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“Ryder thought it would be a good idea? Well, you can tell Ryder that every one of his ideas are horrible and terrible, beginning with the stupid one where he thought it would be a good idea for me to work for you.”
She turned on her heel and stormed off the dance floor. It lost its impact as she kept veering left and right.
Chloe and Dakota were already back at the table, and their eyes went wide as they watched Paisley clomp her way back to them, while Ryder sat smirking like the cocky motherfucker he was. By some miracle, she made it back without falling on her face.
“Uh-oh, someone is mad.” Chloe said it like praise.
Paisley grabbed a random drink from the table and drained it.
Right. My bourbon.
Gasping through the burn of it, she held the tumbler high before she used the back of the same hand to swipe the liquid that dribbled down her chin. Then she pointed at Ryder. “Your ideas suck, Ryder. Suckity, suck it, suck.”
My cock perked up, momentarily confused by what she was talking about.
“I’m out.” She dropped the tumbler to the table like it was a mic. It clattered against the wood, then tipped, and I caught it right before it rolled off the side.
“Outta here, tooooo,” Dakota sang, nearly slipping off her stool and hitting the floor. Ryder popped up and caught her by the elbow to steady her. Still, she swayed. “I’m so lushy lush. Gotta sleep. Now.”
“Yup, let’s go. I’ll close out tabs then get you all home,” Ryder said, instantly shifting into caregiver mode.
Ten minutes later, he was ushering the trio through the double doors and into the balmy warmth of the droning summer night. There was nothing for me to do but follow them, stuck there, held in a twisted sense of responsibility.
Or maybe led by the guilt that felt like a leash around my neck.
Chloe hopped into an Uber that was waiting for her, shouting out the window, “Goodnight, lovie poos!”
“Be safe!” Dakota returned, then promptly stumbled to the side, almost pitching over.
Ryder slid an arm around her waist. “Careful,” he murmured, letting her lean against him as he began to lead her toward his car that was parked in the middle of the dirt lot. A lot barely lit, the gravel loose and uneven, the cars and trucks left in haphazard rows.
Paisley was on Dakota’s opposite side, and she also slid her arm around Dakota’s waist to offer support, though she was lumbering around so badly herself that she nearly sent them toppling to the ground.
They both cracked up, their cackles riding through the waves of darkness that shrouded the lot.
Ryder managed to get them to his car, and he clicked the locks and opened the passenger door.
“You’re the bestest of the best, Ryder,” Paisley mumbled and tried to reach around and pet his head. Apparently, his sins were already forgiven, the ire she’d thrown at him five minutes before vanished in all her brilliant, blinding light.
She still held plenty for me, though. She kept shooting silver bullets at me from over her shoulder like I was the big bad wolf.
“It’s a pleasure to be of service,” he teased, laying it on thick.
Dakota promptly bent over and vomited.
My nose curled. I had no clue what pleasure he was speaking of.
“Oh, no, Doodle-Boo. You got the pukies.” Paisley rubbed her back.
A mortified moan vibrated from Dakota, and she tried to wrangle herself from Ryder’s hold.
“Not gonna let you go now, sweetheart. I’ve got you,” Ryder murmured.
“Just leave me here. I’m fine.”
Ryder scooped her into his arms.
Gasping, she let out another humiliated cry.
“I’ve got you,” he promised as he settled her onto the front seat. “Besides, your brother would have my ass if I left you out here alone.”
“I’ll give Paisley a ride so you can get Dakota home.”
What I was thinking, I didn’t know. I only knew I couldn’t leave it like this.
She whirled around, a white, fiery flame, and crossed her arms over her chest. It made her tits overflow from her tank. “No way, buddy. I’m not going anywhere with you. Nuh-uh. I’d rather walk.”
“You’re not walking anywhere.” It came out a growl.
Aghast, her mouth dropped open. “You aren’t the boss of me. I quit, remember?”
“No fucking chance would I let you walk home at night alone, so don’t even suggest it.”
Ryder situated Dakota, the grin he was holding back sly. “Are you sure it isn’t too much trouble?”
Oh, I was sure it was plenty of trouble.
Still, I looked at Paisley when I said, “Yeah, it seems I have an apology to make.”
ELEVEN
CALEB
“This is really great. Not only did you ruin my life, but now you’re set on ruining the rest of my night, too. And I couldn’t wait for tonight. And then, here you are, right there, ruining everything,” Paisley stammered through a scowl. It only served to make her look adorable, her arms still crossed tight over her chest as she clomped in those boots alongside me in the direction of my SUV.
