Free Back to You by Leighton Rose Page A

hangover.
     
    I spent a good chunk of my birthday morning hugging the porcelain throne and wallowing in self-pity in the dark on my bathroom floor. Oh, what fun that was. I couldn’t even begin to say how disgusting I felt, which reminded me all over again why I didn’t usually let myself get so hammered.
     
    I heard the front door open and close, followed by Riley’s voice carrying through the house. “Tyler?” My bedroom door shut with a bang, which made me cringe, and then I heard him walking down the hallway.
     
    I groaned as loudly as I could without making my head pound any more than it already was but it was no use. The vibrations in my head set off another round of vomiting which was so incredibly attractive. Damn you, Alex.
     
    Before I knew what was happening, Riley had flipped on the bathroom light and was kneeling next to me, rubbing my back and talking to me in quiet, soothing tones. “Are you okay, Tyler? What’s wrong?”
     
    I grunted in misery as my head continued to throb. “Hangover…” I whispered in answer to his question so that he wouldn’t think something more serious was wrong. I realized then that I’d forgotten to text him last night to let him know where I’d be.
     
    “Well, do you think we could get you in the shower? I’m sure it’d help you to feel human again, and it would definitely improve the smell you’ve got going on here.” He smiled that gorgeous smile of his and for half a moment everything faded.
     
    “I’m only getting in there if you’re coming with me,” I whispered again. Riley heaved me up off the floor and I grimaced as my stomach roiled. I felt as though the toilet and I might be meeting again shortly, but he forced me to focus on him and breathe through it, which actually did help.
     
    After we showered, which by the way was a slow and incredibly painful process for me, and I was dressed in clothes that didn’t smell like a brewery, we made our way down to the kitchen where I discovered that it was after noon already. Riley opened my refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of water, twisted the cap off and set it down in front of me. “Drink,” he ordered then reached up into the cabinet where I kept my pain relievers, pulled out two and set them next to the water. “Take those too. They’ll help with the headache.” Then he turned around and went about doing something else at the counter while I focused on his instructions.
     
    “Thanks, Ri.” I put the bottle up to my mouth, closed my eyes and took a few small sips, then when I was certain that it was going to stay down, I took the pills and finished off the water in three big gulps. “I really appreciate it.”
     
    I got up to throw the bottle away and when I sat back down, Riley turned and handed me two pieces of toast. “This will help your stomach feel better so we can maybe go out and enjoy your birthday.”
     
    He walked around the island in the kitchen and hugged me from behind. “Happy Birthday, babe,” he murmured and kissed my neck, which made goose bumps erupt on my skin from head to toe.
     
    I turned my head to capture his lips and his tongue drove deep into mouth. I loved it when he got all needy and forceful, and when his fingers found my hair and tugged slightly, I moaned. I pulled back for some air and muttered, “Damn, Ri.” His kisses could make me hard in about zero point two seconds. He grinned lasciviously at me. “Don’t even think about it.” I laughed. “We’ve got to stop by my parents’ house before we go out today and I’m not going over there smelling like sex.” I leaned in for one more kiss and then turned to eat my toast.
     
    He ruffled my hair (which he knew I hated) and grumbled playfully, “Tease.”
     
    I just winked at him and let him know that he was in for it when we got back to my place later.
     
    We arrived at my mom and dad’s about two in the afternoon and imagine my surprise when I walked into a house full of chaos.