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"Hellooo?" Lilly's tiny voice came from the phone as D dropped down next to me. She pressed the speaker button.
"We're here," Den barked. Man, she was livid.
"Hey, Wes."
"Liiil." A yawn made me draw out the I.
"How are you doing, Wes?" Lilly's question was hesitant.
"How do you think he's doing?" D wouldn't let me get a word out.
"I can talk for myself, BK."
Her eyes widened, and I averted my gaze.Crap.
I was about to open my mouth to answer Lilly when cold sweat began to cover every inch of my body. A wave of nausea rolled through me, and I clamped a hand over my mouth. Sprinting to the hall bathroom, I made it just in time before I expelled whatever was still in my stomach. The process repeated several times before I finally concluded that I had gotten everything out.
"You need to stop drinking."
I was on my back, feet flat on the bathroom floor. Den hovered above me, and her mouth was in a thin line. She didn't look angry, more concerned.
When I didn't respond, she held her hand out, and I reached up, interlacing our fingers. She helped me to my feet, then guided me to sit on the rim of the tub. She wetted a washcloth, and when she started cleaning my still sweat-covered face, warmth spread through every part of my body. Closing my eyes, I let her do her thing. Could I have done it myself? Sure, but it felt good being taken care of.
When she was done, she handed me the damp cloth. "Take a shower, and I'll order us hangover breakfast."
"Still not much for cooking, I see," I teased her with one side of my mouth up in a lopsided—and tired—grin.
She gently swatted the back of my head. "Not when it comes to cooking junk."
I remainedunder the hot spray longer than necessary. Oh, the joy of never-ending hot water in D's fancy high-rise. Kai tended to be a girl when it came to bodily hygiene, and if we had to make it out of the house at the same time, I usually ended up showering cold. I pulled on a pair of sweats and a clean long-sleeve shirt and headed to D's living area.
A spread of various food items covered her granite countertop.
"I didn't know what you wanted, so I got a bunch of different options." She smiled at me with a knowing twinkle in her eyes. "You look much better. Kai still steals the hot water?"
I nodded, already having a massive bite of the breakfast burrito in my mouth.
Den sat down next to me on her barstool, sipping on a cup of coffee. She wanted to say something, but every time she opened her mouth, she ended up lifting the mug to her lips instead.
"What is it?" I mumbled, chewing.
I watched her draw in a long breath before she looked at me steadily. "You need to check on King."
Huh?My eyebrows shot up. That was the last thing I would've expected to come out of her mouth. All I could do was gape.
She lectured, "This is your baby. You both were there when it happened. So, man up and take responsibility." Her earlier hesitation was replaced by sternness.
Responsibility? What was happening here?
"Whose side are you on?" I snapped, squishing my breakfast in my fist, splattering its insides across the plate. White-hot rage engulfed the tranquil peace she had provided me with earlier in the bathroom.
Den ignored the mess, her sole focus on me. "You obviously didn't use protection, so…" She let go of her mug and splayed her arms wide in a "there you go" motion.
Shit!The heat fizzled out, and my stomach lurched. I wasn't sure if it was from dealing with a hangover from hell or that she wanted me to talk to King. I waited for the familiar signals of betrayal. How dare she take King's side? But instead of the crushing sensation of being let down by my best friend, my shoulders sank.
"I can't." My voice was a mere rasp.
She put a hand on my thigh. "Yes, you can."
