Page 128 of Take My Hand

“Mads was fairly drunk earlier but she sobered up a bit,” he said, presumably to Liam. “How can they get this shit faced in half an hour?”

“No idea, but if we take them home like this they’re going to get a bollocking.”

I managed to focus one eye on Zak and could see what looked like fear on his face.

“Dad will be fine.” I waved them away. “Don’t worry about William.”

“Fucking hell,” Zak muttered. “He’s going to fucking kill me.”

“Let’s get them outside and take them for a walk, see if we can sober them up.”

Ana started to laugh, too loudly, because it hurt my ears. “They can hardly stand, never mind walk.”

“Ana, you’re not helping,” Zak snapped. “Although she’s got a point.”

Tiredness suddenly hit me, and I wanted nothing more than to sleep. I dropped my head against Zak’s chest and closed my eyes. He held me to him as he continued talking to Liam, but I zoned out, concentrating on not being sick on his chest and trying to sleep at the same time. It was actually a comfy place to rest my head and I must have dropped off, because the next thing I knew, all I could hear was Ana and Zak yelling at each other.

“You stupid idiot, Ana. How could you do that?” He pulled me closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

“You could have fucking killed them.” That was Liam and he sounded just as angry as Zak. “Oh shit, she’s going to be sick.”

There was movement, and as I opened my eyes, I saw Liam guiding Emma’s head over the kitchen sink. He held her hair back with one hand, while he rubbed her back with the other.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, swaying as I tried to move towards Emma.

Zak kissed my forehead. “Ana spiked your damn drink with vodka. “Yours and Emma’s.”

“It was just a joke,” Ana protested. “They were being boring, telling me how much I should and shouldn’t be drinking.”

“Not a very funny joke,” Liam yelled and then turned back to Emma. “Come on, babe, get it all up.”

Hearing him call Emma babe made me giggle.

“Aww he called her babe, Zak. Liam called Emma babe. He likes her.”

Zak pushed my hair from my sweaty face, his thumbs lingering on my cheeks.. “Yeah he did. Do you think you need to be sick, too.”

I shook my head and instantly regretted it. “Oh, I think I might.” He quickly pushed me towards the back door, but it was too late. Water flooded my mouth, quickly followed by the sandwich I’d had earlier and the gallons of booze I’d drunk. It projected all over my boyfriend’s chest, hitting him smack bang in the middle, and then sliding down in big lumps and splatting on the floor.

“Oh, shit,” I groaned. “I’m so sorry.” I looked up at him, but his eyes were downcast, staring at the vomit covering him. His arms were still on my shoulders, though, making sure that I didn’t topple over. “Zak, I’m so sorry.”

Slowly, his gaze lifted to mine, and he gave me the softest of smiles. “It’s okay.”

Someone behind him yelled about the smell of puke, and then there was a roar of laughter, followed by someone screaming.

“What the hell.” It was Holly whose party it was. “You dirty bitch. How could you?”

Zak whipped around. “Oi, you watch what you call her. It was an accident; she didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Of course she did. She?—”

“I am so sorry, Holly. Get me some kitchen roll and I’ll clean it up.”

To my left, I heard Emma groaning as she continued to throw up into the sink. With each retch, Liam soothed her and told her to keep going.

“If anyone should clean it up, it should be you,” Zak spat at Ana. “I can’t believe you were so stupid.”

“It’s not my fault they can’t take their drink.”

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