Fighting Solitude (On The Ropes #3)(43)

The large room was filled with every art supply imaginable. Black-and-white family photos covered the stark, white walls. The furniture consisted of a red overstuffed sofa and a plush futon that was more Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous than broke frat boy. They sat adjacent to each other, facing a large TV mounted on the wall above Eliza’s desk. The guys called the room “Chick Central,” and I can’t say they were wrong. It was where Ash, Eliza, and I always seemed to migrate any time we were together.

After setting the bag of food on a small side table, I found the remote and pulled up the latest season of Project Runway. It was our go-to show and one of the few programs Eliza and I agreed on. She loved the artistic aspect of it, while I was enthralled with the fashion.

Eliza and I had a funny relationship. She was twelve years older than I was, and for all intents and purposes, she was Quarry’s mom. But she was also a lot of fun. When I was growing up, she had always been friendly with me, but it wasn’t until Ash had entered the picture that we’d really become friends. Ash and I had clicked right away, and eventually, she’d pulled Eliza into our fold.

The three of us planned monthly girls’ nights together, and in addition to weekly Page family dinners, we also did lunch once a week.

So, needless to say, I felt completely at home as I fluffed a pillow then dragged the blanket off the back of the futon as I waited for her to join me.

Tim Gunn was still giving the contestants their assignments when she made her way into the room.

“Why do I always think drinking is a good idea?” She grabbed the bag of biscuits and settled on the couch.

Catching the greasy sandwich she’d tossed my way, I replied, “No clue. However, I can promise you my drinking days are over after last night.”

“We said that after the Gala last year, too.” She nibbled on a hash brown, curled her lip, and then continued to eat. “Wait. You guys went home early. What happened after you left?”

My stomach rolled. Though it had nothing to do with my hangover and everything to do with the memories of the night before flooding my brain.

They were the same memories that had had me sneaking out of my own apartment at the crack of dawn in order to avoid Quarry.

The question should have been: What didn’t happen last night?

Drink too many beers. Check.

Flirt with my best friend. Check.

More drinking and then more flirting. Check. Check.

Tell him that I used to obsess over him until he runs from the house just to shut me up. Check.

Crawl into his bed in the middle of the night. Check.

Wake him up by groping his dick. Check.

Get kicked out of his room like a fangirl who, well…snuck into his room and grabbed his junk. Check.

Needing a cold shower each time I thought about it. Mother. Fucking. Check.

I kept that parade of embarrassment to myself.

“Oh, we just had some beers at the apartment.” I shrugged, turning my attention back to the TV, but my mind refused to budge from the whole Quarry thing.

“That sounds better than my night. I think I passed out on the limo ride home.” Eliza picked an errant biscuit crumb off the blanket.

“Meh. Could have been worse.”

“At the risk of skeeving you out, I think I was…um…on top of Till when it happened.”

My eyes flared wide.

She closed her eyes and nodded, embarrassed.

I attempted to hide my laugh but failed. I mentally prepared a hey-no-big-deal-you-passed-out-in-the-middle-of-sex speech when Ash saved me the trouble as she came crawling through the window.

“You were on top of Till when what happened?” she asked.

“Shit,” Eliza mumbled. “I, uh…may have passed out.”

“Jeebus! On the way there and home? I’d say Till got his money’s worth out of that limo,” Ash teased, flopping down at the foot of the futon.

“So, how was your night?” I asked, grabbing the bag of food from Eliza and throwing it down to Ash.

“Really good. I managed to stay awake and everything.” She winked at Eliza. “I’m so freaking tired though. Flint got me up after only two hours of sleep to come get the boys. I love my babies, but today is going to kill me. I need a night away to recover from my night away.”

“We’re having a hangover party. You can nap here if you want,” Eliza said.

“Nah. Thanks though. We’re gonna take the boys to that new park by the house.”

Till poked his head through the window. “Okay, ladies. Bad news. We’re out of coffee. But Quarry’s on his way over. He said he’d pick up Starbucks.”

Noooooo! my mind screamed.

When I felt all of their eyes land on me, I realized my mouth had screamed it too.

“Something against Starbucks?” Till asked.

“I’m just…not a fan.”

I touched your brother’s penis, and now, I’m scared he’s going to want to talk about it.

“Seriously?” Eliza gasped.

Dear God, please don’t let me have said that out loud too.

“You drink it all the time.”

Thank you, baby Jesus. “Yeah. I’m just sick of it. That’s all. It’s fine though. Really. Q knows my order.” I relaxed once they’d seemed to buy it.

“You got any soda? I need a barrel if I’m going to survive today,” Ash said, discarding her biscuit and moving Till’s way.