Page 88 of Fear of Love
I hung up and took one sip of my coffee before my phone rang again. Trevor’s name came across the screen, and I groaned. I had a feeling I was going to be on the phone allmorning with the guys. With a shake of my head, I answered, ready to convince another brother not to go after the guy his girlfriend punched.
25
LYDIA
Waking up was a bitch. The sun peeked through the blinds just perfectly, hitting me right in the eyes. The stabbing headache had me groaning, pulling the covers up over my face. A stinging, throbbing pain in my hand had me hissing. Pulling the covers back, I held my hand up.
My knuckles were bright red, the skin swollen and already bruised. I tried to make a fist, only to whimper at the pain that flared.What the hell happened?
My head was in such a fog, paired with a headache, that I couldn’t even begin to think about what happened last night. At least not until I had some coffee and painkillers.
With my eyes half cracked open, I looked around the room. It took a moment to realize I wasn’t in mine, and instead, in Landon’s. A room I’d gotten very accustomed to recently.
I slowly sat up, the room spinning and my head pounding. Landon wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I strained to hear if he was in the living room, but I couldn’t hear anything.
The need to empty my bladder and get medicine for my head drove me out of the comfortable bed. I swung my legs off the side and cradled my hand to my chest. Glancing down, I noticed I wasn’t in my dress from last night but wearing one ofLandon’s T-shirts, the soft fabric hitting mid-thigh and smelling like Landon’s cologne.
Bringing the fabric to my nose, I breathed in the smell of him before I padded toward the bathroom. A quick glance in the mirror at my reflection made me cringe. My blonde hair was sticking up in every direction, the few curls I put in looking like a frizzy mess. Seeing my makeup free face, I remembered Landon taking his time to take it off last night.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach as bits and pieces of the night came to mind—Landon coming to the jail to bail us out, Landon helping me up to his apartment and taking the time to undress me, Landon removing my makeup, Landon lying down with me as I fell asleep.
What I said on the way home popped up in my thoughts, making me groan. I forgot I rambled and told Landon about how I grew up. I wasn’t ashamed of it, but it also wasn’t something I broadcasted to everyone. The pitying looks were something I hated.
While I didn’t want to face him after last night, I knew it was best to get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. I used the bathroom and fixed my hair into a somewhat decent ponytail, trying not to cry at the pain in my head. I wiped my face the best I could before I made my way out of Landon’s bedroom, my steps quiet as I headed for the kitchen.
I found a coffee mug sitting on the counter, a sticky note next to it along with some medicine.
There’s a pod in the maker for your coffee.
Make sure to take the medicine and ice your hand.
I’ll be home soon.
-Landon
My heart fluttered in my chest at the note. It wasn’t anything romantic, but he went out of his way to leave one. I couldn’t even be mad that he wasn’t here. Gripping the note, afraid it would disappear if I let it go, I got my coffee started.
While it brewed, I went back to Landon’s bedroom to find my phone. It was plugged in on the bedside table. My clothes were folded and stacked on the chair by his dresser, along with my purse. Who knew Landon could be insanely sweet.
I slipped the note in my purse before I grabbed my phone and headed back to the kitchen. The rich, earthy notes of coffee made the fog in my head slowly disappear.
It felt a bit weird being in Landon’s apartment without him, but at the same time, it felt better than being at my place. Since I was surrounded by all things Landon, I didn’t feel as alone. Weird, coming from someone who used to like her own company.
With my coffee in one hand and an ice pack and my phone tucked under my arm pit, because it hurt too bad to hold anything in my right hand, I settled on the couch. Curling up, I started to check all my missed calls and texts. I wasn’t surprised to see it was already eleven o’clock in the morning.
Opening my texts, I smiled at the messages in our girl group chat.
Mila: I’m never drinking again.
Josie: Don’t even get me started. My head is pounding.
I thought back to all the alcohol we consumed last night. No wonder we were feeling it this morning.
Tasha: I think I broke my thumb.
I winced at the picture Tasha sent of her swollen hand. My own hand throbbed, the pain intense, but I was trying my best not to think about it. Wrapping my hand in the ice pack, I groaned. Damn it. Punching someone wasn’t as easy as it looked. Something Tasha and I were just realizing.
With my coffee mug between my legs, I took a picture of my own hand and sent it to the chat.
