Page 24 of Sinners Keepers
Igroaned as I peeled my eyes open, the sunlight creeping in through the open curtains searing into my overly sensitive retinas. I licked my cracked lips, trying to find some relief. My throat burned as I swallowed nothing, and my tongue was dry and cracked against the roof of my mouth. My head throbbed with every movement I made.
It had felt like such a good idea to keep drinking, but that particular form of anxiety relief unfortunately came with a price.
After checking my phone to find it was already early afternoon, I peeled my tired body out of the cocoon of blankets, my muscles screaming as I nearly tripped over a pillow that had fallen onto the floor. I dragged my feet across the carpet and stumbled my way down the stairs, every step more agonizing than the last.
I was surprised to find Law and Alec home in the middle of the day, both of them in the kitchen sitting at the island where we always seemed to congregate.
My face heated thinking of the interaction we’d had the night before, but I refused to be embarrassed. I may have felt emboldened by my beverage choices, but they’dbothreciprocated my interest stone-cold sober.
Hearing me pad into the kitchen, they turned in unison. Their eyes seemed to drink in every inch of my exposed skin and I realized in my sleepy haze that I'd forgotten to put pants on.
Oh well. They’d seen more than this of me, so with false bravado, I completely ignored their presence and walked over to the fridge.
Popping the door open, I peered inside. My eyes were still unfocused, and I’d barely had time to spot the bottle of water I was looking for before Alec’s long arm reached around me and grabbed a bottle of tomato juice.
I peered up at him, scrunching up my nose.
He tapped the tip of it, “Have a seat, we’re making you breakfast.” He shook the bottle in front of my face. “Hair of the dog that bit you, or some shit.”
“I hadwine, not vodka,” I noted.
“Meh. Tomato, tomahto,” he said, swirling the liquid around inside the container.Cheeky prick.He closed the refrigerator door and casually wrapped his free hand around my waist, squeezing the opposite hip gently and dropping a quick kiss on the top of my head.
He touched me like I belonged to him, and I was starting to wonder if maybe I did.
I pulled up a bar stool, gingerly climbing onto it all the while wondering if it was too much or too late to ask if they’d bring me my breakfast in bed.
Law was already heating something on the stove. He had his back to me, so I couldn’t tell what it was, but I hoped it was something he’d already fully cooked earlier that just needed to be reheated.
Whatever it was, it smelled delicious.
Alec slid a glass of ice across the countertop in front of me, then poured the thick red mixture he’d just concocted over it before sticking a stalk of celery and dill pickle spear in it. He topped it off with a splash of pickle juice and swished it around with a stir stick.
I quirked an eyebrow at him, but in reality, I probably could’ve eaten the entire jar of pickles and then drank the leftover juice without batting an eye. I fucking love pickles.
“Electrolytes. Drink up.” He nudged the glass toward me and I accepted it, greedily taking a long drink in hopes it would actually help in any way at all. The briny flavor coated my tongue, a hint of horseradish lingering after.
I finished it off, then chugged my bottle of water, immediately regretting both of those choices when my stomach lurched against the sudden assault of liquids.
I hadn’t even noticed the bottle of aspirin he’d sat on the counter in front of me. I was suddenly thankful I had no issue with swallowing pills dry because the thought of taking even another sip of anything made me want to wretch.
Law placed a plate of crispy hash browns and two fried eggs in front of me, along with a bottle of ketchup.
“Thank you. I don’t know if I can even eat all of this, but you’re seriously the best.”
“Just try,” he said. “You’ll feel better soon.”
I took a bite of the potatoes and just the act of chewing actual food already had my stomach feeling somewhat better.
“Ugh. The only thing that would make this better is a shot of espresso on the side.” Did I say no more liquids?
Caffeine didn’t count as liquid consumption anyway. Unless, of course, iced coffee was all I’d drank that day. Then it totally did.Girl math.
Alec was already moving before I’d even finished my sentence. He grabbed the portafilter, inserted it into the espresso machine, and locked it in place. The whirring and hissing of the steam heating filled the room.
“Fuck, you two should marry me,” I said, taking another bite.
“Where do I sign?” Alec responded, waiting for the tiny glass mug to fill.
