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I open the car door for her and help her inside. “Make sure you keep sipping the water.”
“Thank you,” she whispers before she rubs her temples and winces. “God, I really don't feel good.”
I walk over to my side of the car and slide in the seat. “We'll be home in a little while.”
I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and hand her two ibuprofen. “Take these and get some sleep. Should make things better.”
She swallows the pills and her head lolls to the side. “I can't sleep. I don't sleep at night.”
Her statement slams into me because I've never known anyone to have that problem.
Well...besides me.
I'm want to inquire about it further, but I look over at her and sure as shit.
She's passed out cold.
I reach for her wrist and feel for her pulse to make sure she's okay before I begin driving.
A
I hate the predicament I'm in. Why the hell did I ever agree to this in the first place?
I might not know anything about her, but I'm not a babysitter and I really don't have time to deal with whatever problems she has.
To put it frankly, I don't want the added responsibility of having to take care of this girl.
Especially a girl who I'm convinced should come with a damn warning label.
She's still sleeping when I pull up to the apartment complex and park in my secluded parking spot located in the back. That means I have no choice but to carry her ass into the building.
I ask her if DeLuca handed her a set of keys to her humble abode, but her only response is an unintelligible muffle before she buries her head against my chest.
I curse when I realize that it's too late to call the super of the building and get a set of spare keys from him.
In other words, I'm stuck with her until morning.
Fucking perfect.
I make my way up the staircase with her in my arms and jet for the door to my apartment.
Only to be stopped in my tracks by Jackson and Tyrone coming out of their apartment.
Their expressions are a mixture of concern and amusement. No doubt due to the passed out girl wearing a skin tight mini dress in my arms.
Tyrone speaks first, “Who's the girl?” I open my mouth to answer but Jackson raises an eyebrow. “Better question...why is she unconscious?”
Shit, how the hell am I go
I give them a casual shrug. “I hired a ring girl.”
Tyrone and Jackson exchange a glance. I can only imagine what they must be thinking.
I blow out a breath. “She—uh. She got a little drunk during the interview.”
“Must have been some interview,” Tyrone says in his thick southern twang. “One that must not be over yet seeing as you brought her home and all.”
“This isn't part of the interview.” I point to the door across the hall located next to their apartment. “I'm only bringing her inside my apartment until I can get a hold of the super who has the keys to her apartment.”
Jackson makes a face and Tyrone grins. “You mean to tell us this little hottie is not only the new ring girl...but our new neighbor as well?”
I nod and Tyrone's grin grows wider. “Nice.”
Jackson shakes his head and laughs. “Does she have a name?”
“She does—” I pause because for the life of me...I can't remember the girl's actual name. I'm certainly not about to tell them her name is 'bambina.'
I scratch my head hoping it will come to me. “Lou...Lou—”
“Lou-Lou,” Tyrone says while rubbing his chin. “Never met a Lou-Lou before. That's kind of cute actually.”
Jackson rolls his eyes. “Bro, she's not even awake...stop trying to hit on her. It's not like she can hear you.”
Normally, I wouldn't give a shit who Tyrone hits on, but I'm with Jackson on this one.
I know Tyrone's still reeling over the fact that his first love from back home is engaged to some hillbilly dip-shit. I know he's out fucking anything and everything in order to cope with the heartache of losing her.
It's gotten so bad I can't even say the full name of my mustang around him without causing him to get all pissy.
I know Lou-Lou will be nothing more to him than a simple 'hit it and quit it'...but unfortunately for him, he can't have her.
Lou-Lou belongs to DeLuca...and hitting on her would be the worst thing he could do.
I'm about to tell him not to pursue her, but Tyrone crosses his arms and glares at Jackson. “You never know. In fact, the subconscious state of sleep is excellent for hypnosis.”
This time, it's Jackson and me who exchange a glance, gearing up for another one of Tyrone's antics.
He takes a step closer and peers down at Lou-Lou. “Tyrone is the sexiest man in the world,” he says. “And you will let him tap that ass.”
Jackson chuckles but for some reason hearing him say that really pisses me the fuck off.
I hold Lou-Lou tighter and narrow my eyes. “She's not yours,” I growl, surprising them and me with how deadly my voice sounds. “Knock it the fuck off...now.”
Tyrone holds up his hands defensively. “Whoa, Ricardo. It was just a joke.”
“Well joke about someone else, not her. Like I said, she's not yours. So back the fuck off before I make you.”
Jackson shoots me a curious look and shoves his hands in his pockets “Let's go, Tyrone. The new hulk dvd is calling your name.”
I fish for my keys and the movement causes her to whimper against my chest. I open the door and slam it without uttering another word to them.
From the other side, I hear Jackson say, “Look, obviously Ricardo doesn't want you hitting on that girl...for whatever reason. So just try and control your damn hormones.”
“Me,” Tyrone says before laughing. “You should be telling him that. He's the one who just came out of his face and asserted his male dominance over her. Hell, if I didn't know any better I'd think he just clubbed her over the head before dragging her back to his lair like some kind of caveman. I'm surprised he didn't whip out his dick and piss in a circle around her. I mean, what the fuck was that?”
“I have no idea,” Jackson says. “Maybe he's really into her. Who knows?”
I hear the door to their apartment close and I lean back against the door.
Tyrone is right. I don't know what the fuck my problem is but I've never been this much of an asshole to them.
I look down and my a
I study her features for a beat. Personally, she's a tad too young for me and not my usual type, but now that I'm really looking at her...I suppose I can see the appeal.
There's no mistaking that she is really beautiful. Even when those gorgeous doe eyes of hers are closed.
Her brows are drawn tight and her full heart-shaped lips part slightly before she begins trembling.
Any a
I try to gently shake her but she's not having it...it's like she's trapped in whatever nightmare she's in...the alcohol she consumed only making it worse.
“You're okay, Lou-Lou. It's just a bad dream,” I tell her.
I walk around my apartment for a moment unsure of exactly where to deposit her.