Chapter 30 Astrid
ASTRID
My stomach lurches violently, and I bolt upright, clutching a hand over my mouth as nausea swims up my throat.
“Astrid.”
I turn at the sound of Callan’s voice, frowning when I see the pinched worry on his face.
How is he here? And where am I? I scan my surroundings, wondering how the fuck I ended up in one of Thor’s guest bedrooms with Callan.
Alcohol sloshes wildly in my stomach, and I gag, scrambling off the bed and staggering toward the en suite bathroom, barely making it to the toilet in time before I drop to my knees and heave into the bowl.
My stomach repels the vodka I drank at Gwen’s house when we were getting ready, and the wine coolers I inhaled after I got here.
Warm hands hold my hair back as I expel the contents of my stomach in a wave of gross projectiles.
It feels like I’m spewing my entire insides as it just keeps coming, and it’s so disgusting.
I am never drinking alcohol again. Sweat beads on my brow and rolls down my spine as I continue retching.
I’m too sick to feel shame, but I know it’s waiting in the wings.
“Shit, babe.” Renee kneels beside me. “What can I do?”
“I’ve got her,” Callan says in a gruff voice. “Maybe just find her something to wear, yeah?”
“Oh my gawd, Azzie.” I wince as I continue retching, Gwen’s screech pummeling my sore head. “What the hell happened?”
I’d like to know that too.
“Everyone needs to get out,” Callan says, taking charge. “Give her some space.”
“Where is Joe?” Gwen asks, and my stomach churns into knots as it starts coming back to me.
Drinking as I changed into the minuscule costume Gwen got me for Halloween, because it was the only way I had the courage to come out looking like this.
Continuing to drink as Gwen drove my car here.
She didn’t touch a drop, promising to be my designated driver tonight.
Stewing in anger, remembering Callan kissing Ana and agreeing with my bestie that I needed to make him pay.
Using Joe to do that is where the plan came unhinged.
I didn’t even have to do anything. As soon as he saw me, he was all over me, dragging me onto his lap, kissing my neck, grabbing my ass, and staring at my boobs while telling me how much he loved me and wanted me.
When he kissed me, I wanted to tell him to stop because his lips were all wrong, and I realized I couldn’t do it.
I didn’t want to kiss anyone else. But I was too drunk, and the words didn’t come out right.
I vaguely remember him asking if I wanted to go upstairs, but that’s where my memory ends.
I have no clue how I got into this bedroom or how Callan ended up in here.
“Hemsworth is getting what’s coming to him,” Callan supplies as my stomach finally settles and I stop retching. Renee is gone, leaving Gwen and Callan in the bathroom with me.
“Sounds fair,” Gwen says. “I should go make sure they’re not killing him.” She crouches down over me. “I’ll get Renee to come back. Don’t forgive him, babe,” she whispers. “Remember how he was all over Ana earlier.”
“I wasn’t,” Callan grits out, and I guess Gwen isn’t being as quiet as she thinks.
“She was all over me.” With gentle fingers, he turns my head so I’m looking at him.
Sincerity bleeds from his eyes and his tone.
“What you saw was her throwing herself at me and kissing me without invitation or permission. I pushed her away, but I’m guessing you didn’t see that before you drove off. ”
Gwen purses her lips, and it’s clear from her expression she’s not buying it. I’m not sure I’m buying it either, but my head is as fucked as my stomach, and I don’t have the energy to think about it right now. I just want to crawl into bed and sleep for eternity.
“I’ll get Renee,” Gwen says, straightening up.
“I’m here,” Renee appears in the doorway, holding a bundle of clothes. Thor stands behind her, and I see Scott hovering behind him.
“Let’s get you up,” Callan says, bending down. “Can I lift you?”
I should say no, but I’m nodding instead.
Notes of sandalwood and orange hit the back of my nose as he scoops me into his arms. Heat surrounds me as he cradles me in his embrace, and all the hurt and pain return like a punch in the gut.
My skull is pounding, my temples throbbing, and my stomach wobbles, empty but still sensitive.
At least I feel more sober, but with that clearness comes a heap of shame and guilt.
What was I thinking tonight? I should’ve just stayed home like I planned. Then none of this would’ve happened.
“Can you stay with her?” Gwen asks Renee as Callan walks toward the bed.
I feel his scowl before it appears on his face.
“I’ve got our girl,” Renee confirms.
“Are you okay?” Scott asks as Callan gently places me on the bed.
“No, but I’ll be okay once the alcohol haze fades.”
“We were worried.” He smiles at me, and Callan’s scowl turns into a full-blown glower. Not sure why he’s pissed at my best friend’s boyfriend. It’s not like he had anything to do with this.
“I’ll check on you in a bit,” Gwen says, tugging on Scott’s arm. She blows me a kiss. “Try to behave while I’m gone.” She waggles her brows before wiggling her fingers at me, and then they exit the room.
Thor closes the door after them, approaching with a bottle of water. He hands it to me. “Drink this. It’ll help.”
“We should get you out of those clothes.” Renee grimaces as she runs her eyes over the puke splatters on what I assume is Thor’s black shirt. “You two go get coffee.” She waves her hands at Thor and Callan.
“I’m not leaving her.” Callan crosses his arms, looking ready to dig his heels in.
I’d really love to know where he came from and whether what he said is true.
“You don’t get a choice, Callan.” Renee squares off with him. “You gave up that right when you broke things off with Astrid.”
“That was a mistake,” he blurts, his gaze lowering to mine. “One I’m trying to rectify.”
I hate how my heart soars hearing that. I still know nothing, and I can’t just take him at his word, but I’m pathetic because I’m clinging to hope, and I can’t deny how much I want him. I have missed him so much this week.
“I hope that’s true, but right now, you need to go get coffee and let me help Astrid.” Renee stands firm, and I love her for it.
“Go,” I tell him, sensing he’s preparing to go to war with her. “We can talk when you get back.”
He’s reluctant to leave, I can tell, but finally he forces a nod.
Dipping down, he kisses my cheek, and my skin tingles from the contact.
My fingers twitch with the need to touch him, but I shove them under my butt to halt the temptation.
Callan has a lot of groveling to do if he’s to make it up to me, and that’s a big if right now.
“Don’t hurry back,” Renee says, sharing some silent communication with her boyfriend. “We need time to talk in private.”
After the guys leave, Renee helps me strip out of the soiled shirt and my costume.
I hop in the shower quickly, feeling more human as I dry off.
I dress in her leggings and sweater, combing my wet hair and tying it up in a messy bun on top of my head.
Renee gives me a clean toothbrush, and I brush my teeth and rinse out my mouth.
“Thanks, babe. I feel so much better.”
“Good. You had me really worried, Astrid. I have never seen you get so drunk.”
I rest my head back against the headboard as we sit side by side on the bed. “I didn’t eat dinner, and it was stupid to drink on an empty stomach, but I was mad and hurt and not thinking straight.”
“What Callan said is true,” she says, turning to face me.
“Thor told me what happened after Riley and the guys showed up. They were all there and watched it go down. Ana made a move on him, but he rejected her. I didn’t realize you’d seen it, or I would’ve said something to you when you arrived.
By the time I saw you, you were making out with Joe, and I thought it was what you wanted. ”
“I’m such a bad person, Renee.” I hang my head in shame as I twist the lid off the bottle of water. “I came here to seduce him to piss Callan off. I have zero interest in Joe, and I shouldn’t have led him on.”
“Don’t do that.” Anger flares in her eyes as I sip my water.
“That piece of shit was all over Nina the instant your plane took off. He didn’t give a shit about your feelings then, and you shouldn’t give a shit about his now.
Who cares if the player got played? It’s long overdue, but Joe crossed a line tonight.
He knew you were too drunk to consent, but it didn’t stop him from taking you upstairs. ”
Pressure sits on my chest, and I almost choke on water. “What do you mean?”
Compassion shines from her eyes. “What do you remember?”
I rub at the pain spreading across my chest. “The last thing I remember is him asking me to come upstairs. Everything after that is a blur. Are you saying…” A sob bursts from my chest. “Did he…”
“Are you sore down below?” she gently inquires while taking my hand.
I shake my head as a sliver of relief winds its way through me.
“I’d be sore if he’d done that, and he wouldn’t.
” I take another drink of water. “Joe wouldn’t do that to me.
I know things are shit between us, but I really don’t think he’d do that.
He didn’t pressure me to have sex while we were dating, and he wouldn’t take that choice away from me now. ”
She squeezes my hands tighter. “I’d love to believe that, but I don’t know, babe.
” Conflict slashes across her face. “Thor said his hands were under your skirt when they got to the room, and his jeans were open. I think his intentions were obvious.” She chews on the corner of her lip.
“Maybe you should go to the hospital and get checked out.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to. You know how things get around. If my parents find out, they’ll hit the roof.”
“They weren’t up here long,” Thor says, coming into the room with Callan, and it’s unclear how long they’ve been listening. “I feel like we would’ve walked in on it if he’d taken it further.”
“I want to kill him,” Callan spits out, walking toward me with a mug in his hand, his fingers curled so tight around the ceramic it’s a miracle it doesn’t break.
“No one is killing anyone,” I say before knocking back the rest of my water.
“The guys gave him a beating, and he just left,” Thor explains.
“I’ll talk to him tomorrow.” I want to know exactly what happened, and he’s going to tell me.
“Over my dead body are you going anywhere near that prick.” Callan hands me the coffee. “Drink it slowly so your stomach doesn’t rebel.” He sits on the edge of the bed, and just looking at him invokes a riot of differing emotions.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do.” I wrap my hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into my chilly bones.
A muscle clenches in his jaw. “We need to talk. If you’re up to it.”
I still want to sleep and make this all go away, but I want to hear what Callan has to say more, so I nod. “I’ll listen to what you have to say, but I’m making no promises beyond that.”