Two Steps Behind

Part 13

 "Oh shit," Elizabeth mumbled when she woke up the next day. Her head felt like there was a jackhammer going off inside it. Her mouth felt and tasted disgusting. Her whole body ached, like it had been hit by a truck. What in the hell had happened last night?

She slowly opened her heavy eyes, blinking against the light streaming in through the blinds, and then realized she was not alone as she felt the warm body under her cheek and hand. She looked up to see Eddie, fast asleep next to her, still in his clothes from last night.

She tried to remember last night, but after her fourth drink, everything was a complete blur. She remembered getting there, and she remembered seeing Eddie and the guys take the stage and possibly even a bit of the performance, she knew she danced with some guy, but then it all vanished. Damn it. This was the second time in a week she'd gotten fucked up and passed out at Eddie's house. She was going to need to get herself under control. It was not this man's responsibility to take care of her inebriated self.

Elizabeth gazed up at him, watching him as he slept. He was positively ethereal in his sleep. His brown waves formed a halo on the pillow around his head. Those long lashes, that should be a sin on a man, were resting gently against his cheekbones. His full lips were parted slightly as he breathed deeply in and out, peaceful in his rest. Her heart seized at how beautiful he was. It wasn't fair.

Elizabeth slowly tried to get up but Eddie's arms tightened around her, pulling her back against him. She laid there, unsure of what to do. One thing she was sure of was that those arms were a wonderful place to be. Someone holding her this tight should cause her to flinch after everything with David, but with Eddie she felt nothing but safe. Eddie's arms were like a hot cup of coffee on a chilly, wintry morning, the warmth slowly flowing through your body, seeping into every part of you, so pleasantly warm, fighting back the bitter cold, healing you from the inside out.

She tucked herself against him, resting her head against his chest and letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe her. This was the second time she had slept next to him since she returned and both times the nightmares that plagued her in the dark every night hadn't haunted her. He was her own living, breathing brand of tranquility.

"How are you feeling this morning?" she heard him mumble as he shifted under her.

"Like shit," she replied, laughing. "My head feels like it is going to split in two. I might want it to. Maybe that would relieve the pressure. I clearly drank way too much last night."

"Here, let me up," he muttered and she slid away from him. He left the room for a minute and returned with two ibuprofen and a glass of water.

"I was hoping for coffee," she grumbled, eyeing the glass in his hand.

"Hydrate first. Trust me," he stated, handing them to her.

She popped both pills in her mouth and drank the whole glass of water down. That definitely helped her disgusting mouth situation. And she had to be honest, the water tasted good. Her body must have needed it.

"Okay, now coffee and a greasy breakfast," he said, rubbing his hands together. "Eggs and bacon coming up."

The thought of food made her stomach turn slightly, but she stood up, ready to follow him out of the room. Looking down, she suddenly became aware that she was wearing his clothes. Panic set in as she realized what that could mean. She couldn't even remember last night. Could she possibly have been coherent enough to dress herself or had he done it? If he'd done it, then he'd seen...oh my god. She swallowed the bile down that was threatening to come up and out of her stomach at the thought of him seeing what David had done, what she'd allowed him to do.