Chapter 63: That tastes like shit

I somehow find the strength to drag myself out of bed and into the bathroom. The moment the shower comes on, I step underneath it and let the hot water hit my face.

I close my eyes.

This is what I needed.

I grab my soap and scrub every inch of myself like I can physically erase last night from my body.

The smell of alcohol, the faint, awful reminder of what happened beside the Lamborghini.

I scrub until my skin feels raw, then shampoo my hair twice just to be sure.

By the time I’m done, I smell considerably less like a walking disaster.

I brush my teeth for what feels like an eternity.

I brush until my gums start bleeding slightly.

I stop and stare at the tiny streak of red in the sink.

"Okay. That’s enough."

I rinse my mouth and stare at myself in the mirror.

My hair is wet, my face looks tired and my eyes are slightly puffy.

But at least I no longer look like I crawled out of a nightclub dumpster.

Progress.

I walk out of the bathroom, still feeling a little weak from the hangover.

Victoria is awake.

She’s sitting on the edge of the bed, gathering her things.

"Oh, hi, Victoria."

I walk toward my vanity.

"I see you’re finally awake."

No answer.

I pick up my moisturizer and pause.

Maybe she didn’t hear me.

I start applying my skincare.

"Victoria?"

Silence.

I turn around.

She’s looking at me, while giving me a devilish smirk.

I narrow my eyes.

"What’s wrong?"

She doesn’t answer. Instead, she jerks her head toward me.

I follow her gaze and freeze.

Oh. My. God.

I look down. I’m completely naked.

My eyes widen and my entire face catches fire.

I swear I turn red in real time.

"Christ!"

I immediately cover myself with both hands.

How did I forget? I have no idea.

I live alone most of the time. I’m used to walking around my own room naked without thinking about whether someone else is there.

Apparently, I forgot there were two other human beings in this room at the time at least.

"Shit."

Victoria’s smile grows.

"I’m so sorry."

I glance toward the bathroom.

"I’ll..."

I turn quickly, heading back toward it.

"I’ll get a towel."

Victoria finally laughs.

"It’s okay. I’m heading out anyway."

She walks past me while I try desperately to cover myself with my hands as she passes.

This is officially one of the most humiliating moments of my life.

She reaches the door, then pauses.

I peek at her from behind my hands.

She turns around.

"You know..."

I brace myself.

"You have a beautiful body, by the way."

My mouth falls open.

She grins.

"You don’t have to hide it."

Then she opens the door.

"See you at breakfast."

And walks out, closing the door behind her.

I stand there frozen for several seconds. Then I slowly look down at myself again.

"Well..."

I grab the nearest towel and wrap it around myself.

After Victoria leaves, I finally manage to recover from my humiliation enough to get dressed.

I take my time choosing something simple.

My head is still pounding, although the shower helped a little. My stomach isn’t exactly thrilled with me either, so I decide against eating anything heavy.

Once I’m dressed, I make my way downstairs.

The house is already awake. I can hear voices coming from the dining area, along with the clinking of dishes and the occasional sound of someone moving around the kitchen.

When I walk in, Isabella and Victoria are already sitting at the table.

They both look at me and I immediately feel awkward. Especially after this morning.

I walk over and take the empty seat beside them.

"Morning."

"Morning," Isabella says cheerfully.

Victoria smiles at me and I give her a suspicious look. She better not say anything.

Isabella tilts her head.

"Why do you look red, Rissa?"

I nearly choke on air.

Victoria bursts into laughter.

"I know why."

I slowly turn toward her.

"Don’t even."

She grins.

"I saw her naked. That’s why."

"Victoria!"

My face heats up all over again.

Isabella practically doubles over laughing.

"Oh my God."

"Stop laughing!"

"I’m sorry," Isabella manages between laughs. "I’m sorry."

"No, you’re not."

"I’m really not."

Victoria shrugs, completely unbothered.

"Oh, come on. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about."

"It is when you announce it at breakfast!"

"It’s not like I announced it to the entire country."

"Yet."

She laughs.

I glare at both of them. Before I can respond, someone places a steaming cup in front of me.

I look up.

Linda.

She’s already turning back toward the kitchen, but I catch her before she walks away.

"Thank you, ma’am."

She stops. Then turns around with a mildly offended expression.

"Hush, child."

I blink.

"Ye don’t have to call me that."

She gives me a small smile.

"Linda is just fine."

Something about the way she says it makes me smile.

"Thank you, Linda."

"There now."

She nods approvingly before returning to the kitchen.

I wrap both hands around the cup. The warmth feels good against my palms.

Isabella points at it.

"Drink up."

I look suspiciously at the tea.

"What is it?"

"Linda’s infamous tea."

She grins.

"It works magic. It helped me through most of my teenage years."

I raise an eyebrow.

"What exactly were you doing during your teenage years?"

She gives me an innocent smile.

"Nothing."

"Isabella."

"Okay, fine."

She laughs.

"I used to sneak out and sometimes I’d come home...a little drunk."

"A little?"

Victoria laughs.

"Very drunk."

"Okay, very drunk."

Isabella points toward the tea.

"Linda would always make me this whenever I came home feeling like death."

I look down at the cup.

"And it worked?"

"Every time."

I take a deep breath.

"Okay."

I lift the cup.

"If this kills me, I’m haunting you."

"Fair."

I take a big gulp and immediately regret every decision that brought me to this moment.

My entire face scrunches and I choke.

"What the..."

I cough into my hand while Isabella and Victoria bursts out laughing. Victoria is laughing so hard she’s almost falling out of her chair.

I stare at the cup in horror.

"This tastes like shit!"

"Yeah," Isabella says between laughs. "I should’ve warned you about that."

"Why didn’t you?"

"Because I wanted you to experience it yourself."

I glare at her.

"You’ll feel better soon, though. So I guess that makes up for the shitty taste."

I look down at the tea again.

Though I’m not convinced, i take another cautious sip.

"How did you drink this as a teenager?"

"I was desperate."

"Clearly."

Victoria reaches across the table.

"Here."

Before I can ask what she’s doing, she grabs a napkin and gently dabs the corner of my lips.

She laughs softly.

"You’ve got some there."

I touch my lips instinctively.

"Oh."

"Got it."

"Thanks."

I smile awkwardly.

And that’s exactly when the room suddenly feels different, i don’t even have to turn around to know someone has walked into the room.

I look toward the entrance, Lysander is standing there, looking bloodied and so pissed.