Still You Still Me Still Falling novel Chapter 53

Seeing the scene inside, Sheila's temples throbbed. She hurried over to pull him up. "Get up!"

Somehow, Edmond had collapsed onto the bathroom tile.

It took her a delayed second to realize his dress pants hadn't been pulled back up yet.

Thank God his boxer briefs were securely in place.

Sheila felt a chaotic mix of embarrassment, anger, and sheer panic.

She glanced at him, finally realizing his eyes were completely unfocused. He was barely more lucid than he had been on the couch.

And he reeked of alcohol.

Just how much had he drank?

Had he drank himself stupid?

Fortunately, Edmond still had enough motor function to push off the floor. She hauled him upright, only to look down and see his trousers bunched up around his ankles.

"Edmond Halley! Pull your pants up!"

Sheila gritted out through clenched teeth.

But the man just kept his eyes shut, completely unresponsive.

If the paramedics arrived and opened the door to find him half-naked...

He wouldn't be the only one humiliated—she would be mortified too!

Sheila nearly ground her teeth to dust.

She rationalized it to herself: Was there really any part of Edmond's body she hadn't seen before?

She was just helping him put his pants on. What was the big deal?

Resigned to her fate, she crouched down in front of his legs, grabbed his belt loops, and hoisted his pants up.

But when she reached his thighs, they got stuck.

His arms were hanging limply by his sides, his hands physically blocking the fabric.

"Edmond!" Sheila was utterly exasperated. She looked up at him. "Move your hands!"

That upward glance proved to be a fatal mistake. She locked eyes directly with him.

His eyes were bloodshot and still clouded with confusion.

But quickly, he blinked hard, opened them again, and spoke. "Sheila? Why are you taking my pants off?"

Sheila's brain basically short-circuited.

"I believe you."

Sheila snapped her head up to look at him.

Those three simple words instantly lifted the crushing weight off her chest.

"I must have walked into the wrong room and just happened to see you," she said. "Don't read into it. I'd do the same for a stranger on the street. The ambulance should be here soon. You should probably call your own people too."

With that, she turned to leave.

A hand grabbed her arm.

Sheila's temper instantly flared. "What are you doing!"

She wrenched her arm away.

Edmond frowned deeply, his body swaying. The pain in his stomach was so severe that all his strength seemed drained. He could barely stay on his feet.

Purely on reflex, Sheila reached out and caught him.

After a few seconds of heavy silence, he murmured, "Thank you."

"Save it," she retorted. "I was just worried that if you died, I'd become a murder suspect. So do us both a favor and stay alive!"

Right on cue, her phone rang.