“One of the reasons to remain vigilant,”Cole muttered unhelpfully. “Let’s go get that beer.”
“Actually, you go. The whole reason Icame in here was to pee, where’s the bathroom?” I asked him.
He pointed me in the right direction,still seeming aggravated. Perhaps leaving him alone for a few minutes wasn’t abad idea anyway. It was clear that he and that Parker guy had some sort ofhistory and it wasn’t a good one.
When I found the bathroom it waslocked, so I leaned against the wall patiently waiting for it to becomeunoccupied.
I groaned inwardly when I heardobvious retching from the bathroom. I debated for a moment on what to do beforeI knocked quietly.
“Hey, can I get you something?” Ioffered. “Water?”
“Water, please,” a female voicecroaked a response.
Moments later I returned with a hugeplastic cup filled with water and knocked again. I was taken aback slightlywhen my not so favorite person, Daisy opened the door. But she looked so sick Icouldn’t hold a grudge.
“Here you go,” I offered.
“Thanks,” she muttered, mascararunning down her face.
“Here, I’ve got some makeup removerwipes in my purse,” I offered, entering the decent sized bathroom and closingthe door behind me. The smell of vomit was strong, and I cracked the windowafter handing her a wipe.
“Should have had dinner,” shemuttered.
“Been there,” I repliedsympathetically.
“Your Cole’s new woman, huh?” she asked.
I nodded a bit wearily.
“I would have really preferred todislike you,” she muttered.
I laughed despite myself as she wiped upher makeup into some semblance of normalcy.
“Us girlsgottastick together don’t you think?” I said and smiled, cocking my head at her inthe mirror.
“Not a stance I’m used to, but I likeit,” she muttered.
“Mind if I pee since I’m already inhere?” I asked, thankful the toilet had a separate door.
“Go ahead,” she replied, lookingherself over in the mirror.
I peed, washed my hands, and regardedher for a moment in the mirror. “Much better,” I said. “I’ll let you finish up.”I opened the door to leave and give her some privacy.
“Hey, um thanks,” she called to me.
“Sure thing,” I replied and almost raninto Cole on the way out.
“I was looking for you,” he said,looking quizzically at me. “Who was in the bathroom?”
“Oh, Daisy had a little too much todrink. I just got her some water and some makeup remover,” I said as I shruggednonchalantly. “I could use that beer now,” I added as he followed me out to thekitchen.
“You were in therehelpin’Daisy?” he asked clearly confused.
I sighed exasperated. “Yeah babe, ofcourse. It’s not like I hate her or anything. She wasn’t being vindictive theother night. She was just playing the role she knows” I said. “I doubt she knewyou were spoken for. From what I gather the knowledge is slightly surprising tofolks,” I said dryly. “If she had her hands all over you now that we’re clear,that’d be a different story,” I clarified.
“Uh huh,” he replied, still regardingme as though I’d grown two heads.
I rolled my eyes at him as he took myhand and led me back outside. It was clear that he didn’t intend to let me outof his sight for the rest of the night, which was fine by me. I sat perched onhis lap and laughed with Connie,Ettie, and some ofthe guys. It felt very natural spending time with all of them and I couldn’tremember the last time I’d had such a fun, carefree night despite our earlierrun in with Parker.