Chapter 27
Lainey
We haven’t said a word since we finished. We’ve just laid here in silence, and I wonder if he’s feeling the same way I am right now.
A loud knocking on the door startles me as I lay tangled in Holland’s arms. I shoot up, knocking his arms off of my naked body.
I look down at him when the knocking stops, and both our heads shoot right back to the door when Ellie’s voice comes from the other side.
“Lainey Barkley! You better be up and getting ready!” Ellie shouts through the door.
“Shit. Shit, shit, shit! What time is it?” I ask, panic clear in my voice as I scramble around looking for my phone. Holland calmly hands it to me with a smirk on his face. Why is he smirking? Why is he not panicking like I am? His sister is literally right outside the door.
“It’s nine thirty,” he tells me, completely nonchalant and in absolutely no rush.
Fumbling out of bed, I rush to put on some shorts and a tank so I’m not naked when I answer the door. Finding Holland’s clothes scattered around the floor, I pick each article up and toss them at him on the bed.
“What are you doing? Get up!” I whisper squeal. His lack of urgency is really beginning to piss me off.
Holland chuckles, and the urge to punch him in the face begins to overwhelm me. Is he serious right now?
“What is so funny?” I ask, whipping my curly hair on top of my head in a quick, messy bun.
“You, running around like a chicken with its head cut off,” he shrugs, his eyes glimmering with humor. I hate him.
Another knock comes, this time it’s Haley’s voice.
“Lainey Elizabeth Barkley. If your ass is still in bed I’m seriously going to come in there and drag you out myself.”
Looking at the door and back to Holland, I watch as he continues to chuckle and seem to have the time of his life as he takes his sweet old time getting dressed.
Oh my god, I’m going to kill him.
Murder is wrong. Murder is illegal. Murder is bad. Do I really want to spend the rest of my life in prison over this man? No, no I do not.
So, murder isn’t an option, but I can definitely throw something at his stupid face.
The door handle begins to rattle, and even though I know they can’t get in without a key, my heart rate spikes at the thought of them walking in and finding Holland in my room.
I’m not ready to tell anyone yet. I haven’t even accepted that it happened myself yet.
“Lane? Are you okay? I can hear you moving around in there,” Ellie says, concern in her soft voice.
Shit, okay.
“Hide,” I demand, watching the smirk fall from Holland’s face.
“What? Where?” he asks, looking around the small room, clearly finding the same problem I’m noticing. There aren’t many places to hide.
“I don’t know. On the balcony, in the shower, under the bed. I don’t care. Just go somewhere they can’t see you,” I screech softly, throwing my arms up in the air.
Holland holds is hands up, looking equal parts afraid and entertained. He may not care if anyone finds out about us, but I do.
“Fine!” he replies, heading toward the balcony and hiding behind the wall. I rush over, closing the curtains, praying to god that Ellie and Haley don’t decide to try to open them.
Rubbing my face in frustration, I mentally prepare myself for what’s about to come before walking to the door and opening it slowly.
Ellie and Haley stand in front of me, Ellie holding two coffee cups and Haley holding a white paper bag out for me to grab.
“Blueberry muffin, your favorite,” Haley winks, walking past me into my room. Ellie gently hands me one of the coffee’s and follows Haley into the room.
Groaning, I shut the door and walk over to my bed, plopping down and taking a long sip of the warm coffee. Oh god, I needed this.
Haley watches me carefully, a curious but knowing look in her eyes. There’s no possible way she knows anything. I don’t think anyone saw us come up here, but then again, I was a bit out of it.
Her eyes follow as I bring the coffee cup back up to my lips. I take a slow sip before setting the cup down on the bedside table.
“Where is he?” Haley asks, crossing her arms.
My heart drops into my stomach and the room instantly becomes hot. Trying to keep my composure as to not give myself away, I straighten slightly.
“Where is who?” I ask, attempting not to sound like I’m guilty.
“The guy. Where is he?”
“What guy? There’s no guy,” I tell her, a bit too fast. She rolls her eyes as Ellie looks around the room, confused.
My pulse is racing, and my throat dries up. What the hell does she know?
“The guy you slept with. Your cheeks are rosy, and your sheets are half off the bed. You look entirely too content to not have just had sex,” she explains. Although she has a good point, I can’t believe she was able to deduce that just by those clues.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I didn’t have sex with anyone,” I lie, hopefully pretty convincingly.
Haley’s eyes narrow on me, clearly not believing what I’m saying. Ellie looks between us before clearing her throat.
“You did take quite a long time to answer the door,” she says. I shrug, doing my best to look nonchalant and completely innocent.
“You just woke me up, I was sleeping.”
Ellie looks down at her watch before looking back at me.
“You hate sleeping in. You say it’s like wasting half your day away,” she explains, and I’m cursing how well she knows me because she might be able to figure me out.
Standing from the bed, I set my coffee down on the end table and walk toward the bathroom to get their focus on something else.
Starting the shower, I turn around to see Haley and Ellie still staring at me suspiciously.
“It’s so dark in here. You should open the curtains,” Haley drawls, walking toward the balcony. My heart stops, and I fly out of the bathroom before she can open them.
“No!” I say, a bit to panicky. Clearing my throat, I hurriedly correct myself. “I have the worst hangover headache. I need it dark.” It’s not a complete lie, I do have a headache, and I’m pretty sure I have a slight hangover, but that’s not the reason I don’t want her to peel back the curtains.
“Are you going to be okay for the wedding today?” Ellie inquires, her motherly concern showing. I nod, hoping that she’ll believe me, and they’ll leave so I can get Holland the hell out of here and I can get ready.
“Of course, I’ll be fine. I’ll take some meds and be good as new. Now can you guys go so I can get ready? I’ll meet you in the bridal suite in a bit?”
“Just make sure you’re there by ten thirty. Gwen wants us there early so we can start our hair and makeup,” Ellie explains.
Nodding, I walk back toward the bathroom. “I’ll be there, Ellie Bear,” I coo. She rolls her eyes, finally heading for the door, followed by Haley.
“Don’t call me that, Lainey Bug,” she taunts.
“You didn’t,” I say, my hand flying to my chest in mock offense.
Ellie shrugs, “I did,” she smiles devilishly.
“You guys, I want a stupid nickname,” Haley whines.
“You have one, Haley Boo Boo,” I tell her, coming up with a name on the fly. It’s the best I could come up with in the few seconds I had to respond.
Haley cringes. “Yeah, I don’t like that one.”
Shrugging, I say, “Oh well, you wanted a name. That’s what you get. Now get out.”
“Fine! Just hurry up,” she says before opening the door and walking out. Ellie follows her out, the door shutting behind them.
For the first time in fifteen minutes, I feel like I can finally breathe. I fall back on the door, letting out a long, deep breath.
Staring at the closed curtains, I take another deep breath before heading over and opening them. Sliding up the door, I peer around the wall to see Holland standing there, watching me.
“Bad hangover, huh?” Holland asks teasingly.
“I will push you over that railing,” I tell him, narrowing my eyes. He chuckles, clearly thinking he’s funny.
“You’re the worst liar,” he says matter-of-factly.
“I am not!” I exclaim, my hands flying to my hips.
Holland shakes his head, chuckling lowly.
“Whatever you say, Lainey Bug.”
A blonde curl falls in his face as he looks down at me, waiting for my response. His godlike smile makes my vagina yearn for more of him, and I have to maneuver myself so I can alleviate the feeling.
Oh hell, Lainey. You’re in it now.