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“I’m not sober, shortcakes.” She smothered a chuckle, and I grinned. “You think I’m funny.”
“I think you need to go back to your own room, Noah.” Her exasperated gaze drilled holes into my face. “It’s late, and I don’t have the energy to deal with you right now.”
I took a step toward her and another, swaying towards her as if some invisible line was reeling me in.
“Just how much did you drink?”
“Not enough,” I murmured.
“Noah… did something happen after you left me?”
“I—shit.” Acid rushed up my throat, flooding my mouth. “I’m going to—” I barged past her, running for the bathroom. Dropping to my knees, I clutched the bowl as I purged two hours’ worth of vodka.
“Noah?”
“Don’t come in here,” I murmured, heaving some more.
Fuck.
It burned.
“I’m going to get you some water and your toothbrush.”
I murmured some nonsensical reply. Everything hurt. My stomach. My head. My muscles.
My cold fucking heart.
All because that piece of shit I got to call my father still had a hold on me.
Because I couldn’t let him go.
“Hey.” A dark-haired angel appeared in my blurry vision. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Aurora helped me to my feet and stripped me out of my puke-splattered t-shirt. “Clean tee,” she said, handing me the t-shirt. “Toothbrush and water is right there on the vanity. Think you can manage or do you need me to help?”
“I can manage.”
Because it was already shameful enough that she had to witness this.
Way to go, Holden. You’re a fucking idiot.
She gave me a small nod and went to leave, but I snagged her wrist. “Aurora—”
“Not now.” She yanked her arm free and left me alone.
I cleaned up the best I could, brushing my teeth twice and giving my face a wash. I didn’t bother with the t-shirt; I never slept in pajamas.
When I went back into her room, Aurora was perched on the edge of her bed, the bedside lamp casting a soft glow around the room.
“How are you feeling?” She stood.
“Like something crawled inside me and died, and I still can’t see straight.” I ran a hand through my hair and down the back of my neck.
“You can sleep in here tonight. I’ll take the floor.”
“Shortcake…” I closed the distance between us, getting so close she had to crane her neck to look up at me.
“Don’t do this, Noah. Not tonight, not while—”
