Addicted to You(46)

Except I shouldn’t be gawking, so I defaulted to sarcasm to hide my thoughts. “Really? Because to me it kind of reeks of desperation and futile attempts to not go home alone.” I shrugged. “But I see how it might grow on you.”

Landon laughed and I smiled. It really had a nice ring to it. Genuine happiness.

Colby grabbed a beer can and tossed it into the black garbage bag he was carrying. He looked as if he could get sick any moment. “I’m never drinking again,” he muttered.

Matt dropped a bag onto the kitchen floor with a thunk. He’d knotted the top. “That’s everything from outside.” His lip turned up in disgust. “And I’ll join you in the never drinking.”

Taylor chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll remind you of that.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll drink again but it won’t be for a loooong time.”

I raised an eyebrow.

He laughed. “A week. Max.”

Landon, who’d walked out of the room, came back carrying his own bag and wore the same look of disgust as Matt and Colby. “Who drinks this much beer in the shitter? There were cans everywhere. And did someone sleep in the tub last night? Because there’s a towel in there, and I hope it was used as a blanket and for nothing else.”

Matt shook his head. “That’s just wrong.”

“I’m not touching that shit without gloves.” Landon threw up his hands. “Who knows what could be on it,” he shouted as he disappeared down the hall again.

“I’d throw it away or burn—” I motioned for Colby to open his bag as I balanced a couple beer cans in one hand and an empty bottle in the other.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Colby stretched the bag wide so I could drop everything in. “Not like you made this mess.”

“Yeah, but it’ll go faster if we all help.” I scrunched my nose. “Plus, it’s just really gross. The faster we get all this out, the better.”

He chuckled. But his grin faded as we made eye contact. How much did he actually remember?

Maybe I could find out. “I’m actually surprised you’re up, considering how much everyone drank last night.” I glanced up ever so slightly, trying to get a read on him.

“Yeah, we were all pretty drunk.”

“I figured as much.” I grabbed some paper towels and a spray bottle of cleaner and went to work getting the sticky, grimy residue off the counters. “Probably don’t even remember half the night.” My gaze sought him out again, but he kept his head down and focused on the last bit of trash. Dammit.

“Probably not. Some of it, maybe, not all of it.” He forced a laugh.

I glanced around but no one was really paying attention to our conversation, but they were within earshot. “Yeah, you were pretty drunk.” I sprayed the counter in front of him and stepped in closer to wipe it down. “So was Landon.” My gaze lifted, hoping he’d read between the lines: It was only a drunk kiss, don’t be mad.

He finally made eye contact. His gaze seemed to search my expression, and then he nodded. “Yeah, he was. Probably doesn’t even remember winning the beer pong game…or anything that followed.”

I smiled, hopeful that we at least got one thing cleared. “I think you’re right.” I stood back and examined the counter. “Much better.” Then I tossed the dirty towels into the garbage bag and grabbed new ones to start the kitchen table cleanup.

“I think I’m declaring my house a party-free zone for at least a month,” he grumbled.

“For sure, it’s ridiculous. The guys could at least throw away old beer cans.” I raised a can, shook my head, then tossed it into the trash.

“Agreed. No parties until after Christmas.”

“Well, that works out. Just in time for a going-away party!” I joked.

He turned to me, his expression serious though my tone had been playful, and I regretted even bringing it up.

Landon reappeared, wearing a shirt, and pointed to the trash bag. “All done with that? I’m taking them to the garage.”

Colby did a quick scan of the kitchen. “Yeah, looks like we got it all.”

“Cool.” He knotted the top together then lifted the bag. Glass bottles rattled inside. “This shit stinks. Our friends are pigs.”

Matt pretended to clear his throat. “Says the beer pong champ.” He lifted his hands, his face masked in innocence. “Didn’t say a thing.”

“Ha-ha, okay, okay. Yeah, so maybe I contributed.” Landon shouldered the weighted bag. “A lot. But I also kicked your ass.”

“We,” I chimed in. “Considering how drunk you were, we should probably respect the solid seventy/thirty split of the win.”