The Echo of Abuse and Love

Chapter Six

Shea - Before

When I woke up the next morning my head was pounding. The house was unfamiliar and quiet, and I stood quickly, having to steady myself against the wall to keep from falling over as my senses were overloaded by intense nausea. I took a moment to look around the room. I was alone, but I couldn't tell if that made me feel better or worse. Quietly opening the door, I slipped out into the hallway, trying to recall what happened the night before. My memory felt fuzzy and locked up, and my body was sore. I made my way slowly down the stairs, twisting my hair up on top of my head to keep the ratty mess out of my face.

In the living room, there were a few people sleeping still on the floor and the couch. They all looked to be in various states of disarray and undress, most of the boys were shirtless, and some of the girls seemed to be too. I was thankful that I woke with all of my clothes on, but still unsure of how I ended up in the room upstairs. 

I decided I needed water before I made the walk home, and I headed into the kitchen.

"Good morning." I jumped as a boy closed the fridge doors, and greeted me with a big toothy smile. His tousled hair was still wet from a shower, and the only article of clothing he had on his body was a pair of gym shorts. I couldn't help but stare, my eyes working their way over his broad muscular chest and unbelievably toned abs. By the time my eyes made it back up to his face, there was a devilish smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth.

I stared at him for a moment longer, figuring I'm already making a fool of myself, why back off now? An image of his smile flashed through my mind from the night before. "Tyler, right?" I say, keeping my distance from the tall, more man than boy, in front of me. 

"I'm hurt." He pouts a little, pouring a cup of coffee. "I thought we connected better than that."

He hands me the cup and I take it gratefully, taking a sip of the rich, dark liquid. My stomach feels unsettled with the way he said 'connected'. With how foggy my memory feels, I start to wonder how well we really did connect last night. I remember standing out by the tree with him, and him making a comment about the couple sucking face on the porch, but I don't remember much after that. 

I sit on a bar stool with my coffee as he pours himself a cup and comes to lean on the counter in front of me. I feel heat spread from my chest and up my neck, but I have to ask. "How well... did we connect last night?" I ask. feeling the embarrassment flood my system.

He chuckles, and I feel as though I could die from embarrassment right on the spot. "We didn't have s*x. If that's what you're asking." 

Relief floods through me, and I smile at him for the first time.

"You don't have to act so excited about it." He huffs, but there is playfulness in his tone. He walks around the counter and comes to sit on the stool next to me. "How much did you have to drink last night?"

"I didn't think that much," I said honestly. 

He sits for a moment, studying my face, and can't help but feel exposed under his scrutiny. My hand instantly goes to my face, I hope the bit of makeup I wore last night isn't smeared all over my face. Tyler drinks his coffee slowly, never looking away from me. "What do you remember from last night?" He asks, leaning forward slightly.

"I remember standing outside with you." My stomach flip-flops remember his question as we stood by the tree.

"Do you like to watch?"

"I think I remember coming back in here with you." As I speak more memories surface. "Ane we went upstairs to listen to music."

He takes another sip of his coffee. "And then you fell asleep in my bed." He finishes. 

"Oh." My face flushes another ridiculous shade of pink.

"It's all good." He says casually, scooting a little closer to me. "I don't mind sharing my bed."

"Wait, you slept in there with me?"

"Uh, yeah," he shrugs. "You sort of had me pinned against the wall, and you were using my arm as a pillow. I didn't really have a choice."

"I'm sorry," I said timidly. 

"Oh yes," He says, dropping his shoulders in an exaggerated movement. "It was such a hardship, cuddling all night with a beautiful girl." There's a glimmer in his eyes that I don't quite understand.