Fated To Save You- By: Tina Marie

Chapter 100 - The Morning After

Last Updated on 2024-10-10 23:19:40

Stormi groaned, her head throbbing as if it had been struck by a mallet. The sunlight seeping through her curtains felt too bright, too sharp, and she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to block out the world. "Ughhh…what the hell," she muttered, clutching her temples in a futile attempt to ease the pain.

As she reluctantly opened her eyes, she realized she was home, in her own bed. The familiar surroundings should have been comforting, but confusion clouded her thoughts, making everything feel slightly off-kilter. She pushed herself up, wincing as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through her skull.

"How did I get here?" she wondered aloud, her voice barely more than a whisper. The question hung in the air, unanswered.

Fragments of the previous night began to float to the surface of her mind, but they were disjointed, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that refused to fit together. She smacked her forehead lightly, as if the physical action might somehow shake loose the memories. "Think, dummy. What did you do?"

Slowly, the haze began to clear. She remembered the wedding—the joyful celebration, the laughter, the endless rounds of toasts. And then, the after-party. The drinks had flowed freely, perhaps too freely, and her memories of those final hours were fuzzy at best. But one image stood out with startling clarity: Riley.

She saw him, clear as day, his strong arms lifting her, carrying her to his car. A wave of relief washed over her—Riley had brought her home, made sure she was safe. But relief quickly turned to panic as another memory surfaced, one she wished she could forget.

"Oh my GOD!!! What did I do?" Stormi gasped, her heart racing as she recalled the mortifying scene—her clinging to Riley, her lips pressing against his in a desperate, drunken kiss.

"Did I kiss Riley? No, I couldn’t have…could I?" She felt her stomach twist with anxiety as she tried to remember the details. Everything was so jumbled, so unclear. But the image of that kiss felt real, too real to ignore.

Her mind raced, a thousand thoughts colliding at once. Had she crossed a line? What must Riley think of her now? The idea of facing him, of confronting whatever had happened between them, was almost too much to bear.

For a fleeting moment, she considered calling Wren, her closest friend, for advice. But Wren was on her honeymoon, far away from this mess. Stormi couldn’t bring herself to disrupt Wren’s happiness with her own turmoil.

As she sat there, wallowing in self-inflicted dread, her phone dinged, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Riley. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it, dreading what she might find.

Riley: Hey, sorry I left you alone, but I had some things to do. Are you feeling okay? I left some honey water next to your bed.

Stormi’s eyes darted to the nightstand, where a glass of honey water sat waiting for her. She hadn’t even noticed it until now. A small smile tugged at her lips despite her anxiety. Riley had always been thoughtful, looking out for her even when she didn’t realize it.

Stormi: I’m feeling okay. I just woke up. Thanks for bringing me home last night.

Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard before she hit send. She wanted to ask more, to pry into the details of last night, but the fear of what she might uncover held her back.

Riley: No problem.

Stormi stared at the screen, waiting for something more, but there was nothing. Should she bring it up? Should she ask about the kiss? The uncertainty gnawed at her.

Stormi: Umm…

Riley: ?

Stormi: I hope I didn’t do anything weird last night.

She held her breath, her heart pounding as she waited for his response. What would he say? Would he confirm her worst fears?

Riley: No, you just cried a bit about Rex and then went to sleep.

Stormi let out a long, shaky breath. Relief mixed with a lingering sense of unease. So, he wasn’t going to mention the kiss. Did that mean it hadn’t happened? Or was he just sparing her feelings?

Stormi: Oh…okay.

There was so much more she wanted to ask, so many doubts swirling in her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to push further. Maybe it was better this way. Maybe some things were best left unspoken.

Riley: Well, I’m going to grab some lunch. Would you like to come?

The invitation was unexpected, but a welcome distraction. Maybe a normal, friendly lunch was exactly what she needed to get her mind off the awkwardness of last night.

Stormi: Sure.

Riley: Alright, I’ll pick you up at 2.

Stormi: Okay.

Riley: Bye.

Stormi: Bye.

As she set her phone down, Stormi’s thoughts continued to churn. Lunch with Riley would be nice, but the shadow of that kiss—real or imagined—still loomed over her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that things had changed between them, even if neither of them was ready to admit it.

With a sigh, Stormi got out of bed, determined to push her worries aside for now. There would be time to deal with the mess of emotions later. For now, she would focus on the present—on her friendship with Riley and the comfort of familiar routines.

But as she got ready for lunch, she couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for them.

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Fated To Save You- By: Tina Marie

Chapter 100 - The Morning After

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