Erica wants to have it all figured out. She's fresh out of college, itching to put her master's degree in psychology to use. Her fiancé of five years swears on his life they'll set a date for their wedding any day now. On top of it all, her sister a...
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A headache torments my skull with a consistent pulsing, like someone's got their fists around my head and is squeezing with all of their might. Nausea swirls in my stomach and surges to my throat, but nothing comes out. I dare crack my eyes open to witness the dimness of my bedroom. The lights are off, but the sun peaks beneath our royal blue curtains, inching towards me with threats of blinding intensity. I groan and roll over, pulling thick sheets that smell of me and Derek over my head.
How much did I drink last night? I don't even remember going to bed. Dishes clang from the kitchen, ricocheting off each side of my skull. Groaning, I curl even deeper into the sheets until a ball of warmth and darkness surrounds me. Nausea threatens my throat again. I fight the urge and squeeze my eyes shut. I haven't felt this hungover since college. Usually, Nolan keeps me from going beyond my limits, but even he got drunk last night, which means no one was stopping anyone.
Floorboards creak leading up to the bedroom. "You awake, baby?"
I groan in response to Derek's voice and curl up like a fetus.
"It's thirty past ten. Imani left a while ago."
"Is Nolan still here?" I croak.
"Nah. He left when I got here."
"When was that?"
"Er. Sometime between eleven and two."
That's a huge gap. I throw the blankets from over my head, bracing myself for the guiltless expression to match his voice. His face is gentle and his eyes are warm. He sets down a mug of steaming coffee and my phone on my nightstand. I thank him and bring the fresh brew to my chapped lips. "How was your night?" I inquire after the coffee warms my throat.
"Pretty chill." He sits next to my legs and rubs my thigh over the blankets. "Anthony's got a sweet new place."
"I'm sure you'll have a grand time seeing it again tonight," I mumble before taking another sip.
"Actually, I decided not to go."
I nearly spit out my coffee. Derek's face grows smug, visibly enjoying my reaction. I sit up, wince at the pain darting through the center of my head, and rub my teary eyes. "Why not?"
"It's our anniversary, baby." He leans forward to press a kiss against my forehead and holds my cheek in his large hand. "I'd rather spend my day with you. Plus, those reservations I made were screwed up, so I had to come up with some last-minute adjustments to our evening."
I thin out my gaze. Either he's a damn good liar, or he really made reservations, because his expression is more innocent than a newborn's. Perhaps it's worth giving him a chance to redeem himself. "What's the adjustment?"
"You'll just have to wait and see." He rubs my shoulder and glances at the bird's nest atop my head. "Just rest up and I'll take care of tonight."
"Okay..." I bite my lip to keep from smiling like an idiot. There's a glint in his dark eyes that brings life to my dormant expectations. Derek never takes initiative in our romantic life. In fact, that's my biggest problem with him. Every date, birthday, and anniversary has always been up to me. If it weren't for Imani and Nolan, I would probably have to plan all my own events alone.
