"You better wake up and get your ass down here, Katie!" My mom's voice booms through the house, shaking me from my groggy state.
I groan, burying my face deeper into my pillow. My head pounds like a drum, my body feeling like it's made of lead. The aftermath of last night's drinking binge hits me full force, and I instantly regret every shot I took.
She calls again, more impatient this time. "Katherina! Don't make me come up there!"
Shit.
I sit up too fast, and a wave of dizziness washes over me. Rubbing my temples, I try to will the hangover away, but my stomach churns in protest. I promised Mom I'd go grocery shopping with her today, and judging by the tone of her voice, I've already pushed my luck by sleeping in this long.
Dragging myself to the bathroom, I splash cold water on my face, wincing at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are puffy, my auburn hair a tangled mess. After a quick shower, I grab a brush, running it through the knots before giving up and deciding to let it air dry. My golden skin looks dull today, and even though I don't feel like it, I dab on some concealer to hide the bags under my eyes.
I throw on a pair of black leggings and an oversized hoodie, opting for comfort over style. The fabric swallows me, making me feel smaller, hidden. I sigh, slipping on my sneakers before heading downstairs.
As I enter the kitchen, my mom is standing by the counter, a mug of coffee in her hand. She raises an eyebrow when she sees me, taking in my dishevelled state. Her lips press into a thin line, but there's amusement flickering behind her sharp gaze.
"You look like death warmed over," she says, sipping her coffee.
I rub my eyes and yawn. "Feel like it too."
She shakes her head, her expression softening. "Late night?"
I nod, grabbing a glass of water and gulping it down in one go. "Yeah. Maddie and I stayed out longer than planned."
She hums, setting her mug down. "Was Benson there?"
I stiffen for a fraction of a second before shaking my head. "No, just me and Maddie."
Her gaze lingers on me, her motherly intuition kicking in. I know she wants to ask more, to prod deeper, but she doesn't. Instead, she sighs and gestures toward the door. "Come on, let's go before the store gets packed."
The car ride is mostly quiet, the radio playing softly in the background. I scroll through my phone, skimming through texts until I see one from Benson.
Good morning, hope you had fun last night.
Simple. Sweet. Safe. I should feel relieved, but instead, I feel... nothing.
I start typing a response, but before I can send it, I scroll down and my stomach drops.
A picture of Aiden and Rosie, the redhead from last night, stares back at me. They're smiling, looking like the perfect couple.
I shouldn't care. But I do.
My fingers twitch, and before I realize what I'm doing, I accidentally double-tap the picture.
My breath catches in my throat.
Oh, my God. I just liked the picture.
I freeze, my heart slamming against my ribs. What do I do? Unlike it? No, that'll make it worse if he's already seen the notification. I grip my phone tightly, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.
"Everything okay?" my mom asks, glancing at me from the driver's seat.
I force a smile, locking my phone and shoving it into my hoodie pocket. "Yeah. Just zoned out."
She doesn't look convinced but doesn't push further. Instead, she starts talking about work, filling the silence with updates about her latest interior design projects. I nod along, pretending to listen, though my mind is elsewhere.
We reach the store, and as we walk through the aisles, I try to focus on helping her pick out groceries. She moves with purpose, checking items off her list, while I trail behind, lost in my thoughts.
At some point, she pauses and turns to me, her expression shifting. "You've been quiet today."
I blink, snapping out of my daze. "Just tired."
She studies me for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You sure that's all?"
I force a laugh. "What else would it be?"
She sighs but lets it go. "Alright. But if something's on your mind, you know you can talk to me, right?"
I nod, though we both know I won't.
By the time we get home, I feel even more drained than before. After helping put away the groceries, I retreat to my room, collapsing onto my bed. My phone buzzes, and I hesitate before checking it.
A new message.
Aiden: You stalking me now, Kitty?
My heart jumps into my throat.
I stare at the message, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I could make an excuse. Say it was an accident. But would he believe that? Would I even believe that?
Before I can decide what to say, my phone buzzes again.
Aiden: I don't mind.
I suck in a sharp breath, my grip tightening on the phone.
Damn him.