Page 66 of Surviving Slater

"You want something to drink?" Sin asked.

I nodded. Just one drink. Taylor watched me with concern, but I refused to acknowledge it.

I was hyperaware of Slater and every movement he made beside Cathy so I was relieved when he left with Sin to get drinks.

One drink later and I knew I had hit my limit. I was feeling floaty and slow. If I had any more to drink I would do something really stupid.

"I'm tired," I told Levi.

"Let's go home," he said. I hugged Taylor and promised I would call her the next day.

I said goodbye to Cathy and gave Slater a slight inclination of my head in his direction. He looked at me but I refused to make eye contact. Levi said goodbye before he helped me to the car and drove me home.

It was onlywhen I woke up that the events of the previous night hit me. It was the same feeling as when I had first walked in and saw Slater with Cathy.

I turned over in my bed and hugged my pillow, trying to deal with the emotions I had managed to block out. I felt inadequate and there was a loss of something I wasn't sure I had even had.

My head felt a bit fuzzy but at least I wasn't suffering from a hangover.

I didn't want to think about last night or analyze Slater's interaction with his date, but I was powerless to stop my mind. Frustrated, I got up to try and distract myself.

My bottle of pills was beside my bed. I resisted the urge to take them, knowing I couldn't rely solely on them to help me cope. I didn't want to become dependent on them.

I took a deep breath and released it before I left my room to see if Levi was up.

The smell of something cooking led me to the kitchen. Levi, dressed in only a pair of jeans, was busy with making something on the stove.

"I thought you didn't cook?" I said. He turned to me.

"I'm attempting to cook breakfast," he said with a teasing smile.

"Then let me help you. I don't want you to burn the kitchen down," I said, imagining trying to explain that to Connor. I took the spatula out of his hand and took over the eggs he was trying to fry.

Levi leaned against the counter. He was hot, and any normal red-blooded woman would feel attracted to him, but I didn't. There was only one bad boy who tilted my world with the slightest touch. I clenched my teeth to ride the familiar pain when I thought of how easily he had discarded me and moved on with someone else.

Would it have made me feel any better if she hadn't been so pretty? Probably not. No matter what she looked like, she had what I wanted.

"You okay?" he asked, and I flipped the eggs.

I gave him a smile and nodded my head.

"No hangover?" he asked.

"Nope."

He frowned. "You seemed pretty out of it last night." His eyes held mine, like they were trying to read what was unspoken.

I shrugged. I couldn't explain it without revealing I was taking medication, and I didn't want to do that.

"My threshold for alcohol is low," I lied. It was easier.

"I need plates," I instructed him when the eggs were ready. I pointed to the cupboard and he got two plates, putting them side by side.

Just as I scooped the eggs onto the plates, there was a knock at the door.

"You expecting someone?" Levi asked, and I shook my head.

"I'll get it," he said, leaving me in the kitchen.