The Coaching Hours(14)

I have observed a lot of arms from visiting my dad, have admired a lot of bare torsos. I’ve appreciated the sight of guys traipsing around in nothing but thin, polyester wrestling singlets, and those leave nothing to the imagination.

The guy clears his throat when he catches me eyeing him, lifting the white mug to his lips and taking another sip, breaking the eye contact.

Man, he is so cute.

A blush that matches mine spreads across his cheeks.

He clears his throat again, straightening to his full height. He’s tall, probably around six one, just reaching the top of the doorframe.

“Um, I hate to bother you, but do you happen to have any ibuprofen I can take? My head is killing me.” I groan out loud this time, wanting to burrow back under his covers.

“Sure, in the bathroom.” He offers me a pleasant smile just as my eyes land on the small gray garbage can next to the bed. Thank God I didn’t have to barf in it or this morning would have gone from bad to worse.

“I didn’t…I didn’t, uh, throw up in your car last night, did I?”

I might have been completely blitzed out of my mind, but I do vaguely remember a conversation where he specifically asked me not to puke in his car. I have to wonder now if I did.

His head gives a lazy shake as he laughs. “No, but I think it was close. I seriously thought you were going to toss your cookies.”

“I’m…really glad I didn’t.”

Talk about horrifying.

Not to mention, I had Mexican food last night—me throwing up in his vehicle would have been a nightmare for both of us.

Library Guy stays put, still in the doorway, watching me lie on his bed like a beached porpoise. I roll forward, intent on slowly dragging my feet over the side of his mattress, which is easier said than done when you’re hung-over.

“Please don’t watch,” I murmur, only half joking.

He moves toward me a few inches, unsure. “Do you want a hand getting up?”

“No! No, I’m good. I got this.” Deep cleansing breath in, deep cleansing breath out.

“Take your time, Donnelly, or you’ll be yacking it on my carpet.”

Dear Lord, did he just call me by my last name? I suppose it makes sense given that he knows who my dad is, but still, kind of weird.

“If you don’t mind, I would love to at least use your bathroom, get that headache medicine—my head is pounding.”

“I can get you some water, too. You need to hydrate.”

“Do you happen to have any choco—”

“Chocolate milk? No, but you did ask for it last night.” He chuckles again, this time into his coffee mug.

“Please, can we not talk about what I said last night? I don’t want to know—I don’t know if I’m emotionally equipped to handle it.” I groan when my feet hit the carpet; they’re bare, shoes and socks neatly placed by the door.

I gaze up into his expectant face…his tan, handsome face.

I stumble, grabbing for a nearby dresser, righting myself so I can stand. It’s not easy; everything aches, and also I’m dying.

I’ve never wanted to crawl back under the covers and hide so much in my entire freaking life. My face, cheeks, and chest are a blazing inferno of shame.

Ugh. Shoot me now.

Seriously, put me out of my misery.

“Thank you.” I hesitate, wondering how to broach the next subject, pointing to the rumpled sheets on the bed. “Did we, uh…”

“No, of course not.” He sips from his mug. “I slept on the couch.”

“Oh thank God.”

His brows shoot into his forehead, and I realize that statement sounded worse out loud than it did in my head—my pounding, throbbing, spinning head.

I wave it off. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant…I can’t remember anything from last night and I woke up in your bed and I have no idea how I got here and I’m just really…” Deep breath, Anabelle. “Thank you for being a decent human.”

“No, I get it. It’s fine.”

“I mean it, thank you—and I’m sorry you probably didn’t get much sleep last night being on the couch. That’s so awkward, I’m sorry. I can never sleep on mine.”

His toned, tanned shoulder goes up in a shrug. “I’ve slept in worse spots than the couch, trust me.”

I lean a few feet, capturing my shoes. Socks.

Slide one on, then the other, all the while managing not to fall on my ass.

Rising, I grab my boots. “Where exactly is your bathroom?”

He jams his thumb over his shoulder. “Straight across the hall, can’t miss it.”

“Thanks.”

He moves, giving me a wide berth as I stick my head into the hallway, not sure what I’ll find. I don’t know where I am or how many people live here.

How many guys are likely to see me doing the walk of shame? One? Three? Five?

“I live alone,” his deep voice calls, interrupting my thoughts from what I presume is the kitchen. “It’s safe to come out.” Pause. “You want that water now or something?”

Or something. Like, for example, a stun dart to my ass so I can pass out, wake up on a different day (or century), and remember none of this.

I make the short trek across the hall, using the wall as support, shutting the door behind me and exhaling a loud, relieved breath.

What I need right now is a warm shower, sleep, aspirin, water, and more sleep, in that order.

His bathroom is a decent size, mostly bare save for a few essentials laid out on the countertop. One sink, but a nice, long counter.

One navy blue hand towel folded into a neat square.

It’s not the cleanest bathroom I’ve ever been in, but to be fair, I would have been surprised if it was. He is, after all, a guy living alone—what reason would he have to keep the place spotless?

I brace my arms on the counter, one hand on either side of the sink, raising my eyes to gaze at the reflection in the mirror. It takes a few seconds to focus, the face before me blurred…until it’s not. I lean in closer, pressing my middle and forefinger into my cheeks, pulling at my bottom lids.

Verdict: I don’t look as terrible as I thought I would.

Okay, that’s a lie—I look like total shit.

Ugh.

Staring at the reflection, my expression is horrified. I gape at the sight of my hair, smudged mascara, and tired, red, bloodshot eyes. I’m so embarrassed by the way I look right now, embarrassed that my evening got so out of hand that a stranger—this guy I’ve only ever met once at the library—brought me home with him to keep me safe.

To his house.

To keep me safe.

The thought of all the things that could have happened to me because I was completely drunk? Shameful, upsetting. I could have ended up as one of those girls you see on the evening news or read about online.

Horrible decision to get drunk.

Horrible decision to go out while I was indulging in a pity party.

Horrible decision to allow this guy to bring me home, although I was passed out and couldn’t make the decision for myself.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

This is so unlike me.

I hunt down a clean washcloth, running it under the cold water and scrubbing my face clean. Try to locate a little moisturizer but only find aftershave lotion instead. No brush, but I do find a comb, one that barely pulls through my snarled locks without pulling my hair out.

Ouch.

I train my blue eyes on my clothes; they need to come off and hit the laundry. Gross. There’s a huge, yellow stain on the front of my white top, the flared sleeves wrinkled and looking worse for wear.

Pulling the cap off a tube of toothpaste, I squeeze it onto my finger and rub it along my teeth, the least effective technique for getting them clean, but it’s all I’ve got. Holding my hands under the water, I make a cup, drink, and swish water around my mouth, spitting the water and toothpaste into the sink. Repeat.

Crossing the bathroom, I hook my finger on the shower curtain, drawing it back to peer inside at the beige-colored tiles. Hmmm, a tiled shower? Not bad for a college rental. I wonder what he’d think if I hopped inside and took a quick shower with all his stuff. Would that be weird?

It definitely wouldn’t be any more impolite than crashing his pad and taking up his entire bed.

Contemplating, I grasp a long chunk of my hair, giving it a long whiff: stinky and gross.

I smell like I was in a dirty dive bar, not a harmless house party on Jock Row, and there wasn’t even anyone smoking. Even so, sweat, beer, and too many bodies can’t lead to any good.

My fingers brush the metal faucet. On one hand, I desperately want to jump under the shower spray; on the other, I’d have to put my dirty clothes back on afterward.

Crap.

There is no winning this one.

I let the shower curtain go, backing away.

Heft out a sigh, giving myself another glance in the mirror before tugging open the door. I pass the bedroom I slept in, my curious gaze shooting into the only other room off the hallway. Large wooden desk. Bookshelf. Iowa pennants. Some kind of framed award.

An office? A spare bedroom?

There’s certainly no one living in there.

Hmm.

I trudge down the hall, shoulders back and chin up. Though I didn’t grow up living with my dad, he still taught me some life lessons: do everything with conviction, hold your head up.

My walk of shame begins here.

I can do this. I can walk into this guy’s kitchen and look him in the eye, thank him for everything he did for me last night. I will suck up my pride and have an adult conversation whether there is black mascara smudged under my eyes or not.