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I could feel my cheeks flush. “I didn’t mean to…” I stammered.

“I was just kidding. Hop on.” Liam pointed to his back.

I jumped on Liam’s back and was surprised he didn’t even flinch. I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder. Liam grabbed my legs which were wrapped around his waist and started walking towards my apartment. After a few minutes, I had a burning question I just had to ask. “Liam, why are you doing this?”

“That’s what friends are for, Anna. We’re still friends, right?” We were almost to my apartment and Liam wasn’t even winded. He wasn’t kidding when said he hit the gym.

My head was resting on his shoulder right next to his ear. “Yes, we are. Liam, I’m so sorry. So, so sorry,” I whispered.

“I know, Anna. I am too, but it’s going to be all right. Now hang on, we’re almost there and I’m going to carry you up the steps. If you want to talk about this more, we can do it in the morning, OK?”

“OK,” I whispered. I nestled into Liam a little more and closed my eyes.

What the hell had I done?

Chapter 21

The Recap

WHEN I WOKE UP, I was instantly filled with embarrassment and regret as flashes of the previous night played before my eyes. Thank God Liam stopped me from making a terrible decision with Oliver. I’d like to think I would’ve come to my senses on my own, but I was such a train wreck, I couldn’t be sure exactly what would’ve happened. I shuddered at the thought.

I rolled over onto my side and pulled the blankets tighter around me as I squeezed my eyes shut. I had absolutely no desire to face the day. Not only was I emotionally drained, but I definitely had a hangover from all the bubbly I’d downed the previous night. Just the thought of champagne made my stomach roll.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been in bed, drifting in and out of sleep, before there was a soft knock at the door. I didn’t move or make a sound, but soon I heard the door open, followed by Bree’s voice. “Hey, Miss Anna. Are you awake?” I tried to lay perfectly still and pretend I was still asleep. I felt the mattress dip and a pull on the covers as Bree climbed into bed with me. “Nice try. I know you’re faking it,” she said with a laugh.

“I have coffee!” Sarah’s voice was way too cheery, but the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee was enough to make me stir. “Scoot over, because I’m climbing in too.” I heard Sarah put the coffee mug down on the nightstand and felt the covers flutter on the other side of the bed.

I kept my eyes closed and the blanket pulled over my head as I scooted towards the middle of the bed. Sarah climbed under the covers and sandwiched me between herself and Bree. I felt the blanket lift off my head. “Are you going to keep your eyes closed the whole time?” Bree asked.

“Yes,” I mumbled, blindly reaching around for the blanket to pull back over my head.

“Do you want to talk about last night?” Sarah started to rub my back.

“No.” I kept my eyes shut, but started to relax a little. It felt oddly comforting to have Sarah rubbing small circles on my back.

“Wellllllll…you need to at some point, babe.” I could feel Bree shift around until she was sitting up.

“I would rather just pretend it didn’t happen,” I mumbled.

Bree laughed. “No such luck. Since you’re not going to talk, I’m going to start throwing out what we know so far. You can fill in, or correct, as needed.”

I’d been friends with Bree and Sarah long enough to know they weren’t going to just let it go. They’d stay in bed with me all day if that’s what it took for me to start talking and processing the events of the previous night. I kept my eyes closed as I reached my arm out from under the blankets. “Coffee,” I mumbled.

Sarah laughed. “Well, sit up and I’ll give it to you. Otherwise, you’re going to spill it all over your bed.”

I sighed and opened my eyes before slowly sitting up and climbing out from under the blankets. I was rewarded with a big, steaming mug of coffee. I greedily inhaled the delicious smell before taking my first sip. I instantly felt it start to slice through the hangover fog.

“Now you’ve joined the land of the living!” Bree chuckled as I glared at her. “Let’s get started. Mason was supposed to leave yesterday, but he called to let you know he pushed his flight back due to some work thing.”

I let out a loud groan as memories of my last conversation with Mason, and the thought of him being out at a bar with some other woman, flashed through my mind. “I don’t even want to hear his name,” I said bitterly.

“Fair enough.” Bree nodded her head in understanding. “We will just refer to him as…” Bree paused for a moment. “Boy. We can just call him Boy. How does that sound?”

“Fine,” I mumbled as I took another big drink of coffee. Physically, I was starting to feel better but, emotionally…well, that was a different story.

Bree repositioned herself to lean back against the headboard, like she was getting comfortable for a long conversation. “All right,” she started. “Boy leaves work for the flight he rescheduled, but there is a bunch of traffic due to an accident and Boy misses his flight.”

“The last flight of the day,” added Sarah who was now laying on her side with her head propped up on her arm.

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