Let me die.
Just…dead. Seriously, he did not just say that.
“Better not, buddy, or I’ll kick your ass,” Mary Lou, my champion best friend, warns.
“I don’t doubt that…”
I don’t either. She’ll totally do it. She’s scary.
Jimmy looks to me. “Are you okay with that?”
“If I must,” I say and then rest my head on my arm. “I can ignore him if he doesn’t talk.”
Tristan snorts a laugh. “I promise not to say a word.”
“Good.”
Words are something I need to keep inside my head. Words will definitely get me in trouble if they’re allowed out.
Jimmy and Tristan help the three of us to our feet, and somehow we make it out the door. The three of us hug,promising to call each other tomorrow and vowing to drink water and take medicine before we pass out.
I’m drunk, but not that bad. At least I feel much more sober than I did ten minutes ago. Tristan walks me around to the passenger side of his truck and opens the door. The side rails seem awfully high. I put my foot up, but it slides off, and I giggle. “Oops.”
I try again, but my feet are not my friend.
“For fuck’s sake,” he mutters, and then his hands are around my waist and he’s manhandling me into the cab.
“Hey! I can do it!”
Maybe.
“Obviously not.”
Tristan climbs up, then pulls my seat belt across my lap and clicks it. Then the door closes, and he’s walking around the front.
“Jerk,” I mutter and rest my head against the cool glass window.
He gets in, looks over at me, and sighs. “If you’re going to puke, tell me first so you don’t ruin my truck.”
I mimic his mouth, repeating it but not aloud.
He sees it and glares.
“Fine, I’ll tell you before I hurl.”
“Appreciate that.”
Once again I find myself in his truck that smells like dirt, horse, cologne, and leather. All things masculine and all things inherently Tristan.
He pulls out, and my stomach roils. I close my eyes, hoping that the twenty-minute ride to the ranch will pass quickly, and without incident, if I’m not paying attention.
My stomach, however, isn’t a fan of this.
I lift my lids and groan, hand moving to my stomach.
Please, if you are up there, God, do not let me puke in front of this man. Just give me until I get home, and I will pray to the porcelain gods all night if you grant me this.
God is not answering my pleas.
