Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I hadn’t gotten far when I heard Jules gasp, “Oh, God! Where’s the bathroom?”
She tossed the blanket back, then without waiting for my response, she bolted down the hall. I rushed after her, and when I made it to the bathroom, I found Jules on the floor with her head in the commode. I stepped over to her and pulled her hair back as I asked, “Oh, damn, babe. You okay?”
“No.” Her words echoed against the porcelain as she groaned, “I’m gonna die.”
“You’re wasted, but you’re not gonna die.”
“No, this is it. I’m gonna die.” Jules leaned further into the toilet and got sick once again. “Just shoot me, please. Put me out of my misery.”
“Sorry, babe.” I released her hair just long enough to get a wet rag and place it on the back of her neck. “Can’t do it.”
“Why not? Aaughhh.” she whined. “You’d be doing me a favor.”
“You say that now, but tomorrow will be a different story.”
She started retching once again, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. I’d been there many times and knew how bad it sucked. I stayed with her, holding her hair and freshening her wet rag for what seemed like forever. I was beginning to get concerned. “I should call Doc.”
“Noooo... please don’t call anyone,” she groaned. “It’ll pass in a minute.”
I had my doubts, but I took her word for it and held off on calling Doc. After another half-hour, her nausea passed, and she stopped getting sick. Taking advantage of the reprieve, I stepped into my bedroom and grabbed one of my t-shirts. I carried it back to Jules and said, “Here, put this on.”
With a slight groan, she released her hold on the porcelain throne and turned to face me. She removed her soiled top, then took mine and slipped it over her head. Another groan slipped through her lips as she collapsed onto the floor and pressed her face against the cold tile floor. Her eyes were closed as she muttered, “You’re gonna have to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Looking out for me.”
“Not sure I can.”
She was too out of it to respond, so I grabbed a towel and draped it over her. It was obvious that Jules wasn’t a big drinker. Worried that she was going to be dehydrated and have a hell of a headache in the morning, I went to the kitchen and grabbed her a Sprite and a couple of pain relievers. When I returned, I was surprised to find that she was no longer lying on the floor.
I turned, and when I looked into my bedroom, I found her snuggled up in my bed.
Fuck.
I couldn’t move. I could only stand there and marvel at how beautiful she looked lying there in my bed. It had been a long time since I’d felt anything real for a woman, and even then, it didn’t feel like this—like my entire world had been turned upside down. I had a feeling that this girl might just be the end of me, but for reasons I couldn’t begin to understand, I was okay with that.
In fact, I was feeling pretty good about it as I walked over and placed the Sprite and the pain relievers on the bedside table. Fighting the urge to crawl in next to her, I covered her up with my comforter and headed to the living room.
I grabbed a beer from the fridge, then got in my recliner and turned on the TV. Some news channel rumbled in the background, but I wasn’t paying any attention to what they were saying. I had other things on my mind. I closed my eyes and thought about my night with Jules. It had taken a little coaxing and a shot or two, but she’d finally given in and cut loose.
She might wake up with some regrets, but it was good to see her so happy.
So good, in fact, I decided to do everything in my power to make her that happy again—even if she hated me for it.
I sat there in my recliner until I finally drifted off to sleep. I had no idea how long I’d been out when I heard Jules call out my name. “Q?”
I thought I was dreaming until I heard her call out again. “Q? Are you here?”
“Yeah.” I wiped the sleep from my eyes, then forced myself up from the recliner and went to the bedroom. “I’m here. You okay? Feeling sick again?”
“No, I think I’m better now.” She eased up on her elbow as she asked, “I thought you were taking me home.”
“I was until you passed out in the car. I couldn’t just leave you there alone.”
“Well, you could have, but I’m glad you didn’t.” She laid her head back down as she muttered, “I’m sorry about destroying your bathroom.”