LITTLE GIRL LOST by SARAH BETH LEE (bill gates books to read TXT) 📖

look on Nick’s face. “She’ll have one hell of a hangover in the morning.”

“Ok I’ll be right back.”

Carter watched as his brother walked outside already calling Maddie. He focused his attention on Nick. “So Nick you know Hannah?”

Nick was surprised by his question and he wondered how he was supposed to answer. He shook his head no. “Not really I take it she was here earlier?”

“Yeah man you practically ran into her when you walked in. She was the beautiful girl about to throw up on your shoes.”

Nick remembered the girl but he hadn’t been able to see her face. Maddie had said something about her friend having too much to drink. He had been that close to Hannah and he hadn’t even realized it. He had felt a spark but he had chalked it up to static electricity. He had actually been inches away from her; she had brushed against him on her way out the door.

“Carter how do you know Hannah?”

Carter was nursing his beer as he watched the scrutiny on Nick’s face. He wondered why Nick denied knowing Hannah, maybe he wasn’t the guy she was waiting for.

“I just met her tonight but she seemed really nice. I was thinking about asking her out but Zach said she had a thing for somebody else.”

Carter watched Nick’s face and he knew that Nick, the guy who was the least likely to settle down was squirming in his seat. Carter wondered if he even knew how deep he was in yet.

“I don’t know though maybe I should give the mystery man a run for his money. I think Hannah liked me and she was very entertaining after a few drinks.”

Carter knew he was egging him on but really it was too much fun. He saw Martin crossing the room and he decided to let Nick off the hook. “I guess I won’t waste my time with a girl who already has her heart set on somebody else; but he better wake up before somebody else asks her out.”

Nick didn’t say anything as Martin sat down. “Hannah’s fine and she’s not even mad at you Carter but she did say she wouldn’t be calling you and hanging up.”

Carter laughed at Hannah’s way of dissuading him from asking her out. He would have asked her out in a heartbeat if he wasn’t friends with Nick.

“Good I’m glad she made it home okay, is Maddie staying with her tonight?”

“Yeah, she’s there holding her hair back as she throws up. Apparently she’s not much of a drinker so when she does it isn’t pretty. I feel bad for Maddie having to deal with her in the morning.”

Nick was no longer listening to Martin and Carter’s replay of the earlier events of the night. He moved on down the line to where Zach and Beth where sitting. He pound Zach on the back and dropped a kiss on Beth’s cheek. “Hey congrats on the upcoming nuptials. Beth are you sure you know what you’re in for.”

Beth smiled at Zach as she spoke. “I know exactly what I’m getting and it’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Beth was suddenly being swarmed by her girlfriends who were pulling her to the stage to sing with them. Nick laughed as they sang Going To The Chapel, Zach was a lucky guy.

“So Zach care to tell me how Hannah ended up here tonight of all nights and why I’m the last to know?”

Zach held his hands up, “I didn’t invite her Nick I swear. I would have if I had thought she would come but I was shocked when I saw her sitting with Carter in the corner booth. She was three sheets to the wind and I didn’t get the impression that she was a drinker.”

Nick knew Zach was telling him the truth but he wondered how she had ended up here tonight. “According to Maddie she’s sick as a dog and she doesn’t usually drink. Did you know that she actually bumped into me on her way out the door? I had no idea it was her but I had this feeling like I should know her.”

Zach had been talking to Carter and hadn’t seen Nick come in. “Nick you should know Carter was asking a lot of questions about Hannah.”

“I know he’s been talking nonstop about Hannah since I got here; it was almost as if he was taunting me.”

Zach laughed “He probably was I could see your face from her e and he was getting under your skin. All joking aside if Hannah is getting out of the house and actually telling people her real name something’s changed. I am sure you know more about that than I do but my point is don’t wait too long.”

Before Nick could say anything Carson and Mackenzie walked up to Zach. “Hey Zach congratulations man but I must say it’s about time.”

“I know man I know and thanks. So did you guys come from home?”

“Yeah we just left the apartment and we heard that you guys were already here.”

Zach looked at Carson, “Really and who told you that?”

Mackenzie laughed, “That would be Hannah and she looked a little rough. I feel sorry for her because she probably has one hell of a headache right now. “


Nick listened to the banter going back and forth and he wondered why Hannah had felt the need to t get wasted. Nick found himself thinking about what Zach had said. He knew Zach was right but he didn’t want to think about that right now. He headed to the bar thinking about Hannah and that maybe he should just follow her led and get drunk too. His last coherent thought was of Hannah and how she was getting along.
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Maddie held Hannah’s hair as she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet. She wiped a cool washcloth across Hannah’s forehead and helped her take a sip of water. Hannah moaned as she rested her head against the toilet. She had known she would regret this but for one brief moment she had forgotten why she had taken that first drink.

“Maddie my head feels like it’s going to explode. I’m about to be the girl from the exorcist, my head feels like it’s already spinning around in circles.”

Maddie managed to get Hannah up on her feet and helped her to the couch. Hannah shielded her eyes from the glaring overhead light. “Maddie I don’t feel so well.”

“I know Hannah you drank enough for a grown man not to mention you know what alcohol does to you.”

Maddie grabbed a black pouch and took out the contents and laid them on the table. She grabbed Hannah’s hand. “Hannah this may hurt.”

Maddie pricked her finger and watched as a tiny drop of blood oozed out and she swabbed it on the test strip. She watched as the numbers counted down and a number appeared on the screen.

“Maddie I feel sick at my stomach and my mouth is so dry. I need water.”

Maddie helped her sip the water and then eased her head back down on the couch. “Hannah you’re blood sugar is over 400 that’s why you feel so sick and you’re dehydrated. I shouldn’t have let you drink so much. I took an oath to protect people and I knew what that alcohol would do to you.”

Hannah groaned into the couch as she buried her head under the throw pillow. The blasted light was hurting her eyes and making her head pound. “Maddie I did this, it is not your fault.”

Maddie grabbed Hannah’s medicine bag and found her insulin. She filled the syringe and took a little bit of pleasure when she plunged the short needle into Hannah’s upper arm.

“Maddie I hate to tell you that I don’t even feel it anymore, sorry to ruin your fun.”

“Hannah try to get some sleep ok and I’ll wake you up in a couple of hours to recheck your blood sugar.”

Maddie turned the overhead light out and left a soft lamp burning on the end table. She then went to Hannah’s room and found a pillow and a blanket. She lifted Hannah’s head slightly to place the pillow underneath and then covered her with the heavy fleece blanket. Maddie relaxed in the recliner and watched as the clock slowly began to count time. She wasn’t really sleepy and she had to keep an eye on Hannah. She should have never let her drink like that, what had she been thinking. She knew Hannah didn’t normally drink and she hoped that maybe this little episode would keep her from doing it again anytime soon.

Maddie found her thoughts going back to Martin and what he might be doing. She had never expected to actually see him outside of the shop but she had been pleasantly surprised to see him walk in the door at Fast Eddie’s. She didn’t really know a lot about him but she liked him and she wanted the chance to get to know him better.

She glanced at Hannah sleeping on the couch with her shallow breaths coming out in short rapid puffs. Her labored breathing bothered Maddie and she wondered if she should wake her up. She knew Hannah took care of herself and she never drank except the occasional glass of wine. After a few minutes Hannah’s breathing seemed to come easier and her chest was rising at a steady pace. Maddie could feel her eyes drifting closed.

A couple of hours later Maddie woke up with a creak in her neck and an ache in her back. She saw that Hannah was tossing and turning in her sleep and the blanket was now on the floor. She crossed the room and sat on the edge of the couch. She laid her hand on Hannah’s forehead to find that she was slightly clammy and very pale. Maddie gently shook her shoulder and watched as her eyes fluttered open.

“Maddie I feel like death.”

“I’m sure you do H but I have to check your blood sugar again.” Maddie waited as the meter counted down. “Well it’s come down some but it’s still high, try to go back to sleep, you’ll feel better when you wake up.”

Hannah sat up gingerly on the couch still holding her throbbing head. “I don’t think I will ever