Page 111 of We Met Like This
He placed a kiss on my lips. Soft music played from the Uber driver’s car stereo, but she didn’t try to talk to us other than confirming our destination.
“Did you get video for Kari at the bar?” he asked, seeming to remember again why we were here. His breath smelled like peanuts and whiskey.
“I did. While we were dancing.”
“I didn’t notice.”
“You were too distracted by my boobs.”
“I was.”
The Uber driver met my eyes in the rearview mirror with a smile in hers.
I kept Oliver’s arm around me as we walked into the hotel because he was drunker than I realized, uncertain on his feet.
“You okay?” I asked inside the elevator, holding some of his weight.
“You’re right, I’m drunk. Tomorrow is going to suck.” He put his forehead on my shoulder.
I hugged him around the middle. “You’re going to hate me for letting you drink so much.”
“I would never. You’re funny and free and smart.”
“What about beautiful?”
“Very beautiful,” he said. The elevator doors opened on our floor and I helped him down the hall. We’d canceled the second night of his room that morning and moved all his stuff over to mine. I led him there now.
I tapped the keycard on the door and opened it. He walked straight to the bed, collapsing there, while I turned on the entryway light.
“I’m getting you some water,” I said. “And potato chips from the lobby store. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t be long. I want you to take me.Pleasetake me.”
I laughed and headed back downstairs for the hangover-prevention supplies. Well, they wouldn’t prevent it, but they would help.
I bought a bag of Lay’s, a large water, and a small bottle of aspirin in the lobby store.
Back at the room, I opened the door to heavy breathing. Oliver was out. He’d gotten his shoes off and his pants halfway off before he’d given up and lain back on the bed. I set my supplies on the nightstand and pried his pants the rest of the way off his legs.
He startled awake and sat up.
“Shh,” I said as he looked around the room. “It’s okay. Iwant you to eat a handful of these, take three of these, and drink half this water.”
He was halfway asleep still but he obeyed. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“You don’t have to be sorry,” I said, pulling the comforter on the bed back and helping him beneath it.
“I just realized something. The past can’t be left behind because it’s still your present.”
“You’re my present? Is that what you’re saying? You’re adorable.” I kissed his cheek.
“You can have me now,” he said. “I’m yours.”
“You’re drunk, babe,” I said. “I’ll take you tomorrow. Promise.”
“You like to take care of me too,” he mumbled.
“I do,” I said, a warm feeling spreading across my chest. I really did.
