She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“It’s not.”
“Then whatis?”
I gripped her chin with my fingers, holding it so she was forced to look at me.
“The truth is, McKenzie, when I fuck you, I want you to be able to remember every perfect fucking minute of it.”
Her throat worked to swallow, and her eyes went wide. She opened her mouth to speak, but whether it was to agree or tell me to fuck all the way off, I’ll never know because she wrenched herself from my grasp, releasing a geyser of puke into the bushes.
The universe was humbling me.
“Oh my God,” she moaned, dropping to her knees.
I gathered her hair in my hands to keep it out of her face.
“Please go, Luca,” she pleaded. “Let me die in peace.”
“Not a chance.”
Once I was fairly sure she’d emptied the contents of her stomach, I picked her up as gently as I could, hoisted her over my shoulder, and carried her up the stairs. We got inside, and she pointed me in the direction of the bathroom where she tried to push me away again while simultaneously hugging the toilet.
Instead, I opened the closet door, found a washcloth, and soaked it in cold water before wringing it out. I gathered her hair into an elastic band I found on the sink and then pressed the cold compress to the back of her neck as I lightly rubbed her back.
“I’m gonna die,” she croaked, her insides deciding they had more fight left in them after all. “Can you let Katie know I’m calling out of work dead for the rest of my life?”
I bit back a laugh.
“Hey, Luca?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m gonna need you to leave.”
“I already told you I’m not—” I started, but she cut me off.
“Please,” she begged. “I’ve humiliated myself enough for one night.”
I narrowed my eyes in a glare that told her to save it.
“Fine,” she whined. “You don’t have toleaveleave, but I have to pee, and I’d really like to keep some shred of my dignity.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll go get you some water and maybe a snack to help soak up some of this alcohol.”
She groaned. “Please don’t say snack.”
“Scratch the—”
“Don’t say it!”
I eased her to her feet before leaving the room, shutting the door behind me. Finally, I was able to take in McKenzie’s apartment. Lit only by the soft glow of a couple of funky-looking lamps, it was the very definition of cozy. There was a plush green sofa in the living area with an afghan draped across it. Framed art prints and photographs lined the wall that led to the small kitchen with a black refrigerator covered in magnets.
I felt along the wall for the light switch so I could see as I searched the cabinets.
“Glasses,” I muttered to myself. “Where are the glasses?”
Once I found them, I pulled one down, returning to the fridge for some ice and water.
