flinches.
There’s a rap of knuckles on the apartment door, and I jog over knowing it’ll be Noah’s Mom. Thank fuck, she’s here. I’m fairly useless in a situation like this.
“Hi, sweetie.” Marnie pecks my cheek and strides into the living room where Daisy paces. “Hi, baby,” she says, pulling her niece in for a quick hug. She knocks on the bathroom door and gently asks, “How you doing, Noah? You okay?”
