“Whit…honey, what all did you drink tonight?”
She shook her head and put her hand up to her mouth. “I don’t know. Beer…and shots. ”
Shots? Who in the hell gave her shots?
I put my finger under her chin and brought her eyes up to look into mine. She was trashed.
“Whit, who gave you shots?”
“Um…I don’t know, Layton. I can’t remember. ”
“Whitley, I need you to try and remember. Did you know the person? Was it one of my friends? Or some guy you met tonight?”
“I don’t remember. I feel sick. ”
Fuck! “Whitley! Try to remember!”
“I…um…I don’t know. ”
“Who gave you the shots?” I shouted.
She jumped and looked at me. “I don’t know, Roger! I don’t fucking know! Oh God…I’m going to be sick. ”
I grabbed her, brought her over to the side of the truck, and held her hair back while she puked.
“Oh my God…oh God, please…make it stop, Layton. Please…”
It was killing me to hear her cry while she asked me to make it stop.
“Baby, I would if I could. We need to get all that alcohol out, honey. Keep throwing up if you have to. ”
Someone came walking up to me with baby wipes. I smiled as she handed them to me.
“Been there, done that!” she said with a wink.
I thanked her and pulled a few out.
Just when I thought Whitley couldn’t puke any more, she started again.
“Oh God, I’m never gonna be able to eat a hot dog again!” she said in between her sobs.
I couldn’t help it, but I had to laugh.
God, I love this girl.
Wait—what in the hell? No…I care about her as a friend, and that’s all. I’ll get her home, make sure she’s okay, and then I’m out of there.
I needed to distance myself from her and fast.
I don’t love her. I barely know her. No…it’s impossible. I do not love her.
I woke up to my phone ringing on the nightstand. I tried to move my arm, but Whitley was sleeping on it. I looked at her sleeping so peacefully.
Last night, I hadn’t had the heart to leave her. By the time Kevin and Reed had gotten back with Courtney, she had passed out, and Kevin had carried her in and laid her down in her bed. Reed had covered her up, and I had been shocked when I saw him kiss her on the cheek and say good night to her. I had told them I was staying because Whitley kept getting sick, and I was worried about her.
My phone started ringing again. When I slid my arm out from underneath her, she rolled and put her head on my chest and started making little noises.
“Ah hell,” I whispered as I reached for my phone. “Hello?”