Me and You For a Lifetime

Rise and shine

Naomi

I woke up with a massive headache a dry mouth and no idea as to how I had gotten here.

I sat up looking around the unfamiliar room

My dress was draped over the chair my makeup was all washed off and there sat a glass of water beside two pain killers on my nightstand.

At least somebody had been considerate to take care of me

Unfortunately I couldn't remember who.

Last thing I remembered was walking in with Camille and after that it was all a blur.

I picked up my phone and dialed in my best friend's number.

She picked up on the first ring.

"Morning Sleeping Beauty."

"What happened last night?"

There was a pause before she burst out laughing.

My stomach turned.

"Camille."

"Oh baby what do you mean?"

"Start with why I don't remember anything after the party?"

"Because you were drinking champagne like someone was paying you."

I pressed my fingers to my temples.

"Please tell me I didn't embarrass myself."

Another pause followed by more laughter.

I closed my eyes

“Camille, I’m begging you.”Girl you embarrassed me entertained me and gave me enough material to tease you for the next decade.“I’m hanging up.”No you don't. Now listen."

Apparently, I argued with a lamp told Dominic's personality needed a work out and accused him of being unnecessarily mysterious.

I buried my face in the blanket.

"No”

“Yes”

“Tell me you are lying!"

"Naomi I wish I had your imagination."

I groaned into the fabric.

She delivered the final blow saying,

"You also told my brother that he'd make a good husband."

I went still.

Five long years of trying to hide my feelings from the one man I knew would break my heart if he ever found out. One night of champagne decided to ruin my life.

"I said WHAT?"

Camille was literally wheezing with laughter.

"And you told him you hoped whichever woman he chose knew how lucky she was."

I threw my pillow across the room.

"I'm moving"

"To where?"

"Somewhere without wifi, somewhere nobody knows my name, somewhere Dominic Brooks has never existed

“You’re being dramatic.”

“I confessed preferences of a husband to your brother while drunk, I have earned the right to be dramatic!"

"Technically you didn't confess anything"

"Camille!"

"Fine fine. But he took care of you Naomi, got you water , made sure you got home safely and stayed till you were settled."

My embarrassment deflated at that.

"He did?"

"Yes and before you start over thinking it he was being a decent person, don’t turn it into something it isn't."

"I wasn't going to"

"You're literally asking me about it."

I hated how well she knew me.

"Did he laugh at me?"

"A little probably but he wasn't cruel about it."

I stared up at the ceiling.

Dominic had seen me at my worst and somehow that was even more embarrassing than the whole night.

"Does he remember what I said?"

"Naomi I'm pretty sure he remembers everything you said.

You were very passionate about his husband potential."

"Goodbye Camille."

I hung up the phone and screamed into the pillow.

For five years I had hidden my feelings from the one man who knew where my heart truly lay. I had survived family dinners, parties Olivia Banks and endless conversations with Dominic without giving myself away but apparently one night of champagne decided to ruin my life.

My phone buzzed with another notification a text from Camille.

Camille: By the way Dominic said you should drink more water.

I stared at the screen before tossing my phone onto the bed.

Absolutely not.

I wasn't going to let Dominic Brooks' concern for me turn into something else. Dominic was a good man and I had been my sister's best friend for years so of course he'd take care of me but that didn't mean anything had changed.

Still as I climbed out of bed and made my way to the shower one thought refused to leave my mind.

What if, just this once, Dominic Brooks had looked at me and seen something besides Camille's best friend?

I shook my head

No.

I wasn't going to write a love story over a man handing me a glass of water.

I had a business to run a reputation to protect and a humiliating night to forget but for now Dominic Brooks could stay exactly where he always had been.

In my heart, unfortunately.

And nowhere near my business decisions.