A Very Reckless Christmas

Nick

I woke up with a pounding headache and the worst case of cottonmouth that anyone has ever had. I had dragged a hand over my aching forehead when my pillow suddenly began moving underneath me. It only took a moment to realize that my head lay across Maya's soft stomach. She slept sitting up with me draped across her. That could not be comfortable.

I sat up to give her more space.

Maya stirred searching for me in her sleep. I laid next to her bringing her to my side. "Good morning," she yawned.

"Morning." I rested my head on top of hers. Her short curls were soft against my cheek.

She looked up at me, her brown eyes still heavy with sleep. "Do you feel better?"

"A little." Everything ached. It was as if I had been completely wrung out. "I'm not nauseous."

"That's good, right?"

"Absolutely." I wouldn't wish the pain I felt yesterday on my worst enemy...well, my father maybe.

Maya wrapped her arm around my waist. "You'll be able to get some rest today."

I smirked. "Are you going to be my nurse?"

"I guess so," she smiled against my chest. "Someone's gotta do it."

"I'll be the best patient you've ever had, Nurse Maya," I promised.

"Charlie would beg to differ."

I scoffed. "He doesn't know anything."

She pinched my side. "Charlie is very intelligent! He can get into the cabinet all by himself."

"He's a cat." If there was food in it he would break into it. 

"You're only proving my point," she countered. "Cats are smarter than humans."

I chuckled. "Then I think the one we got is defective."

She sat up, pushing a finger into my chest. "Nick Ainsworth, you take that back."

"Or what," I teased. Of course, I love Nubs. I was never much of an animal person before he came along and now I couldn't imagine my life without him, but he's not the brightest. "I'm sick. You wouldn't harm a sick person."

"You won't be sick forever." She dropped her hand and crawled off the end of the bed.

"Come on, I was only joking," I laughed, watching her pull on her robe.

Maya hit the button on the remote that opened the heavy curtains. I squinted against the harsh light coming from the floor-to-ceiling windows. 

I slid to the edge of the bed. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled her close to me. "I take it back. Nubs is a genius."

She gave me a smug smile. "And don't you forget it." She put her hands on my shoulders. "Do you want anything for breakfast?"

"No, thanks." The thought of eating anything made my stomach turn. I hoped this feeling would go away sooner rather than later or else it was going to be a long ride home tomorrow.

Maya nodded. "Maybe just some orange juice then."

"That sounds good."

"I'll be back." She gave me a quick peck on the forehead before going into the living room.

While Maya went to order our breakfast I headed into the bathroom. My clothes were all over the floor. I kicked my shoes from in front of the bathroom sink. "Ugh," I groaned looking at myself. Insomnia plagued me for years and even then I didn't look this bad. My skin was pasty white, dark circles rimmed my under eyes, and my hair was all over the place; I looked like my dad after a week in Turk and Caicos minus the tan.