Page 95 of Don't Call Me Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 1)

“Well, it sure feels like it and it isn’t nice. I poured my heart out to you in that letter. The least you could have done is send me a fuck-off text.”

Luke leaned his elbows on his knees, bringing him closer to her. “Is that what you want me to say? You want me to tell you to fuck off?”

“No, of course not, you dork.” Marley’s voice was higher and he thought she sounded a bit nasally. “I want you to tell me that you forgive me. That you missed me as much as I missed you.”

“How much have you missed me?” he asked.

“Like stay awake every night listening to sad music and eating a crap ton of junk miss you.”

Luke picked up her martini glass and moved it away from her reach. “How many of those have you had?”

“Two or three? I don’t really remember.”

Luke took her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Why don’t we try sobering you up by dancing a bit?”

“I don’t want to dance, I want to know—”

Luke pulled up short, looking sternly down into her petulant expression.

“We will dance and when I’m ready, we’ll talk. Okay?”

Marley hesitated, but when he started to let her go, she finally nodded. He pulled her out for a slow dance, shuffling slowly to “Because You Loved Me.” Luke’s arms wrapped around her waist as they swayed. When she laid her cheek on his chest, he relaxed.

They didn’t talk, and Luke just let himself enjoy Marley’s floral scented hair, the way she snuggled against him like a kitten, and most of all, he got lost in just holding her against him once more.

“Can we just stay like this?” she whispered above the music. “In this moment, can we just forget all the bad stuff, and can you just hold me?”

It was too easy to do that, to push the past from his mind and just enjoy Marley.

He just wondered if it was something he could really commit to and forgive her…or was he just fooling himself?

* * * *

The night flew by in a blur, and Marley knew she was still pretty tipsy as Luke kept his arm around her waist, leading her down the hallway to his hotel room. The Love Shack Hotel’s hallway was quiet for a Saturday at eleven at night.

Or maybe that made sense. People this late were getting busy.

The thought left her giggling hysterically.

“What’s so funny?” Luke asked, smiling down at her. She was glad he could still do that; she’d been afraid she’d never see it directed at her again.

“I was just wondering if you were bringing me back here so we can have make up sex?”

Luke shook his head as he pulled his keys from his pocket. “Actually, I’m bringing you back here so you can sleep it off and I make sure you don’t aspirate on your vomit.”

Marley leaned against the wall as the walls tilted, and he opened up the door. “That sounds so hot.”

Luke chuckled and she held a finger up with a smile. “See? I can still make you laugh.” The edges of her vision started to blur and she felt herself falling as she slurred, “I love it when you laugh.”

Strong arms picked her up and she hummed as her eyes stayed closed. The sensation of floating surprised her, and she mumbled, “Am I flying?”

“No, sweetheart, I’m carrying you to bed.”

“I really don’t mind when you call me sweetheart. Other people do it and it rankles me.”

“Rankles, huh? Pretty big word for such a drunk girl.”

She didn’t respond, as she’d already passed completely out.