Page 112 of Ice Bet

How could I let this happen?

After placing her down on my bed, I stripped her out of her clothes and draped one of my T-shirts over her slender shoulders before pulling her into my arms.

“What are we doing?”

“We’re sleeping, baby.” I kissed her on the temple.

She snuggled into my chest and draped a leg over me before sighing wistfully. I could smell the berry punch on her breath. My stomach was in knots, and my phone was vibrating nonstop in my pocket. I couldn’t fathom looking at what was on the screen, in fear that Coach had already found out and was sending me my own obituary.

There was only one person at the top of my list that would have done something like this.

The only problem was that Sully wasn’t even at the party, so who the hell drugged my girl, and how could I get away with murder?

36

RILEY

Hushed voices pulledme from sleep. I cringed at the rising nausea and clutched my belly.God, why do I feel so sick?

My eyes moved back and forth behind my eyelids. The movement was making me more nauseated, and before I knew it, I was falling onto the floor and trying to make it to the bathroom.

Strong arms embraced me, and the toilet appeared a moment later. My back ached as I emptied my stomach and sweat trickled down my cheek. Once the room stopped spinning, I took a deep breath and realized that I was in Aasher’s bathroom.

“Here, baby.” A blue Gatorade was placed in front of my face, and I took it with a shaky hand. I felt dizzy and confused.

After taking a small sip, Aasher took the drink back and put the cap on. My head fell against the wall, and I stared up at the ceiling, breathing in and out of my nose.

“Are you okay?” he asked gingerly, sinking down beside me so our arms brushed.

“I just puked in front of you.Again.” A short laugh left me. “I’ve been better.”

Aasher didn’t laugh. His chest didn’t tumble with a chuckle. Nothing. Curiosity pulled my attention to him, and his lips were pulled into a frown. “Aasher?”

My cheek pressed into his warm hand when he cupped my face. His finger brushed against my skin gently, and warmth flew through me. “Do you remember anything from last night?”

I thought long and hard—so hard it made my head pound.

Shit, that’s a killer headache.

My first worry was if I was going to be ready for tryouts tomorrow, and then I quickly moved past that thought and worried over Aasher’s tightly drawn face and worried gaze. “Um…” I shrugged, hugging my stomach tighter. “I remember going up the stairs and…” My cheeks instantly felt hot.

He cleared his throat. “After that.”

“Dancing.” I tried to piece together the rest of the night. My chest grew tight, and my stomach rolled. “Wait.” My heart raced when things started to come back to me. The broken thoughts were sharp enough to cut me.

“Hey.” Aasher’s fingers softly brushed my cheek again. “Take a breath. You’re okay.”

“Why can’t I remember everything, though?” My bottom lip trembled. I frantically scratched at my throat because it felt tight. For someone that likes to be in control, I felt completely unstable andout of control.

“Baby, calm down.” Aasher pulled me into his lap, and he pressed my head into his neck. I inhaled his scent and focused on the way he was rubbing my lower back. “Please.” A few long seconds passed, and I breathed in and out of my nose, focusing on his warm skin against my cheek. “There you go.”

I was teary-eyed, and I knew, with the little memory I had, what had happened.

“How could I be so irresponsible?”

“No.” Aasher pulled my face up and wiped my tears with his thumbs. His green eyes hardened to stone. “This isnotyour fault. Don’t you dare.”

I couldn’t fathom it. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that someone else, someone I couldn’t even put a face to, took my control away.Again.I was upset, but I leaned more toward anger than anything.

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