“Because,Liam”—her tone was thick withwhat-a-frigging-idiot—“we were trying to make things easier for you.She’s a fantastic person who deserves the best things in life.And right now, we think your dick might be one of those things.”
I sucked in a shocked gasp, a glob of my instant coffee went down the wrong way, and I choked hard.My life flashed before my eyes as Sierra smacked a palm against my back until finally, I stopped coughing.
“What did you say?”
“Oh, come on.You can’t be that dense.You think she walked in on you naked and was totally unaffected by your”—her gaze very deliberately flicked to the front of my jeans—“charms?”
The sound of Maya’s voice murmuring “oh, wow”when she walked in on me flashed through my mind, but I’d assumed it was embarrassment that turned her face so red.Now, though, Sierra’s confession confirmed that Maya had liked what she’d seen after all.I couldn’t have stopped myself from grinning even if I’d wanted to.
“I think I should go over there,” I said, already turning to leave.“Thanks for the heads-up.And for the coffee.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.She might still decide to rip your face off.”
I laughed and waved away her warning.Maya wasn't going to rip my face off.
Probably.
Maybe.
Regardless, it was a risk I was willing to take.
I jogged across the street in time to follow Kai into the bookstore.
“Hey, man.What’s up?”I said as we walked into the unlit store.“What’s going on?”
“No idea,” Kai replied.“I was walking by on my way to the hardware store and noticed the lights were off.I checked the door, and it was unlocked.”
“Maya?”I called out, peering around the empty store.“You in here?Did you forget to turn on the lights again?”
A despondent yowl echoed from the entrance to the stockroom, where we found Harold pacing in and out of the door.
“Harold, buddy.Where’s Maya?”I crouched down to pet him, wishing he was a helpful dog named Lassie instead of an overweight, somewhat antisocial feline.“Come on, boy.Show us where she is.”
“Holy shit,” Kai muttered when the giant cat turned to lead us away.“He’s really doing it.”
Harold apparently had some Lassie in him after all because, with zero hesitation, he led us upstairs to the apartments.The door to Maya’s place was ajar.
Panic gripped me, and I ran for the door.I didn’t stop moving until I found Maya in her living room.She was curled up on her tiny loveseat, fast asleep.The entire room reeked of liquor, and … something else.
“What is that smell?”Kai asked, holding his nose.A disgruntled meow distracted him, and he turned away.“I’ll feed Harold, but then I have to get to work.Will you be okay if I leave?”
Maya stirred and rolled to face the back of the loveseat, knees held tight to her chest.It was a miracle she didn’t fall off the little thing.
“We’ll be fine.I’ll get her to drink some water and take some painkillers before she tries to sleep it off.”
“Let me know if you need anything.I’ll be working at the hardware store all day,” Kai said, already heading to the stairs.
Scooping Maya up and carrying her to bed, I inhaled her faint scent of sunshine and vanilla that lingered beneath the whiskey.I settled her on the bed, covered her with the blankets, and closed the curtains against the morning sun.
She was going to regret this when she woke up.
After getting Maya settled into bed, I set about cleaning her apartment.A nearly empty bottle of cheap whiskey, a carton of orange juice, and a bottle of root beer lay discarded on her coffee table, and sticky puddles lay scattered around the floor at random.
Whatever happened yesterday, she was serious about forgetting it last night.
By the time I’d straightened the living room, wiped the sticky remains of her disaster drink from the floor, and tackled the kitchen, a few muffled groans started up in the bedroom.
“Hurgh.”Maya stumbled from her room, pressing a palm to her head as she squeezed her eyes shut against the light.“What happened last night?”She mutters.
