Tethered To You

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

I can't keep hiding from Maverick, but I can't face him either because all I can think about is our kiss and his body tightly wound around mine. His words echo through my mind and guilt churns in my stomach.

How do I make it stop?

I trail my hands over my face, sliding my fingers into my hair, and tug on the roots. Nothing has been able to stop that scene from replaying in my mind, some part of me doesn't want it to stop either.

The door jingles and Emalyn walks in, bag in hand.

"Joey made chicken soup and wishes you a speedy recovery from this nasty cold."

"Please thank him for the soup."

She places the bag on the bed before flopping onto her own with a huff.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" She flips her shoes off and they clatter onto the wooden floor.

"A little." I cough. "How was your day?"

"Ugh." She groans. "It wouldn't be so bad if my brother wasn't such a sleazy manwhore. It's disgusting watching him make out with women. I hope they realise they need to get checked after sleeping with his dirty willy."

"Sounds dreadful."

My heart is breaking at the thought of him sleeping with other women. It shouldn't because I've been telling him we can never be a thing.

I made the right choice steering clear of him.

* * *

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way." I'm rustled awake by Emalyn poking me in the shoulder. I dive further under the cover and hug the blanket closer to my chest.

"Go away." I smack her hand away.

"C'mon, some fresh air and a party will do you some good."

"Leave me alone."

The mattress creaks as Emalyn climbs off the bed. I relax under the covers and sigh. In my moment of weakness, the blankets are gone and she's yanking on my arm. She pulls me to my feet and shoves me into the shower. Emalyn turns the tap on and cold water splashes on me.

"Emalyn," I squeal.

"You have ten minutes to shower and wash your hair."

"Make it fifteen."

"Okay, now we're talking." Emalyn smiles.

When I emerge from the bathroom, I feel much better. Some guilt still sits in the pit of my stomach but the remainder of my funk, with some scrubbing, has been washed down the drain.

"Do you feel better because you look so much better," Emalyn comments.

"The shower did me some good." I nod.

"Now it's hair and makeup time."

Shit, I forgot about her parent's party.

Emalyn does my hair while I do my makeup. She wrangles my frizzy locks into perfect curls and twists some parts into an updo.

"You look gorgeous!"

"All thanks to you."

"I have the perfect dress for you."

I'm a little nervous when she produces a scrap of silver silk hanging on a coat hanger.

"Are you sure about that for your parent's party?"