“Dude, you are so fucked.”
I groaned, holding the pillow to my head. “Danny, get the hell out of my room. Leave me alone.”
“Oh, you’ll thank me later. Get up. Get a shower. Quinn’s on her way over, and she’s not going to be happy if you’re still sleeping off your drunk.”
I blinked in the sunlight streaming through my windows, as memories of the last few days filtered into my head.Shit. My mom. Driving to Matt’s Friday night after I’d left the hospital and getting wasted. We’d both slept the next day away, and then he’d said, “Man, you have to stay for the party. We don’t hang enough anymore, all the team together. We need you. Team building, buddy.”
Somehow that had made sense, and I’d been drunk again by the time most of our friends arrived. I hadn’t called Quinn, because I knew she wouldn’t be happy; she hadn’t wanted to come to Matt’s tonight anyway. I was okay with putting off that conversation for a while.
But then I’d seen all the guys hooking up. Taking girls up to the bedrooms, fucking on the damn sofa, and suddenly I wanted my girl with me. Matt had tried to talk me into taking someone else into one of the bedrooms, but I wasn’t interested in anyone but my Mia.
After that, everything was hazy. I had a vague memory of Quinn showing up. Had she hauled me home, or had I imagined that? I groaned again and rolled over.
“In case you’re wondering, Mom’s doing much better. She was asking when you’re planning on getting your ass back over there to see her.”
I nodded. “Good. I’m glad she’s okay. Did you say Quinn was coming?”
“Yeah, she texted me fifteen minutes ago and told me she was on her way.” I heard a door slam downstairs. “Well, that’s probably her.”
“Shit, Danny. Go talk to her while I get a shower.”
He pointed at me. “You owe me big, bro.”
When I went downstairs ten minutes later, freshly showered and mostly steady, Quinn was sitting at the kitchen table with Danny, drinking a cup of coffee. I came around and kissed her cheek.
“That’s not the cheek you need to be kissing,” Danny muttered, smirking, and Quinn glared at him.
“Shut up, Danny.” I snarled the words.
“Shutting up. Actually, getting the hell out of dodge. I’m going to see Mom and then heading back to school from there. Later, dude. Quinn, go easy on him.”
As soon as Danny was out of earshot, Quinn turned on me. “What the hell was that, last night? Actually, come to think of it, this whole weekend?”
I had come downstairs planning on begging her forgiveness, but something contrary seized hold of me. “Oh, you mean when I was hanging with my friends? That was called having fun, babe. In case you didn’t know what that looked like.”
“Really? To me it looked like an orgy. People were having sex in the living room, Leo. Out in the open. Everyone was drunk. Why would you want to be there, part of that? Why didn’t you call me?”
I shrugged. “I did call you, didn’t I? I asked you to come over.”
She snorted. “Yeah, after you were drunk and horny.”
“Could’ve been worse. I could’ve gotten horny and decided to scratch that itch with someone at the party. Believe me, there were plenty who were willing.”
She stared at me, deep hurt in her eyes, and panic filled me. “Babe, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that. I wasn’t even—I only wanted you. I onlywantyou.” I slid out of my chair and knelt in front of her. “Mia, God. I’m so sorry.” I buried my face in her lap.
It seemed like an eternity before her hand came down to stroke my head. “Leo, you can’t do this. I can’t handle it. If you’re hurting or worried about your mom, you need to come to me. Not to Matt. You don’t run off and get drunk. We deal with it together, okay?”
“I just—I was scared.” My voice was muffled against her. “I wanted you, but I didn’t want to be scared in front of you.”
“You can’t think that way. I love you, Leo. Not just for the good times. Not just for the championship games. I want to be part of all of you. All your life.”
I nodded. “All right. Yeah.” I let out a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“Yo! I’m heading out. See you guys later. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Danny’s voice floated back to us just before the front door slammed behind him.
For the space of a few minutes, we stayed still. Quinn combed her fingers through my hair, and I relaxed, my eyes closing as breathed in her scent.
“Hey, Mia?” I turned my head to look up at her.
