Chapter Sixteen:

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I was laying with my face against my toilet. I have already thrown up three times this morning. I can’t believe I drank so much last night. I feel miserable.

“Rough morning, lovey?” Dom asked me. I grunted, unable to form words. It was taking all my energy just to concentrate on not throwing up, again.

“How are you not as miserable as I am, right now?” I asked him, cringing at how pathetic I sounded. He crouched down next to me and handed me a joint. I looked up at him and he lit it for me and handed it over. I sat up and inhaled. I held it for a minute, before coughing. I grimaced, but kept smoking. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to get rid of this hangover. It’s awful. After I was done, I felt a lot better. I smiled at him and he helped me to my feet.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, darling. Ashley was in rough shape, too. I thought she need hers before, I sought you out.” He apologized. I shrugged.

“I’m glad she got hers first. Don’t worry.”

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After a shower and brushing my teeth a few times, I felt great. I pulled on the laziest clothes I owned. After laying around for a while, we finally decided that we needed food.

“Pizza?” Ashley suggested. I nodded. We left to go to the nearest pizza parlor. I stopped dead in my tracks, as soon as we were inside of the restaurant. Matt and Brian were both inside. They saw me and started to walk over. Ashley and Dom both looked at me, to make sure that I was okay to face them.

“It’s fine. I’m good.” I told them both. Ashley gave my arm a squeeze.

“I’ll get us a table.” She walked away. Dom lingered longer.

“Are you sure that you’re alright?” He asked me. I nodded and gave him a soft smile. He leaned down and kissed the corner of my mouth, before following after Ashley. I looked at Matt and Brian expectantly.

“What do you want?” I asked them, cutting to the chase.

“Can’t we just say hey without having an ulterior motive?” Brian asked. His voice said one thing, but his eyes said something else entirely.

“You tell me.” I replied, trying to figure out just how much he told Matt.

“I’m sorry I was a dick. You gave me a chance and I blew it. Give a guy another chance?” Matt asked me. I shrugged.

“Sure, I guess,” I sighed. He smiled at me and pulled me into a hug. I blinked against him, trying to figure out what was happening. After a minute, I patted his back, awkwardly. He finally let go.

“We should do something together, the three of us.” Brian suggested.

“Yeah, maybe,” I shrugged. It wasn’t a no, but it wasn’t a yes either.

“You can do better than that, can’t you?” Brian pressed. I cocked my jaw to the side and looked up at him, annoyed. I didn’t mind seeing him again, but I wasn’t crazy about adding Matt to the equation.

“Is this because we ran into each other last night?” I asked, instead of answering his question. He took that opportunity to look me over.

“Part of it,” he admitted.

“Look, I don’t care what the two of you have going on. I do what to have a chance to get to know you. I mean, sure, we didn’t know each other, when we got paired. We still don’t know each other. What’s the worst that could happen if we actually became friends? I’m really not that bad.” Matt admitted. I knew that I was probably going to regret this, but I was going to do it anyway.

“Okay, you know what? Okay. Fine. Just keep that sexist bullshit to yourself, or I promise that I will hit you in fucking face.” I gave him. They both grinned at that.

“You’re so hot, when you’re angry.” Brian mused. I tried to throw daggers at him with my eyes, but it didn’t work.

“Goodbye. Mama needs food.” I started to walk away, but Brian caught my arm.

“Hey man, can I have a minute with her?” He asked Matt. He nodded.

“When you’re finished talking, why don’t we have a pizza together. Our friends bailed, and you and your friends haven’t eaten yet.” Matt suggested.

“Okay,” I gave in. “Ash and Dom have a table around here somewhere.” I told him. He nodded and walked off to go find them.

“So, last night…” he began.

“I was really drunk.” I interrupted him. “You being there, was that just a coincidence?” I asked him. He looked away and I knew that it wasn’t. “It wasn’t. Was it?”

“No, I was hoping I’d run into you. Courtney mentioned that you used to go there with your friends sometimes, while you were in high school. I thought it was worth a try.”

“Courtney Gilbert?” I asked, to clarify. He nodded, like he was trying to decide if the fact that I knew here was a good thing or a bad thing. “How long have you guys been sleeping together?” I asked him. He refused to look at me. “Look, I don’t give a fuck who you sleep with, but as long as you’re sleeping with her, you won’t be sleeping with me. I knew her in high school. She’s had so many STIs, it’s not even funny. I don’t want any of that. If we ever do get together, and that’s a big if, it’s going to be after you’ve been tested and you’re no longer hooking up with her. And if fairness is an issue, I’ll get tested, too. I’m fine with that. I’m not going to put my health at risk, for some hot guy.” I lamented.

“So, you think I’m hot?” He smirked. I rolled my eyes.

“That would be the only thing that you got from that whole spiel.” I sighed, trying not to laugh.

“Hey, you said it, not me. And for the record, that’s fine. It’s not like we’re together anyway.” He agreed.

“Good.” I gave him a small smile.

“What do you say? Do you think that we can be friends now? I think we’ve moved past acquaintances.” He put his hands on my waist and pulled me closer to him.

“Sure, but I’m not kissing you. You’ve got STI cooties.” I made a face at him and walked away, trying to find our friends. Well, maybe this won’t be so bad.

Notes