Cherry Bomb [H.S.]

CHAPTER TWELVE

I can already feel myself suppressing a groan as I stir in bed, but I'm immediately bumping into something. Blinking my eyes open, I look down to see Marlowe tucked securely into my side. The details of us going to bed last night are a bit blurry, but it looks as if she and I didn't shift once during our sleep. I allow myself to stay still as I take in her face - my hand still very much pressed to her smooth skin underneath her shirt.

Sucking in a deep breath, I shut my eyes again as I feel the hangover start to properly register inside my body. My stomach rolls as I carefully turn over onto my back with my arm remaining curled around Marlowe, and she shuffles just slightly before burrowing herself into me again so there's no space between us.

I don't want to move. I don't want to lose the way being beside her in this bed is making me feel, but I have to. I need to get up and take some medicine and drink something, or else I'm just going to make my hangover worse.

I carefully untangle myself from Marlowe completely, and I head out of her room to head towards the kitchen after grabbing my Gatorade off the nightstand. Grabbing a handful of ice from the freezer, I put it into the bottle and shake it to cool the drink back down before taking slow sips of it. I head into her bathroom to grab a couple Tylenol, washing them down and then I start back towards the bedroom.

When I walk back inside, Marlowe's in the same position I left her, and I place my drink back on the nightstand before shifting back onto the mattress beside her. I pull her back into my side - shaping my body around hers as I close my eyes.

"Good morning," I hear her rasp, and my body jolts slightly at the sound considering I thought she was still asleep. "You feeling okay? I was wondering where you ran off to."

I run my fingertips up and down her spine as I nuzzle my nose into her hair. "Went to put some ice in my drink to make it cold again. I took some Tylenol," I sigh. "Not feeling the best."

My body relaxes even further against hers as I feel her nails gently raking over my back. "I'm going to go and make us some greasy breakfast, alright? I'm sure that'll help your tummy."

I nod as she climbs out of the bed on her side. "What time is it?"

"A little after ten," she states. "I forgot your phone in the laundry room - pulled it out of your pocket before washing your jeans. I'll go grab it for you before I head into the kitchen."

I turn on my side to face the door as I watch Marlowe leave, and it's only a few seconds that she comes back with my phone in her hand. Once she plugs her spare charger into the wall, she hooks my phone up to it and then looks over to me.

"I'll come get you once the food's finished, okay?" She asks, running her hand down the side of my arm. "You just continue to lay here."

"Marlowe," I say, lifting my hand to capture hers as I look into her eyes. "We really need to talk."