Stay with me

She hit me with two more.

I lost.

Again.

“How many people have you had sex with—

“You already asked me that.”

“You didn’t let me finish.”

I slumped back against Ollie.

“How many people have you had sex with in this room?”

Leaning forward, I grabbed for the bottle in front of me and brought it to my lips.

Maddie sneered, placing two more cards in front of me. The alcohol was already warming me. “Hit me.”

“Busted again,” Maddie cheered. “Okay, Liam, Isaac, and Ollie. Who would you kill, have a one night stand with, and marry?”

I rolled my head back.

“Just answer the question, Mia,” Ollie breathed.

With the bottle still in my hand, I took another gulp for courage. “Kill Liam, one night stand with Isaac, and marry Ollie.”

“This is brilliant,” she laughed.

“No.” I wiped my lips with the back of my hand. “This is fucking tupid …” I groaned as the others chuckled around me. “Stupid,” I said slowly, drawn out, showing everyone I wasn’t as drunk as I actually was.

Two more cards slid in front of me, and I had to bend down to see. “Hit me.”

“No, Mia,” It was Ollie’s voice. No matter what condition, I’d always recognize his smooth voice. He sounded so far away, yet so close to me.

“Busted.” Maddie laughed. “Did you fuck Ollie?”

“No,” I said, then laughed as soon as the words came out.

“Alright, she’s had enough,” Ollie said.

“One more.” Maddie scoffed with cards already placed in front of me. Blinking numerous times, I couldn’t make out the numbers or letters.

“Stay, Mia.”

“Stay,” I said, repeating whatever bone Ollie would throw.

“I win again. Guess the cards aren’t in Mia’s favor tonight.”

Dropping my head into my hands, I missed but fixed myself quickly.

“When was the last time you had sex with Ollie, Mia?”

“What is it with all these questions about Ollie?” I shouted, attempting to stand to my feet.

“Answer or drink.”

I laughed. “You want to know about Ollie and me?”

“Don’t, Mia.” It was Ollie in my ear as he pi

Maddie raised her brows. “Sounds like someone is ashamed of you, Mia.”

“God, no … stop!” Ollie shouted and ran his hand through his hair.

I was already angry. And drunk. And those two didn’t mix well. “What about you, huh? When was the last time you really took your meds, Maddie? Or tell me what you had to do to get to Dr. Conway …”

Maddie stood to her feet as I crouched down and reached for the bottle. Shoving it into her chest, I said, “Want to answer or want to drink?” Hastily, I took a sip and brought it back to her chest. The adrenaline made me insane. The liquor made me slur. And Ollie took the bottle from my hand and set it over the dresser before standing in front of me.

He brought his hands to my face, and I latched on to his imploring green eyes. “Let’s go, alright? She’s done enough already.” As I held on to his arms, he kissed my forehead. “Please.”

“Exactly what I thought,” Maddie stated.

Once we crawled back to Ollie’s room, he laid me down over his mattress. “Ollie?”

“I’m right here,” he said as he climbed in beside me.

“I think I’m going to puke.”

Ollie immediately jumped from the mattress to across the room and grabbed a small trash can. He made it just in time as my body hurled over the side. My hair was instantly pulled back as Ollie crouched down beside me. The only thing coming up was pure vodka. My throat burned as the residue of the dry heaving brought tears to my eyes.

Bringing my hands to my forehead, I shook my head. “I’m so embarrassed.”

Ollie moved the trashcan and let my hair fall before taking off his black shirt. “You think this is my first time seeing you vomit, Mia?” He smiled and took my face in his hand, wiping my tears and my mouth.

“I’m embarrassed for reacting the way I did. I should have never let her get to me.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t yank her by the hair and drag her across the floor.” He gri

I nodded.

Ollie tossed his shirt across the room and climbed back over me. As he pulled the blankets around us, his scent and the covers both blanketed me. Calming. He intertwined his legs through mine and moved my hair off my neck before pressing his lips against my skin. “I can’t keep pretending, Mia.”

“Ollie …”

He pi

Nodding, I laced my fingers into his and brought his hand close to my chest as Ollie burrowed his head into my neck.

I didn’t know much about love, but one thing he had taught me was to embrace it. Seize it as soon as it touches you. Drown in the feeling when it penetrates your soul. With love so deep, and a tomorrow never promised, every second in its brilliance was precious.

These were our moments that would fade into memories, and no one could take them away from us.