Page 34 of Protecting the Boundary
With a groan, I throw my comforter over my head, but even the groan hurts my aching brain.
Jesus, how much did I have to drink last night?
Stupid Chad.
I can’t really blame him for the decisionImade to make a stupid drinking game out of his actions, but with my hangover making my skull feel like someone’s using it for a drumbeat, I decide he deserves partial blame.
My mouth feels thick and dry, and I’m hit with the urge to drink something, but I really don’t want to get out of bed. With another groan which I regret instantly, I throw the covers off and push myself up to sitting. The room spins briefly and my stomach churns with queasiness.
I think I’m going to be sick. I push up and dash to the bathroom, making it just in time to empty whatever was left in my stomach into the toilet. Sagging back against the side of thebathtub, I wipe my mouth with some toilet paper. Staying seated on the floor sounds like a solid plan until I’m certain my stomach is settled. Once I’m sure nothing else is going to come up, I push myself up to standing and brush my teeth to get the thick, cottony feeling out of my mouth. A shower sounds incredible right now, but first I need aspirin for this headache.
Walking out of the bathroom, I stop in my tracks when I notice the glass of water, two little pills, and a note on my nightstand.I pick up the note first, and my cheeks heat with mortification when I see it’s from Romel.
Take these and then come over to the main house when you’re up. I’ll make you a hangover breakfast.
I don’t know what a hangover breakfast is—my friends and I usually just got Del Taco when we were drunk or hungover because it was open twenty-four hours. I close my eyes as pure embarrassment throttles me. I don’t remember anything after Romel showed up outside the club. I barely remember walking out of the club in the first place.
I need him to know I’m not that irresponsible. Last night was the first time I’ve ever gotten so drunk outside of a couple times when we got plastered at a frat party near our dorms. But in those situations, I’d always been with friends and could walk home. Last night was next level irresponsible because I was with people I didn’t really know, apart from Addy. I can only imagine what Romel thinks of me now.
I toss back the aspirin and drink most of the water before I get in the shower. Once I’m showered and dressed, I’m starting to feel marginally better, but dread still curls in my stomach at the thought of facing Romel. I have no idea what I said or didafter he picked me up, and I’m not sure I want to know. I’m humiliated enough that he saw me shit-faced.
Reluctantly, I slip on my sandals and walk over to the main house. Romel’s already in the kitchen when I slide open the back door, and the smell of bacon instantly hits my nose. He looks up at me at the same time my stomach grumbles.
A small smile forms on his face, and now my stomach clenches for a whole new reason. God, I swear this man’s smile is my kryptonite.
“Morning,” I say, giving him an awkward wave and then I briefly close my eyes and take a deep breath. I need to be an adult about this. When I open my eyes, he’s already watching me. There doesn’t seem to be judgment on his face, but there’s something I can’t quite name. At least he doesn’t look angry, and I’m not getting that blank expression I hate so much. “I’m sorry about last night. I’ve never gotten so drunk like that, and I hope you know I’m not normally that irresponsible.”
He sets down the tongs he was using to move the bacon from the sheet pan to a plate with a paper towel on it. “You’re allowed to go out and have fun, Meredith. I’d be a hypocrite if I judged you for that. I’ve been shit-faced myself plenty of times when I was in college.”
“But I’m not in college anymore,” I point out. “And I don’t want you to think I’d ever be irresponsible around Kay.”
“I’ve never thought you would.”
I nod. “Okay, good.”
This conversation is going way better than I was expecting. I wince. “I didn’t say anything embarrassing last night, did I?”
His gaze turns thoughtful. “You don’t remember everything?”
I shake my head with regret. “The last thing I remember is getting in the car with you.”
He looks down at the counter, and for a second it seems like he’s disappointed.
“Did something happen?” I ask cautiously.I hope to God I didn’t say or do anything horrendously embarrassing.
When he looks up at me, his expression is a bit more distant than it was before. “No. You fell asleep in the car and I carried you to the guesthouse. You were still passed out when I put you to bed.”
I cover my face with my hand. On the one hand, I’m grateful I didn’t say anything—like admitting how much I like him in a way that is completely unprofessional—but on the other hand, I’m still ashamed I got so drunk, he had to carry me to bed.
“Here,” he says, picking up a plate of cheesy eggs, buttered toast, and adding three slices of bacon to it. He sets it down on the counter in front of one of the tall stools and I take a seat and dig in. He pours me a glass of orange juice and then turns around to pour a cup of coffee which he sets next to the juice.
My mouth is full of delicious food, so I can’t ask him if he’s got any milk or sugar, but apparently I don’t need to because he pulls out a bottle of my favorite hazelnut coffee creamer. I swallow my bite and then stare at him in disbelief. How did he know this was my favorite?
That soft smile reappears and my heartbeat picks up the pace at the sight.
“Kay insisted we get your creamer when we were at the grocery store.”
My own smile breaks across my face. “She’s a total sweetheart, Romel.”
