Page 138 of Foreplay on Words

He scratched the back of his neck as he turned back to me. “Well, you’re going to need a new phone.”

“Damn. Did the screen crack?” Nathan asked.

“Not exactly,” Emory shook his head. “There’s a grate here. It’s about six feet under us right now.”

“No! I needed that...” I whined as I clung to Nathan.

“It’s gone. We’ll have to worry about it tomorrow,” Em told me sympathetically, but I could tell he was trying not to laugh.

Emory came back and grabbed my other side, helping lift me back in between them again. They loaded me into the back of a black SUV, and I laid down with my cheek touching the cool leather seats. I could hear them talking as they climbed into the front seats, but I couldn’t focus on what they were saying. I heard a clunk, and the vehicle started moving.

My mind drifted back to Chase. I hoped she wasn’t too mad at me. This wasn’t how I planned on this night going. Then the thought scattered...

“Let’s go, lover boy!” Em pulled me upright in my seat, helping me to climb down from the SUV. He and Nathan guided me through the gallery and into the studio. Emory stopped to unlock the playroom door.

“The king-sized bed in the back room?” Nathan asked as we entered the playroom. They led me past the play space into a dimly lit alcove at the back, a large bed covered with dark bedding dominating the room.

“Yeah. It’s already made. We should be able to lay him down. Hopefully, he’ll sleep off whatever reaction he’s having.”

“I’m fine...it’s fine, fine, fine...” I couldn’t stop saying fine. It made my mouth feel funny.

“You doing alright?” Nathan asked with concern in his voice. “Em, his color doesn’t look good.”

“Hold on.” Emory walked away and came back with a small plastic trash can. “Just in case you need to be sick.”

“I don’t need to...” He thrust the can into my face, and it appeared just in time. The huge amount of water made a sour splash against the can.

Ugh...

“You feel better?” Nathan asked as I peeked over the side of the trashcan. I shook my head, and Emory took the trash can to a sink in the corner and rinsed it out.

“Do you want me to stay with him?” Nathan offered. Were we going to spoon?

“You don’t have to do that,” Emory shook his head.

“I know,” Nathan sighed. “But I feel like I owe it to Chase.”

“You can sleep on the leather bed out there,” Emory told him as he gestured back to the playroom. “I can grab you some blankets.”

“Thanks.”

I slowly felt the world sway back and forth and wanted to lie down.

“Evan. You doing okay?” Nathan asked as he helped me sit on the edge of the bed.

“I don’t feel so good,” I mumbled as he pushed the trash can into my lap again.

“Why don’t we try to get you to lie down? You might feel better if you get some sleep.”

My head nodded, and I could feel my whole body get heavy. Nathan brought me to the pillow, and I sighed as I felt the covers settle over my body. “Just a little sleep.”

My eyes were firmly closed, but I still felt like I was moving.

“I’ll put the can here in case you need it,” Nathan whispered.

“M’kay.”

Sleep came easily, but I didn’t know how long I slept before I felt my stomach revolt again. I was able to grab the can and throw up into it before I collapsed back into the bed and drifted off to sleep once again.

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