More Issues than Vogue

Elyse rolled her eyes, “Okay, so it was one-time good sex. So you won’t mind if I go over to his room and try it out myself, right?” She was kidding, trying to gage Rhiannon’s response. She did half stand up though, watching Rhi closely. 

Rhiannon shrugged her shoulders, trying her hardest to look unfazed at the question. “Go ahead. Be my guest. He’d be better off with someone like you than me, anyway. That’s why I was a one night thing. You know I don’t like anything long-term. Scares the shit out of me.” 

Elyse smiled and stepped into the room, plopped down into a chair and grinned. “What else? How about everything? How did it happen? Was it any good?” She rested her chin on her fist, “Is it more than sex or…?”

“What do you mean how did it happen? He put his dick in my vagina,” she said, making the gesture with her hands. “Simple as that. Do I need to give you the birds and the bees talk? Had to give it to my sister, so I don’t mind helping you out too,” Rhi joked, trying to dance around the subject as much as possible. “But for the record, yeah it was good. Better than good, actually. It was a one night only thing, so...” 

That was good, a laugh, he could do something with a laugh. The cold shoulder and the pretending to push him away for his own good, that was something else entirely. He was sure they’d come to that disagreement soon enough. Now, however, he was intent on getting her back to her room and having her save a bit of face. Not everyone needed to watch the future Queen of Wales empty her stomach contents in a hotel lobby trash bin. “Once ten am passes the worst of it is over, you’ve got another twenty,” he looked at her. “Read it in some online journal,” he explained the silly piece of random knowledge littering his brain. He kept her in his arm easily as she spoke. The feeling of her head on his chest not an uncommon one since it had rest there many nights ago until early morning. He let a heavy sigh expel from his lips as she continued. “I’m just glad you’re talking to me, regardless of how you look,” he replied, and it was the honest truth. Not hearing back from her had hurt more than he thought it originally would. That somehow their night together would have gotten each other out of their systems, that clearly had not happened. “But, that’s a fun little pocket you’ve got,” he nodded to where she’d tugged the key card from. Swiping the door with ease he kicked a few shoes and various items from the night before, presumably to the side as he entered her place. Well, her place for now. “I’m not just saying that,” he kissed the top of her head lightly. “I like a woman that can pull off homeless chic cat lady on a week day. Makes me swoon,” he set down the coffee on the table along with the bottle of Smartwater. Carrying her further he found the ice bucket, the only thing she had not puked in yet, and set it down by the couch. Setting her on the couch with a pillow, a remote, her cell phone and a blanket he glanced at her. “Everything all here?” He asked assuming she wanted him to leave. 

Rhiannon didn’t care that everyone saw her throwing up. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time she publicly embarrassed herself. And besides, she already had a bad reputation so it couldn’t possibly get any worse. “I know, this usually happens once or twice a week...but it’s usually not this bad. I fucked up and mixed a ton of drinks.” Honestly, she knew she probably needed to address her drinking problem, but she was trying to put that off as long as possible. As he carried her, she remembered how safe she felt in his arms. When she slept snuggled up to him the other night, everything felt like it was meant to be. “I didn’t know where else to put it, and besides, there’s more than enough room in there anyway,” she said, making fun of herself. Rhiannon’s room was a mess. She came back completely hammered and ended up blacking out, so her clothing and several items were all over the place. “Oh, good. I’m so glad this look is working for you.” Once she was placed on the couch, she grabbed the pillow and laid down. “Yeah, everything is here...” Looking up at him with her big blue eyes, she reached out to him. “Can you stay? Please...”

“As I recall there wasn’t much of a discussion, nor much talking,” he pointed out. It was then he noticed her usually porcelain visage had took a turn for well, a clammy green tinge. He didn’t think he smelled that bad after working out. Her admittance and apology was something he he didn’t expect AT ALL it took him off guard. He’d been there before, granted last time he’d had that much was when he’d become partner. Or, if him Andres and Sergio went out together. The trio were not good for one anothers livers. His hand brushed her cheek, “Okay, I’ll shut up,” he aquessed before watching her sprint upwards. A cringed face handed the waiter some extra cash as he got up to make sure she was alright. Getting her coffee to go, as well as a water he bent down picking the blonde up and carrying her on his hip as he entered the elevator with her. Keeping himself quiet as he pressed the button to take her back to her room. Not wanting to add to the headache or literally entire body ache of the woman in his arms. “I don’t know if you know this,” he explained looking at her in his arm, “But you are the most beautiful looking woman to ever throw up near me, you keep doing things like that and you’ll make it even harder for me to resist you.” Abe teased lightly. Striding down the hall with her in tow, “You’ve got your key?” He asked. 

“Smart ass,” Rhiannon commented, not able to hold back a laugh. It was true, the hadn’t done much talking once she arrived in his room. The two of them were got right to it, and honestly, it was one of the best nights Rhiannon ever had. When she first got out of bed this morning, she didn’t feel that bad, but now that she was up and moving about, she was realizing she just should have stayed in bed. She had mixed drinks the night before, so that was why things were bad for her. As she sat on the floor, she realized how much of a mess she must look to him, and all she wanted to do was lie in bed and go back to sleep, but she didn’t think she could get up, let alone make it back to her room. Feeling him pick her up effortlessly, she clung to him and buried her head in his chest. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this,” she said quietly, finally letting her guard down. “You’re just saying that. I look like a hot mess.” She was really at her worst, but here he was still tolerating her. It only made her even more fond of him. “Yeah, here,” she said, putting the key out of her brassiere.

“Right, I forgot that contract I signed,” he shot her a look. “Yes, my how are you text really, just, yeah that was a big one with a lot of meaning behind it. And the Just thinking about you text was damn near a proposal,” he looked at her. “Don’t make excuses, not to me, Rhiannon,” he gave her a look as if his eyes led a clear path to his heart. He cut the sausage dipping it in the yolk of the egg before sliding his plate to her and leaning over the diner bar to grab another fork. “You’ll feel better,” he continued to eat off his side of the plate as he shared with her. Deciding to forego any kind of confrontation in public, and with her in the state she was in he had to ask. “So, looks like you had fun last night,” he teased gently, “The slippers and caked on mascara is sexy,” Abe gave her a light smile. She was, in a way, right. She owed him nothing, but that didn’t stop his feelings. The feeling he felt when she walked into a room, or he in a meeting hoping to see her sitting there. Or the way he’d casually hear someone mention her name and he wanted to know everything they were talking about. His bare leg brushed against hers as the two sat next to one another. Hesitantly he let his knuckles brush against hers, one finger finding her forefinger and letting it tangle together underneath the bartop. 

“Well, it kind of was set in stone when we discussed it. We agreed to me spending the night with you. Not multiple nights or anything like that,” Rhiannon said casually. That was all she had to say. She wouldn’t continue to lie to him. He didn’t deserve that. And she didn’t have the energy to argue with him any longer. “Fine, I’m sorry. I tend to keep people at arm’s length.” Clearly he was more hung up on her than she thought he would be. And she was equally hung up on him, but couldn’t bring herself to admit it. “I can’t. Just the idea of food right now makes me want to yack.” She’d be fine in a few hours. Resting her head on her hand, she yawned and gave him a look. “Shut up, I was laying on the bathroom floor since four o’clock this morning,” she said with a sigh. It had been a while since she had been this hungover. She drank way more than she should have.  As she felt his fingers on her own, she didn’t pull away, as much as her brain was telling her to. She didn’t know what to do about her feelings for him. She turned to him and was about to speak when a wave of nausea came and she knew she was going to throw up. Quickly getting up, she darted to the nearest trash can. Once she was finished, she sat down on the floor and pulled her knees to her chest. She was dizzy and needed a moment to collect herself. 

“two weddings, one in lisbon and another in cardiff.” she replied quickly and winked at rhiannon, a small smile playing on her lips as she did so. “you should’ve met nick, it’d be a funny thing to watch you and him talk. i’m almost sure you could make the guy blush.” it was probably a talent of hers, making everyone’s cheeks get a little redder with the heat of embarrassment. “i’ve never heard anybody talk about that but you. did you learn it in prison?” she shook her head. what else could be expected from the welsh crown princess? “i just revealed myself in a casual conversation. lovely. classic barbara.”