Chapter 5
Chapter Five
ALICE
My entire body feels like a truck ran over me. I haven’t felt like this since college. Since the night I met Declan and puked all over him. That was the last time I let my inhibitions go like that. I hate the feeling of being out of control.
I thanked my lucky stars that it was Declan I ran into that night and not some lecherous man. Things could have turned out much differently had I not bumped into him.
I groan. It’s like a walrus took up residence on my head, it aches so bad. Turning my head to the side, I crack one eye open. Light spills in through windows.
It makes the pain in my head worse. I roll over, pulling the pillow with me. Until I run into a solid wall.
A solid wall of muscle.
Oh God.
I don’t even want to look. Who is in bed next to me? The last thing I remember was the guys wanting to go to another bar and getting into the limo.
That was what…midnight?
The man next to me gives a grunt and the nerves leave me.
It’s Declan.
But why am I in bed with Declan?
“Declan.” I poke his side. “Declan. Wake up.”
No response. Another snore. He is dead to the world.
“Declan,” I hiss. “Come on. Get up.”
This time, I shake him. That has him flipping over and peeking one eye open at me. “Why are you awake?”
“Because it feels like I’ve been run over by a truck and I need water.”
“Why are you waking me up then?”
Declan moves onto his stomach and stuffs his arms under his pillow. His brown eyes close, shutting me out.
“The better question is why are you in my bed?”
“Your bed?” That has him popping up onto his elbows and staring down at me. His light brown hair flops into his eyes. “This is my room.”
Before sitting up, I shove my arms under the comforter. Thank God, I’m still dressed.
Looking around the spacious room, Declan’s suitcase is sitting on the bench at the end of the bed. His shirt that he was wearing last night is crumpled on the floor.
“I need water.”
I slide out from under the comforters and scurry to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I’m a mess.
My hair, piled on top of my head, sticks out every which way. Mascara is smudged under my eyes. Pillow lines mark my face. “Oh God.”
Grabbing the glass, I turn on the faucet and fill the glass up. I swallow the entire thing down. It makes me feel slightly more human.
Declan’s mouthwash sits on the counter and I swig that down before washing my face.
Looking at myself again, I’m a bit more put together. My head on the other hand is another matter entirely.
Everything from last night is fuzzy. I remember dinner and the show. Going to two bars and that’s it. I didn’t think I had that much to drink, but maybe I did. We were celebrating, after all.
“You okay in there?” Declan calls out from the bedroom.
“I’m fine,” I squeak out.
Opening the door, Declan is there, standing at the foot of the bed. His abs are on full display.
“Alice? You sure you’re okay?” I don’t know how long he’s been standing in front of me. He snaps his fingers and that’s when I notice it. The shiny glint of gold. On his left hand.
“Declan.” I grab his hand and hold it in front of my face. “Holy shit.”
“What the hell?”
My gaze goes to my own left hand. A matching band.
“What the fuck happened last night?” I shout.
“Do you not remember?”
“Would I be asking you if I knew?” I huff.
“I remember after the show we went to a few bars.”
“How many were a few?”
Declan steps back, pacing in front of me. I’m distracted by the hard muscles rippling as he stands there. Thick thighs, with a light dusting of hair, have black boxers clinging to them.
How have I never noticed how attractive my best friend is? I mean, yes, logically I know he is. But I’ve never let myself look. No good would come from going down that road.
After the night we met, I spent all day with Declan, laughing and explaining my drunken thoughts to him. It solidified our friendship. I never wanted to do anything to mess it up.
Like get married?
“I remember you doing shots with Cash and that’s about it.”
“Ugh. I hate shots. Who made me do shots?”
That earns me a smile. “I’m pretty sure you wanted to do them.”
“Then I was definitely drunk. I don’t think I’ve done shots since…”
“The night we met?” Declan offers.
“Yeah.”
“So we did shots and then decided to get married?”
“I have no idea.” I shrug. “This is why I don’t drink this much.”
“Because you make bad decisions and marry your best friend?”
I cock a brow at him. “Yeah.”
“Can I point out two things without you freaking out on me?” Declan asks.
“I mean…maybe.”
That earns me a smile. “Fair. One—at least I’m not a stranger.” He holds up a single finger below flipping up a second. “And two, based on you still being fully clothed, at least we didn’t have sex.”
I blow out a breath. “I did think of that.”
I look down at my dress. Not the most comfortable thing to sleep in, but based on not remembering much of how we got to the hotel, I’d say it’s a positive I’m clothed at all.
“Not that I wouldn’t have rocked your world…”
I laugh. “So you think.”
“Hey. I take offense to that.”
I wave my hands in front of him. “This is not the conversation we need to be having right now.”
“Look,” Declan starts, “this is definitely not what we had planned for our trip.”
“I know.”
“We’ll get it annulled. It should be fairly easy, right?”
“I think so? I’ve never actually had to get one.”
“Hey, c’mere.” Declan pulls me in for a hug, but I don’t hug him back. He’s still mostly naked. All these abs on display? I don’t need to feel them. I don’t need to feel his warmth seeping inside of me and making me feel better.
“Look. This will be a funny story we can laugh about in a few months, okay? I’ll look and see what we need to do and get it taken care of.”
“You will?”
“Yes.”
That one word has me wrapping my arms around his waist. At least I’m in this mess with my best friend.
Okay, things really could be worse.