But before she could say anything, she shook her head, bent down, and threw up all over my shoes.
CHAPTER37
SYDNEY
I wokeup with a pounding headache. Like someone had attached a drill to my head and was going to town. I groaned and turned over, and then I lifted an eyelid, only to shut it because the blaring light hurt my eyes.
“Hey, sexy sleepyhead.”
My eyes flipped open. Austin sat above me and brushed my hair from my face.
“What am I doing here?” I covered my mouth as soon as I spoke, my own breath hitting me directly in the face—and that wasn’t a good thing.
He smirked, and the slew of memories of everything happening last night bombarded me like a bad dream, only I was awake this time.
Drinks.
The teasing.
The celebration of my no-longer-celibate life.
More drinking.
Throwing up.
“Oh, goodness.”
In the car.
In the lobby.
On the way to the bathroom.
“You put me in the tub, didn’t you?” I asked, horrified, my voice so quiet that I barely heard it myself. I remembered him washing me up.
“I did.” He tapped at my nose.
I turned my head to the side. “Please don’t look at me like that. I probably look like death.”
“Even drunk and passed out with dried vomit on the side of your mouth, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
I threw an arm over my eyes. “I hate you.”
“And I …” He paused, as if making sure I would hear him loud and clear. “I love you.”
My heart stopped altogether. I didn’t lift my arm from over my eyes.
“Are you sleeping?” A nervous laugh escaped his lips. “Or just pretending you didn’t hear me?”
I inhaled deeply and lifted my arm, meeting his gaze. I could read all the emotions in the span of green staring down at me. Endless and beautiful, like acres of newly cut grass.
He rubbed at the back of his neck. “I’m not expecting you to say anything. I didn’t say it out of the blue either …” He sucked on his bottom lip.
A nervous Austin was a sight to see, given that he was normally so confident.
“I’ve just been thinking.” He stared off at nothing for a moment, then looked back at me, such sincerity in his eyes. And love. Yes, so much love. “And …” That nervous laugh popped out again. “And I love you. Plain and simple. I haven’t fallen in love before.” He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “And maybe you don’t feel the same way now, or maybe … I don’t know.” He smiled. “You might never feel the same way, but that doesn’t change how deeply I feel for you.”
Heart explosion.