The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1)(37)

Pushing Alexa out of the doorway with my body, I shoved my feet into my sneakers, half in, half out, crushing the backs and not even lacing them up. The laces dragged on the floor, but I didn’t care; I needed to get Seph out of there. I grabbed her hand and walked out into the living room.

Her roommate kept trying to find out where we were going. I handed Seph her coat and grabbed mine then we were downstairs and out of the building.

“I’m still in my clothes from last night,” she said the second we hit the cold November air.

“I figured you’d prefer day-old clothes to sitting through breakfast with her.” I jerked my thumb in the direction of her apartment.

“You were correct.” Seph shoved her hat on. A bit of static cling from the fabric had her hair levitating around her shoulders.

I laughed and turned her toward me. “You look like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket.” Running my hands along her hair and down to her neck, I tried to get it under control.

“That’s what happens when you rush me outside in last night’s clothes.” She glared, but her lips told a different story. Then her eyes brightened. “Wait, I’m back out super early in the morning and I’m wearing my clothes from last night—is this a walk of shame? Am I doing my first walk of shame?” She looked up and down the sidewalk like she expected a banner to unfurl in congratulations.

“It doesn’t usually work that way. Usually, you’re walking home by yourself, and it’s not after just sleeping.” I stuck my hands into my pockets.

She shoved her hands into hers. Her lips thinned and the mental calculation Olympics were going on in her head.

“Then we’re doing a double walk of shame.” She looped her arm through mine and tugged me playfully toward her.

When she put it like that, who could disagree? “Sure, I’ll give you that one. Another thing marked off the list then?”

She nodded. “Something new gets added every day. Things I didn’t even know existed get added every time I turn around. That’s a lot to get done in six months.”

I’d thought it was seven months, not that it mattered. She’d be gone. I’d be gone. Don’t get too attached. Don’t get too involved.

We made it two blocks away before my name was shouted from behind us. Looking over my shoulder, I saw her roommate barreling down the sidewalk with her boyfriend behind her.

“Do you usually have this effect on people?” Seph glanced behind us.

“Unfortunately. Some people are always looking for what they can squeeze out of me. I know where we can go.” Guiding her around the block, I ordered a taxi on my phone and we hid out until it pulled up to the curb. Jumping inside like we were on an escape mission, I told the driver where to go.





*



The faint smell of beer mixed with copious cleaning supplies hit me when I opened the door. Home sweet home. Like a homing pigeon returning to the coop, I stepped inside the Brothel.

Berk stumbled down the steps when I closed the door. He shielded his eyes from the early morning light and hissed at me like a vampire.

“Morning, Berkley.” Seph’s chipper voice sliced through the air, and Berk held on to the sides of his head.

“How the hell are you standing up right now?” He groaned and banged his shoulder into the wall on the way to the kitchen.

“Last night hit you a little hard.” She walked over to him and wrapped her arm around his waist, taking one of his arms and looping it over her shoulder, helping him the rest of the way. His head lifted and he stared at her like she was an alien who’d crash-landed in our living room.

A little flare had sparked in my chest when she put her hands on him. Shaking my head, I shoved it down and took off my coat. This is Berk we’re talking about. Yeah, but it’s also Seph.

A bang came from upstairs. LJ hit the top of the steps like he’d been launched from a cannon.

“What the hell?” He sat on the top step and rode his way down flat on his ass.

“I told you two to go easy.”

He tilted his head and glared at me, slowly standing once he got to the last step. “Risa’s going to straight-up murder me.”

“Is she baking for you again?” I leaned against the banister.

“She isn’t that bad.” His stomach made a noise like a cross between a gurgling swamp pit and a werewolf transforming. He jumped up from the bottom step and rushed into the downstairs bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

Seph got Berk into the kitchen, where he braced himself on the counter.

“At least I’m not the only one who puked.” Seph’s fresh-faced voice drew out a groan from Berk, as well as one from LJ through the closed door.

“Make it stop. Make her stop.” Berk bent over at the waist and rocked his forehead back and forth on the counter.

“Chill out, I’m making breakfast. It’ll help you recover.” I pushed off the banister and crossed the living room.

The toilet flushed and LJ popped out of the bathroom. “Did someone say breakfast?”

“Didn’t you just finish puking?”

“Exactly, so now my stomach is empty.” He stared back at me, shaking his head like everyone knew how ravenous people got after a solid three-minute puke.

“You helping?” I looked to Seph.