“What’s the secret ingredient?” I rasp out. My throat is sore.
“Cheese.”
“I don’t think I can stomach it, Eden.”
“Sure you can. I promise it will work. Just try a few mouthfuls. Even if you can’t finish it, you need to line your stomach again.”
Leaving the tray next to me, Eden takes her coffee cup, walks around to the other side of the bed and climbs back in. My heart thumps a little harder as she settles in next to me. A flash of our future crosses my mind. Lazy mornings like this. Well, minus the hangover and vomiting.
I feel her nudge my shoulder and look pointedly at the sandwich. “You’re a vegetarian,” I blurt.
“Well yeah, but my family isn’t. I don’t mind handling meat or cooking it.”
“What do you eat for a hangover?”
She shrugs. “I’ve never had one. But if I ever do, I’ll have some Tofurky bacon.”
Shame. That’s all I feel. Eden is looking at me with kind eyes. There’s no judgement at all. No, that’s all internal. I really hope I didn’t do anything bad. With Eden, or with anyone else.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I pick up the sandwich and take a small bite. It’s good, and my mouth waters in a good way. Spurred on by my sudden hunger, I take another bite. Washing it down with some coffee, I dare to look at Eden again. She’s looking at me, confused. “You shouldn’t have had to look after me last night.”
“I was happy to. Anyway, you pretty much passed out the second you hit the bed. I had to undress you. I’m sorry for that, but your clothes were a mess.”
My face heats again. “Did I throw up on myself?”
“No, but you did have half a keg of beer and other assorted drinks on you. Um, I thought it best if you wore my t-shirt instead.”
Why is she looking embarrassed?
“Thank you. Really, and I’m sorry. Whether you minded looking after me or not, I shouldn’t have drank like that. I never have before.”
“Did something happen?” she asks. I’d love to answer the question, but I’m not sure if I can.
No, nothing particular happened, I don’t think. Apart from leaving her, that is. God, was I so disappointed she didn’t want to spend the night watching movies with me that I drank myself silly?
“No, just one too many. Um, how did I get upstairs?”
“Becca. She was pissed too. Um, she sort of dropped you on my shoulder and left. She’s in the kitchen right now, cursing the world. It’s quite funny actually.”
The spark of mischief in Eden’s eyes makes me smile for the first time today.
“I may or may not have cooked your breakfast with a few extra bangs of the frying pan. Oh, and the radio might have been a little higher than necessary.” She chuckles. “Perks of being the only sober one not suffering. I get to be evil.”
Chewing the last morsel of sandwich, I’m happy to feel mostly human again. “I’m sure we all deserve it.”
“Everyone is awake downstairs, but I thought you might appreciate eating alone.”
“I do. Thank you, Eden. You’ve been a wonderful friend.”
The spark in her eyes dims slightly. Did I say something wrong?
“Yeah, sure. What are friends for, right?” Her smile is smaller and tighter.
If I’m not mistaken—and I could be—Eden is upset I called her a friend. Which means she either doesn’t see me as a friend and I’m being presumptive, or she wants to be more than that and my friend-zoning her is upsetting.
Chewing my lip, I go for broke. I’ve humiliated myself in front of her, and yet she’s still here, being so sweet. I’ve already waited three years to talk to her. I don’t have another three years to work up the courage to ask her out. I’m thegirl who goes after what she wants in life in every way but my love life. Maybe it’s time to change that.
“Eden…would, um…would you maybe want to grab dinner with me?”
