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“No, I’m fine. He wanted to go up to his room, and I said no. He told me to not be a tease and then…”

“Hey, you are not a tease. You can dance with him, and then if he offers more and you say no, it’s fucking no, okay?” I bite, angry that he didn’t take no for an answer. She nods in understanding, and I hold her tighter and press a kiss to the top of her head.

“I want my bed,” she mumbles into my chest. I let out a low chuckle.

“Let’s get you upstairs.”

Without thinking, I scoop Gabriella up like a bride and carry her.

“My hero.” She giggles. “My feet are killing me.”

“I got you, baby girl,” I whisper, pressing another kiss to the top of her head as she begins to drift off in my arms as I carry her through the hotel.

We reach our floor, where our suite is opposite the girls. Gabriella stirs in my arms and mumbles, “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

I contort my face and wince. “Oh, God, please don’t.” I can’t be dealing with her throwing up over me.

“Quick, get her in the bathroom.” Kate says. She’s followed us back and panicked voice echoes in the hallway as she swipes her key card at the door and opens it. I rush through.

“Where?” I yell, feeling myself panic that she’s about to vomit all over me.

“This way,” Kate yells, kicking off her heels and attempting to run, but she’s just as drunk and falls against the wall and begins giggling.

Jesus Christ.

She opens a door, flicks the light on, and bursts into laughter.

“Whoops, wrong room.” She’s opened the door to a closet and looks at me and laughs. “It’s a closet. I thought it was the bathroom.” She slaps her forehead with the palm of her hand. “Silly Kate.”

I look at her deadpan. “Kate?” I say, looking down at Gabriella, who is now beginning to dry heave.

“Oh yeah, this way.” Thankfully, the next door is the bathroom. I settle Gabriella down on the floor next to the toilet, crouch down beside her, and hold back her ponytail in time just as she empties the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl, trying to ignore the god-awful smell of the alcohol that she’s spewing up.

“That’s it, get it all out,” I encourage, rubbing small circles on her back.

“I’m sorry,” she manages to say in between throwing up. “You should know, I only throw up in front of people I like and feel comfortable around.”

“I’m honored,” I say, my tone laced with sarcasm.

“Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick,” Kate slurs, covering her mouth.

“What?” I all but shriek, as she starts pacing the room, fanning her face with her hands.

“Yeah, if I hear people puke, it makes me puke. I have really sensitive gag reflex,” she mumbles behind her hand.

“Aren’t you training to be a nurse?” I question, furrowing my brow in confusion.

“Yeah, yeah, I am. I need to work on the gagging thing,” she mutters.

“Might be a good idea,” I say flatly.

As I finish my sentence, Gabriella makes a loud gagging sound, and more vomit is expelled from her body.

Seriously, how much did she drink?

“Oh God, it’s…” Kate groans, and I can see she’s about to spew.

“Oh, fuck no…” I shout, petrified she’s about to spew all over the bathroom floor.