Hypnotized (10 page)

“I’m here.”

“I need to throw-up.”

“Fuck!” He helped me up quickly and led me down the hallway to the bathroom.

Kneeling on the floor, I emptied my stomach into the toilet.

“Damn it, Pais. I told you not to eat that greasy food.”

Yeah, well I hadn’t planned on getting drunk. Oh, God. This hurt. Why did people do this?

After a few minutes, my stomach was empty. Now I just wanted to go home. Evan handed me a wash rag and I wiped my mouth. He then offered his hand, which I gladly took and he helped me back to his bedroom.

“She okay?” I recognized that voice. Kelly.

“Yeah, she’ll be fine.”

I climbed onto the bed, not caring about anything at this point.

“Since she’s gonna pass out any moment, why don’t you and I go talk somewhere a little more private,” Kelly’s tone was seductive. I imagined her hands were on Evan as she tried to persuade him. Evan should go with her, not worry about me.

“I’ll be all right. Go get to know Kelly,” I mumbled.

“I don’t want to leave you,” Evan said.

“She said she’s fine,” Kelly argued. “Now come on. She just wants to sleep anyway, the opposite of what I want to do.”

“Yeah, I just want to sleep.”

“I’ll check on you in a few.” Evan rubbed the hair from my face and left.

Once I was alone, I dug my phone from my back pocket then rolled over onto my back. I sent Gabe a quick text.
Tonight sucks. I met your ex Kelly. And I’ve puked.

After I sent the text, I closed my eyes. The phone buzzed next to me on the bed, but I didn’t have the strength to read it. I needed to sleep.

* * *

Something by my head kept buzzing. I smacked at it, trying to get whatever it was to stop. My head pounded.

Finally, opening my eyes I realized it was daylight. I attempted to sit up, but I couldn’t. So this was a hangover? I was never doing this again.

Glancing to my left, I saw someone in bed with me.
Oh my God! Please tell me I didn’t sleep with whoever that is.
I sat up and saw it was Evan. Peeking under the covers, thank goodness I was dressed.

I found the phone behind my head. That must’ve been what had been buzzing. I unlocked the screen and had several texts from Gabe as well as missed calls.

What do you mean you puked? Are you okay?

Why aren’t you answering? Are you okay?

Are you ignoring me? Did Kelly say something?

Are you home? I knocked.

It’s 9:30. Are you okay? Call me, please.

What time was it? I looked in the corner of my phone—a little past ten. “Shit.”

Evan stirred and rolled over. “What’s wrong?”

“I was supposed to meet Gabe for breakfast.” I fell back against the pillow. My head hurt to bad to sit up. Then it dawned on me. I had to work today. Now I needed to hope it was slow. My stomach churned, I thought I might puke again.

“I’m sure he’ll understand,” Evan said groggily.

To be honest, I was surprised to see him. I figured he’d have hooked up with Kelly last night.

I opened my text messaging app and texted Gabe.
So sorry. Passed out at Evan’s. Feel like complete shit.

I pressed the
send
button then laid the phone on my chest. It vibrated right away. Lifting it up, he was calling. Damn. This was awkward.

“Hey,” I said quietly.

“You’re at Evan’s? Let me come get you.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to get out of bed yet.”

He chuckled. “I know what you need, a good breakfast and lots of liquids to chase that hangover away. Think you can manage to drag yourself off the couch and to the front door in fifteen minutes?”

Guilt overtook me. I wasn’t on the couch. How would Gabe feel to know I was in bed with Evan? He couldn’t be that upset, could he? We were just friends. “I think I can.”

“Good. See you soon.”

The call ended. “Gabe’s coming to get me. You can keep sleeping.”

Evan’s eyes opened again. “I don’t want you to go.”

I smiled. “I don’t want to go either, but I’ve got to work this afternoon and somehow I’ve got to start feeling better.”

“I understand. I just wish you weren’t going to him.”

I sighed. “You should give Kelly a shot. She seems…cool.” That was a lie.

He huffed. “I’d only want one thing from a girl like her.”

I didn’t want to know what that one thing was. Tossing the covers back, I dragged myself from the bed.  “I’ll text ya later. Enjoy your sleep, and thank you for taking care of me.”

Before I was out of the room, his breathing was heavy. He’d probably sleep his day away. Lucky guy.

Paisley sat across the booth from me and looked like death warmed over. Her hair was a mess, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She pushed the hash browns around her plate.

“Eat.” I stared at her. “You’ll feel better.”

She shook her head and dropped her fork. “I’m not so sure.”

“Take it from someone who used to drink a lot. The sooner you quit thinking about the way you feel, the sooner you’ll feel better.” I sipped the hot coffee.

I hated seeing her this way. I was glad she was safe, though, and didn’t appear to be mad at me. After learning she’d met Kelly, I was nervous. Kelly hated me. I couldn’t really blame her. I’d made it easy for her to.

Paisley sipped her OJ. “I don’t know why people do that all the time.”

I smirked. “It’s fun while it’s happening. Guess that’s why they continue.”

“It wasn’t fun, or at least not for long. Just when I started to feel good, I got sick.”

“Have you ever really drank?”

She shook her head as I suspected she would. “I’ve had a beer before, but never more than one. And Evan gave me some fruity drink last night. It was good. It just tasted like juice.”

I had a good idea what he’d given her. Certain juices could hide the alcohol taste. “Beer and liquor are two different things.”

“I can’t eat anymore.” She pushed her plate forward. “I really want to go home and take a nap before work.”

The waitress had already set the ticket on the table. “I’ll take care of this. Go ahead outside.”

After I paid for our breakfast at the register, I found Paisley with her helmet on and leaning against the bike. I slipped my own helmet on then leaned over and kissed her cheek. We climbed on the bike, and Paisley’s weight was heavy against me. I hoped she could handle the short ride back to her place.

Ten minutes later, I led her up the stairs to her house. Once inside, she went straight to her couch, pulled the blanket off the back of it, and lay down. I wasn’t sure if I should stay or not. For now, I sat down next to her and rubbed her back.

“So, how was meeting Kelly?” It might not be the best time to ask, but I was curious.

“She’s pretty, and she’s got the hots for Evan.”

“She’s nowhere near as pretty as you are.”

Paisley grinned. “She also said you’d say whatever you had to in order to get me to sleep with you.”

Of course Kelly did. “I’m sure at the moment I’m not trying to get in your pants, so obviously I’m speaking the truth.”

“You really know how to make a girl feel special.” Her eyes closed.

“I only want to make you feel special.” I bent forward and kissed her cheek. “You rest. I’ll call you in a bit to check on you.”

“All right. Thanks for coming to get me.”

“I would’ve come last night. I’m always here for you.” I stood and stared at her a moment. Hopefully after a nap, she’d be on her way to feeling better.

I, on the other hand, needed to go see Kelly and Pete to put a stop to the rumors.

* * *

Kelly was meeting me at a park near her place later that day. Pete was working—thank God. I hated the idea of being alone with Kelly, but I didn’t have much of a choice. It wasn’t like she was going to stop being around Paisley, especially if she was sniffing around Evan. I needed to make my intentions clear to Kelly on how I felt about Paisley, and hopefully she’d relay it to her brother and they’d drop this cherry popper rumor.

As I walked across the crisp green grass, I saw her sitting on a wooden bench. When I approached, she glanced over her shoulder and smiled.

“Hey there, stranger.” She winked and pat the bench.

I sat down on the creaky wood next to her. “It’s been awhile.”

“I recall the last time I really spoke to you in any length of time was right after you took my virginity.”

She said that like I never spoke to her again. Hell, I’d just seen her a few weeks ago at the grocery store. What Kelly and I had wasn’t anything like what Paisley and I have. Things with Kelly were never serious, at least not to me. Sure I sweet-talked her some—more than I probably should have. But I never told her we would be forever. “We were together after that. You make it sound like that’s all I wanted and once I got it, I was gone.”

She rolled her eyes. “It sure as hell felt that way.”

“It wasn’t, and you and Pete are making a bad name for me.” I sighed. “I like Paisley, I don’t want you messing things up for me.”

She laughed. “Me? You’re worried about me?” She shook her head, grinning. “I’d be more worried about her so called
friend
Evan.”

“I’m not worried about him.” Damn, the sun was hot. Couldn’t she have picked a bench in the shade?

“They slept together last night.”

What the fuck was she talking about? “Excuse me?”

She shrugged. “Not like that, but they were in the same bed. I tried to hook up with him, but he was so worried about little ol’ Paisley being drunk and sick for her first time.”

As much as I hated the idea they were in a bed together, Evan was her friend. And I knew Paisley didn’t see him that way. “They are childhood friends.”

“He wants her badly. I’ve seen the way he looks at her, and I heard him. Before she got sick, he told her he wanted to be with her and even asked if he could kiss her.”

Jealousy coursed through my body as I balled my hands into fists. “She’s not interested.”

“Right now, sure. Don’t forget they have a long history together. He knows her. In time, her feelings might change. After all, who is she going to run to when you two have your first disagreement.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but Kelly had a point. Right now he was just a friend to Paisley, but if Evan kept pushing, that could all change in a heartbeat. I didn’t want to lose her.

“Maybe we should team up,” Kelly said.

“Team up?” I didn’t like the way this was sounding, but I hated the fact that she had my full attention.

“We’ll keep them away from each other. I don’t see a future with Evan, but he’s a hot guy. I could show him the ropes.”

“Are you sure he likes older girls?”

She cocked her head to the side and said, “An older, experienced girl.”

I regretted it the moment I said it. “Okay. What’s the plan?”

“I’ll make Evan forget all about Paisley while you do your little thing with her.”

“Why? You said a minute ago you didn’t want a future with him.”

She shrugged. “I do like him. And sweet, little Paisley can’t have all the guys.”

“If I agree to this, will you and Pete quit telling everyone I’m a cherry popper?”

Kelly smirked and tossed her hair behind her shoulders. “I guess. So we have a deal? I’ll keep Evan distracted while you make the moves on Paisley?”

She made it sound so dirty. Like I was only with Paisley to get her virginity, which I wasn’t. If she never wanted to sleep with me, I was fine with that. This was either going to get Evan to back off, or it was going to blow up in my face.

“Deal.”