because Anna keeps smacking Celeste and saying “Holy shit” each time.
“How’s the sunburn?” I ask, announcing my appearance. The ladies jump apart, guilt written across both their faces.
“A lot better. Here, I took a sip.”
I accept the cup from Celeste and slide up next to her. Being together this weekend was seamless, but we were also alone most of the time. We haven’t actually been together, affectionate, in front of other people but until she smacks me away, I’m going to enjoy every minute I get to touch her.
“I’m going to excuse myself and change while you two… well whatever.”
Anna leaves us alone and scurries down the hall to the actual room with a door. When the door clicks closed I turn to Celeste.
“So, how exactly did I end up here and do you know why I’m craving a tuna sandwich?”
Chapter Fourteen
Celeste
“You don’t remember anything about our flight from Atlanta, do you?”
I can tell he’s trying hard to remember something, anything, but he’s coming up blank. Good thing I have enough memory for both of us. And oh, what fun memories they are.
“I… I don’t.” He shakes his head, likely trying to sort out whatever fuzzy thoughts he can’t totally grasp. “How much did I drink?”
I take a sip of coffee before answering. I’m not angry at him. Not even close. But as a lover of stories, I want to make sure my comedic timing is just right. It’s not every day you get to tell a celebrity they may want to avoid getting a pet cat, and not because he travels too much to take proper care of it, but because they may be too close to kindred spirits.
“You didn’t drink anything.”
“I didn’t?”
I shake my head.
“Did I get drugged or something?” The sudden realization has his eyes widening in horror. “Ohmigod, did someone drug me so they could take pictures? Holy shit. Does Eddie know? Is he on it already? Tell me I kept my clothes on.”
Well damn. My comedic timing didn’t take in account that he might skip right over the truth and go straight into panic mode.
He rushes to my room and since our apartment is the size of a postage stamp, returns before I can swallow my coffee. Hunter’s panic is evident as he taps at the screen of his phone. Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen him looking for it all weekend. I know he’s been avoiding it so before he blows his self-imposed technology hiatus, I stop him.
“No one drugged you, Hunter. And I promise there are no pictures anywhere. Although I may have missed out on opportunity for some playful blackmail myself.”
Hunter turns to me, his eyes darkening. “There is no such thing as playful blackmail.”
It seems that’s a hot button issue. “You’re right. I’m sorry. What I mean is you can stop freaking out. No one drugged you.” Well, except maybe himself. “There are no pictures. No one even knows you’re here. I was very stealth, and your vacation outfit seems to have done the trick.”
His whole body relaxes and as I suspected, he tosses aside that phone he’s been avoiding. Rubbing his hands down his face he takes a deep, centering breath. “Then how did I get here and why don’t I remember anything?”
Putting my mug down, I lean back against the counter, my flannel jammie shirt sliding down one shoulder. “You had a headache.”
“Right. So I took some Tylenol.”
I shake my head. “That wasn’t Tylenol, Hunter.”
And just like that, a proverbial lightbulb goes off over his head. “I got it mixed up with Ambien, didn’t I?”
“That’s is our suspicion.”
He groans and plops down on one of two bar stools next to our tiny island. “I can’t believe I accidentally drugged myself.”
Laughing lightly, I walk to him and rub my hand down his back. “That you did, my friend. You’re just lucky I was sitting with you to help keep you contained.”
“Wait.” His head pops up and I have to step back quickly to avoid being nailed in the face. “You said ‘our’ suspicion. Who is ‘our’?”
“Let’s just say the flight attendant was less than happy to have a human-sized cat batting around some airline issued headphones with his man-sized paw at thirty thousand feet.”
His eyes close slowly and blush covers the entirety of his face. “That explains my craving for a tuna fish sandwich.”
I can’t help it. My laugh comes out loud and lasts way too long. But now that I’m not worried he’ll