into it. You know, not tell her we’re there and invite her over.”
I laugh. “I’m not doing that to Alaina. She’d have my balls in a vice grip before the end of the night.”
“Fine,” she grumbles.
There’s another loud crash in the background. “Oh, no you don’t, you little witch!” Mom shouts, nearly piercing my eardrum. “You stay away from my yucca plant!” Her breath puffs over the speaker. “I gotta let you go so I can go strangle your dad. I’ll talk to you later about coming to visit. Love you.”
Before I can say the words back, she shouts something else to the cat and the line goes dead. With a chuckle, I toss my phone in the small cubby hole underneath the stereo.
The woman is certifiable, but she’s my mom. You love them no matter how crazy they are.
Starting my car, I back out of the parking space and leave the lot, eager to get to Alaina’s house.
Chapter Thirteen
ALAINA
I feel like death. Not just regular death. But something that’s been dead for weeks and is now rotting away.
Bending over the toilet, I hack up the rest of breakfast, surprised there’s any left to come up. After flushing the toilet for what has to be the tenth time, I rest my forehead on my arm that’s wrapped around the toilet. I’m sweaty, my mouth is disgusting, and my stomach still rumbles uneasily.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so sick in my life. I want to crawl back to my bed and sleep for a week, but every time I go to do just that, my stomach purges itself again.
I groan, resigned to sleep right here on the toilet. At this point, I really don’t care.
Knocking comes from the front door, and I crack open my eyes to look into the hallway. Enzo. He was supposed to come over after his time at Tanner Down. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll make it to the door. I’m not sure I want him to see me like this anyway, so a part of me wishes he’ll leave when I don’t answer. The pathetic part of me wants him to walk in and find me. To take care of me.
God, I’m so pitiful.
The knocking comes again. I reach for my phone to call him, but realize I left it on my nightstand the last time I had to run to the bathroom.
Just great.
I tilt my head, listening for another knock, but it doesn’t come. He left. I don’t know why, but that knowledge brings tears to my eyes.
What the hell is wrong with you, Alaina?
I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I need to grow some lady balls and do it myself. I’ve totally got this.
When I push up from the toilet, I realize how wrong I am. I really, really don’t have this. Another wave of nausea hits, and I start dry heaving. Guess the last batch that came up really was the rest of my breakfast.
My throat burns and tears sting my eyes. I need some water to clean out the bile coating my throat, but the sink is too far away on the other side of the room.
I’m attempting to crawl across the floor when I hear footsteps coming up behind me.
“Fuck, Alaina!” Enzo’s rough tone is a balm to my ears.
Getting to his knees beside me, he lifts me up so I’m sitting on my ass. I tilt my head back and look at him with bleary eyes.
“I’m sick,” I croak.
“You think?” he rumbles. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He pushes my sweaty hair back from my face with a frown. “Shit, you’re burning up.”
“How did you get into my apartment?”
“I jimmied the lock with a credit card.”
Wrapping an arm around my shoulders and the other under my legs, he hoists me up from the floor. Despite my sweaty face, messy hair, and foul mouth, I snuggle against his chest. For the first time in what feels like forever, moving doesn’t bring on the need to hurl.
Blessed cool sheets meet my heated flesh when he lays me down. I automatically roll to my side. Laying this way helps when the nausea hits.
Enzo leaves and goes back to the bathroom, and I close my tired eyes. A moment later, the bed dips when he sits by my hip. I moan as a cool rag is placed over my forehead. It feels like heaven.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
I open my eyes and see his blurry form,