Then Kiss Me by Jade C. Jamison Page B

eyes.  Oh, fuck .  No, it wasn’t David.  It was Scott, and I had no doubt in my mind I looked like hell.  Shit.
    “Morning, sleepyhead.”
    I forced myself to sit up and a wave of nausea washed over me.  I managed to hold it down , but then my head started throbbing.  I grabbed hold of it on both sides out of instinct.  I forced myself to say, “Morning.”
    “Man, you are one fucked-up chick.”
    “Please, don’t be so sympathetic.  I might come to expect it.”
    He started laughing.  “Can I get you anything?  Coffee, Tylenol…a new head?”
    I stood up, taking my time.  “All of the above, please.”
    He was still laughing when he said, “Coming right up.”
    “I’ve got to use your restroom first, though.”
    I slowly made my way back to the bathroom.  It was much easier to find with light.  Once there, I ran water through the sink and splashed it on my face.  It felt cool .  Then I shuffled to the kitchen.  When David saw me, he said, “Ouch.  You look like you’re not feeling too chipper.”
    “You could say that.”  I sat next to him.  “By the way, I blame you.”
    “ Me? ”
    “Yeah.   Isn’t there some saying… Friends don’t let friends get drunk ? ”
    “No, Case… it’s Friends don’t let friends drive drunk .  I didn’t let you drive.  Therefore, I’m a friend.”
    I screwed up my mouth in mock irritation.  “Well, thanks for that, although death seems preferable right now.”  I was kidding, but in all seriousness, I was glad I hadn’t driven home the night before .  I wouldn’t have been in any shape to do it.
    Scott came back to the table and slid a mug in front of me.  “Here’s your coffee,” he said.  “And we don’t have Tylenol.  I hope Ibuprofen’s okay.”  He set two rust-colored tablets on the table by the coffee mug and then said, “Sorry I couldn’t find a new head for you .”
    “Thanks anyway.”  I managed a smile.  I picked up the tablets and popped them in my mouth, followed by a sip of the hot coffee.  It felt good going down, but the way m y stomach was acting, I knew I sh ould only sip it.
    David asked, “Want something to eat?”
    “Hell, no.   I don’t dare.”
    Scott sat down next to me.  I noticed he was looking at my legs.  “Nice dress, by the way.”
    Really?   I’d seen my face in the bathroom mirror.  I’d seen better days.  Well, I guessed , if he could look past what the hangover had done to me, so could I.  “Thanks,” I said, the least lame reply I could think of.
    His lips curled up into a smirk.  “Nice legs too.”
    Seriously?   H e was flirting with me ?  God, if I’d felt better…  I was in no shape right now.  So I said, “That’s about all that feels nice on my body right now.”  I sipped more coffee.
    David got up.  He was at the stove, placing a skillet on a burner, then grabbing sausage and eggs out of the fridge.  “Sure you don’t want anything, Casey?”
    “Positive.”
    “Scott?”
    “Whatever, man.  You don’t have to make me anything…”
    I took another sip of coffee and enjoyed how it warmed my throat.  While David engaged in his activities at the stove, I propped my chin on my hand and turned my head to Scott.  I lowered my voice and said, “By the way, I thought you were supposed to be here last night.”
    He raised his eyebrows.  “You too.”
    “I got here eventually.”   I grinned.
    His eyes twinkled.  “So did I .”  I stuck my tongue out at him playfully and he laughed.  I started to laugh too until I winced in pain.  I grabbed my head again, trying to alleviate the pain radiating through it.   The sausage cooking smelled okay, but I knew the eggs wouldn’t smell so great, so I took a large swallow of coffee and said, “Thanks for the hospitality, guys, but I’m going to go sleep this off.”
    “Do you need a ride home?”
    Shit …if I were feeling better, I’d take a ride.   Hell, I’d have given him the ride of his