Cam

Whoever said that drinking away your sorrows is a good idea is very, very misinformed. While it may seem like a good idea at the time, it’s not like it takes away any of the reality that your sorrows bring with them.

I’m still unemployed.

And to make matters worse, I have a nasty hangover.

Thankfully, I don’t have a job to go to while being hungover today. I guess that’s one perk of unemployment. But other than that, it sucks. Plus, the reason that I got so stupidly rotten last night is still looming over my head.

And now, I’ve got no job.

I didn’t do anything wrong at work to get fired. Management just decided that since I was the last person hired, I was fireable when two of the other girls wanted more hours. It was bad luck and not at all a reflection on my performance. I could look into some recourse to find a way to go get my job back, but I’m not sure I really want to put all that effort into it.

I could easily go to another hotels in Vegas and put in an application. I have a degree in hospitality, I have more than six months of experience here in the States, plus many more from working summers back home to fill my resume. But do I really want to work in a hotel? Is that my end goal?

I slowly roll over to a sleeping Jacks. His chest rises and falls with each breath he takes.

With a groan, I lie back down and push myself deeper into the pillow.

“Hungover?” he asks, a slight laugh to his voice.

“A little. What happened last night? When did you come home?” I ask quietly.

“I got home around two-thirty, and you announced that we were going to get freaky in order to get everyone out of the house.”

“Oh my god. I didn’t?” I pull the covers over my face.

“You did. Most of your guests were amused.”

“I’m sorry.” I gulp in some fresh air and then cover my face again with the covers. “I know we never mentioned about if I could have people over, I was just really bummed and needed—”

“Hey no, you don’t need to apologize for having an impromptu party. You live here. You can have people over. Just next time, let me know so I know what I’m walking into. And especially talk to me if something like losing your job happens. That’s big stuff, the kind of stuff you tell your boyfriend as soon as you can. I wouldn’t have stayed at the club so late if I’d known. I would have been here for you.”

“I’m sorry, Jacks,” I say, my head still under the comforter.

“How do you feel?” he asks as he pulls the covers down. He’s up on his elbow and leaning towards me.

“Like drinking didn’t solve my problems.” I close my eyes.

“It usually doesn’t. It only seems to in the moment. I’ll grab you some toast and water. I’ve got my doctor appointment this morning and then I have the afternoon free, but I’m going to resume my nights at the club starting today. I don’t have to right away, if you don’t want. I can ask Kendra to close.”

“No, I don’t want you to be inconvenienced because I’m jobless.”

“It’s not an inconvenience, love.”

“No, get back into the swing of things with work. I need to figure out my next move without your hunky ass walking around here and distracting me.”

“Hunky ass?” The corners of his mouth perk up as he looks down at me.

“I thought you were getting me toast and water?” I change the subject.

He laughs and kicks the covers off. He’s in navy blue boxer briefs that hug his body perfectly and he’s shirtless.

I blush.

If he could be shirtless all the time, I wouldn’t complain.

Jacks returns a moment later with water and a bottle of aspirin, puts the contents down on the bedside table and then retreats again. I watch his ass move out of my sight and smile.

When he returns, he’s carrying a plate, which he presents to me in an exaggerated flourish. I snicker and sit up.

“No crumbs in bed.” He points his finger and me and says with a stern voice.

I nod and take a bite out of the toast.

I grimace and put the plate down, then move to lay back in bed. Jacks clears his throat.

“Eat it all. You need something in your stomach. When I get out of the shower, it better be gone. And I don’t mean in the garbage,” he says playfully as he grabs his towel from the hanger on the wall just inside his walk-in closet.

Reluctantly, I pull myself back up and continue eating the crisp, yet lightly buttered toast. Once I power through that, I swallow the aspirin and gulp down the water, then lay back down. The water running in the bathroom is a soothing sound that lulls me back to sleep.

I briefly recall Jacks murmuring something in my ear and kissing my temple, but nothing else until I wake up several hours later to the smell of burgers wafting from the kitchen.

I walk through the house until I reach Jacks and my brother sitting on the couch laughing about something with food in their mouths, while they have the news on in the background. I peek into the bag on the kitchen counter and grab the burger that sits inside screaming my name. I grab a plate and then go to join the guys.

“Feeling better?” Jacks asks as I sit down. Mal looks over to me with concern.

“Are you sick?” Mal asks.

“Hung over,” I reply, and take a bite of the delicious burger. I groan in satisfaction while I chew.

“Take quite the piss last night?” Mal laughs.

“You can say that.” I take another bite, chew and then swallow. “What are you two doing? Who’s at the club?” I look between the guys.

“Kendra and Beck are there. We’re taking a break, catching up,” Mal says.

“Oh shit, sorry. Bro time. I’ll go—” I start to stand but Jacks’s hand on my forearm stops me.

“Stay. We’re just eating. You aren’t interrupting anything.” He tugs me back down.

“This bloke here was just telling me about the party you were having last night and how you got people out of here. That’s quite brave.” Mal laughs, wiping sauce from his mouth.

“I don’t remember a thing, so therefore it never happened,” I say, my back straight and head held high. I look to Jacks and notice his nose is no longer bandaged.

“What?” he asks sticking a fresh fry in his mouth.

“Your bandage, it’s gone.” I point at him.

“Yeah, the other night, it looked worse than it actually was. Everything is fine. I just need to take it easy for another week or two and I should be fine.”

“Does that mean…?” I let my voice trail off in hopes he gets the meaning of my question without me having to say it in front of my brother.

“I should avoid contact sports. There was no major displacement after the ER doc realigned my nose, so I’m fine otherwise. My nose is still straight, so there’s no problems that they could see other than some healing still needed to be done. It could take up to six weeks for full recovery, but my nose is already healing.”

“You just said that another week or two and you will be fine. What’s this about six weeks though?” I ask, getting worried.

“Love, the typical healing time for standard broken bone is six weeks. It’s just a timeframe. I feel great aside from a little pain here or there with certain facial movements. I just need to make sure nothing hits my face and I’ll be good.”

“That means keep your balls away from his face.” Mal laughs.

“I don’t have balls you arsehole.” I lean over and sneer at my brother.

“Your tits, love,” Jacks says quietly.

“Why would my tits be in your face?” I look at Jacks as Mal stands up quickly.

“This conversation just took an awkward turn. I can’t handle hearing this about my little sister. Hakuna your tatas, Sis. You, keep it in your pants until I fucking leave, please,” Mal mumbles as he stands.

“No strenuous activity. No contact sports,” I shout after him.

“Oh love, that doesn’t count if you’re on top,” Jacks whispers.

My skin starts to blaze, and I feel a blast of heat rush through me, goosebumps rising in its wake. My hangover forgotten, I could pounce on him right now. He smiles at me and it’s beautiful. It’s a goofy, lopsided smile, but a beautiful one nonetheless.

“I really want to kiss you, but I’m afraid my nose will bump your nose and it will hurt you,” I ramble.

“We don’t have to kiss, necessarily. We can… do other things. I’m cleared by the doctor.”

“You asked the doctor if we could have sex?” My jaw drops.

“I may have asked about it, yes. I have a woman at home with needs I need to attend to, so damn straight I asked. Besides, my cock can’t go another day sleeping next to you and not being buried in your tight pussy,” he growls.

Instant panty drench right there.