Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(3)

Three hours after meeting Danika, I sat in her bathroom holding her hair while she threw up. It was quite possibly the most disgusting thing I have ever experienced. She puked until it was physically impossible for her to puke anymore. It was horrible, but I did what any man who wanted to have sex with a woman would do. I sat and stroked her hair while gagging and praying to God to keep myself from puking, too. By the time she finally finished evicting her organs into the toilet, I may have made an agreement with the powers above to name my first born Hephzibah just to make her stop.

I eventually woke up confused and hanging off the edge of an unknown bed. Opening my eyes, I immediately recognized the ocean blues of the beautiful woman standing over me.

"Hey," she says, while walking around the side of the bed to sit down next to me.

"Jesus, it's early. How are you awake after the five-star puke show you put on last night?"

"Unless you want an encore, you seriously need to shut your mouth."

"Oh God, no! I’ve been scarred enough. Do you want to get breakfast? Or did you flush your stomach down the toilet last night, along with the seventeen olives you stole from the bartender’s garnish tray?"

"He left the tray wide open. He was asking for someone to steal his olives!" she says, while trying to playfully punch me.

"Okay, okay, stop. I give up! I'm not awake enough for full contact sports."

I grab her around the waist dragging her down to lay on top of me. She freezes completely, and I realize that while we were very affectionate with each other last night, she was drunk. I have no idea how much she actually even remembers from the night before. Releasing her from my arms, I sit up taking her stiff body with me. I place her on the bed next to me and run my hands back and forth over my thighs, just to keep myself from touching her again.

"Hey, let’s start over. I'm Brett. I like football, long walks on the beach, beer, and golden retrievers. I'm terrified of scary movies, especially the ones made by Disney. I'm a Virgo, but don't worry, I act like a Pisces...or at least that is what my sisters tell me." I ramble, finishing with a closed-mouth smile, suddenly aware of our close proximity and my lack of a toothbrush.

"Well, hello Brett. Nice to meet you...again," she winks.

"So I'm guessing the wink means you remember last night?"

"Yep, I'm one of the unlucky few who never gets to forget a single drunken dance move. I’d be willing to give my first born to forget the ass I made of myself last night."

"His name will be Hephzibah," I answer matter-of-factly.

"What?"

"Nothing...just a little deal I made with The Lord last night," I mumble, dismissing the obviously bad joke with a hand gesture.

"Well, okay then," she says confused, but drops it obviously not wanting to discuss last night any longer.

I stand feeling uncomfortable still sitting on her bed, "I better get going. I'm sure you have things to do today."

"Yeah, um, okay. Do you need a ride to your car?"

"Nah, we aren't far from my place. I can just walk and catch a cab to my car later."

"No, I don't mind. Really! Just let me just get dressed," she says, just as awkwardly as I feel.

"Seriously, Danika, I can just walk. It's no big-"

"Sarah," she looks down at her feet while playing with the ends of her freshly showered hair.

"What?"

"Shit. My name. It’s Sarah." She looks embarrassed and continues to avoid my eyes.

"Sarah? Really?"

"Yeah, Danika is the fake name I use when we go out. It's just something silly the three of us do. I'm horrible at keeping up with it. It always fails. Manda or Casey yells my real name across the bar, completely blowing my cover."

"I'm guessing I know Manda and Casey better as Regina and Anastasia?"

"Yep, that would be them. They picked club names from their favorite TV shows. I tried to use Blanche Devereaux for a while, but you would be surprised by the alarming number of men who watch Golden Girls. After that, I switched to my favorite future baby’s name, Danika."

"Um okay... Sarah." I purposely over-enunciate her name, pretending to be testing it on my tongue. "I'm going to head out. I'm glad you're feeling better. You should probably take some Ibuprofen and drink a gallon of water. I'm pretty sure there is nothing left in your body from yesterday." I look around, trying to remember where I took my boots off.

"Wow, you're tall," I hear the familiar phrase from behind me.

"So you’ve mentioned."

"No, I mean you are really tall!"

"Yep, you may have said that too." I raise my eyebrows, slightly annoyed at how such an awesome night turned into such an awkward morning.

"Look, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be a bitch, I swear. I'm just not sure what to do in this situation." She steps towards me trying to apologize.

I sigh, stretching and scratch the back of my head, "How about you try introducing yourself with your real name, then make me a delicious breakfast, and point me towards your coffee maker." I smirk at her.

She pauses for a second before offering a heart-stopping smile of her own, "Hi, my name is Sarah and there is no way in hell I am cooking you breakfast. I will, however, allow you to buy me some greasy food at the corner diner. And if you are desperate for coffee, I believe there is some decaf in the kitchen. I drink it when I need something warm in the horrible winters y'all have up here."