Page 58 of Tiers of Joy

I feel a hand come around my waist and smile, still dancing.

“Come on, let’s get home.” Gaige whispers in my ear.

“Bye Eloise!” I yell over my shoulder.

Gaige grabs my coat and bag and leads me to his truck. The whole way I'm singing sex is on fire.

Once in the truck I lean my head on the window and yawn.

“God I’m an awful date.” I mumble.

“Best date I’ve ever been on.” Gaige smiles.

“It’s your fault. You and your moist sponge made me nervous, so I drank.” I whine.

“Noted. I won’t talk about your moist sponge again.” He laughs.

We pull up outside the shop. Gaige opens my door for me and I practically fall into his arms.

He guides me to my door and unlocks it for me and takes me upstairs to my bedroom. I start stripping off.

“Esme.” Gaige warns.

“What? I'm going to bed. I'm not nakey!” I giggle.

“Christ.” Gaige helps me into bed and tucks me in with the cover right up to my chin. He leans over me, his eyes searching.

“Night Esme.”

I lift my head and kiss him, slowly.

“Night Gaige.” I mumble before falling to sleep.

Chapter Fourteen

I awake the next morning and groan. My head feels like it’s been steam rolled. I squint my eyes open and see water, pain killers, and a note. I grab the water. My mouth feels like the Sahara desert. I swallow the pain killers then slowly sit up to read the note.

Esme,

I'm not sorry I ruined your date.

Gaige.

“What?” I say. I turn the note over to see if there’s anything on the back: nothing.

I groan and lay back down. My phone rings and I answer it.

“What’s up slapper?! You have a good date?” Sally shouts.

“Shhhh Sally. Esme dying.” I groan.

“Oh Jesus, how much wine did you drink?” She asks.

“Two bottles.” I state.

“Christ, please tell me you didn’t shag him that drunk.” She pleads.

“No, no. The date was a disaster. Gaige and Amy were there and the pub was that busy we had to share a table.” I tell her.

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