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It wasn’t fucking okay at all.
My legs were moving after her before my brain had a chance to catch up.
“Patrick Feely is outside with the car,” her neighbor told her as she looped an arm around Casey and helped Molloy cart her outside to a nearby running car. “He’ll make sure that you guys get home safely. He’s one of the good guys, Aoife. You can trust him.”
“Thanks, Katie,” I heard Molloy reply as she opened the back door and maneuvered Casey inside. “Sorry about this.”
“It’s totally fine, girlie,” Katie replied, giving her a side hug. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I don’t want to go home,” Casey slurred, slumping into the back seat. “I’m having fun.”
“Yeah,” Molloy growled. “Ruining my life.”
“Don’t be mad at me,” her friend whined. “I’m trying to mind you.”
“I can mind myself, Case.”
“But he made you so sad.”
“Just scoot over and let me in. We can talk about this later.”
“Molloy,” I interjected, grabbing ahold of the door when she moved to climb in beside her friend. “Don’t leave yet.”
“I have to.”
“Why?”
“I’m playing by your rules here, Joe,” she croaked out, still averting her gaze from me. “You do your thing and I do mine, remember?”
“Yeah,” Casey slurred from her perch on the back seat. “Leave her alone, asshole.”
“Casey, it’s grand, stop,” Molloy muttered, cheeks flushed. “Just leave it, okay?”
“Don’t leave,” I repeated, ignoring the evil eye her friend was giving me. “Don’t go, Aoife.”
“I have to,” she replied quietly. “She’s drunk and I need to make sure she gets home.”
“I’ll take her home, Aoife,” Katie offered, and I instantly knew which one of her friends was my favorite. “If you want to stay and, uh, talk things out or whatever, then I’d be happy to go with Patrick and drop her home.”
“Thanks, Katie, but that’s putting you out.”
“I don’t mind,” Katie was quick to counter. “I think you should stay and talk to him.” She offered me a smile—albeit a warning one. “Nicely.”
“Hey.” I held my hands up, letting her know that I was fully prepared to comply with her wishes.
“No…” Casey whined. “Don’t do it, Aoife. He’ll only feed you more bullshit.”
“Shush, you!” Katie snapped, quickly climbing into the back seat alongside Casey before swiftly closing the car door.
Moments later, the car pulled away from the path, leaving us standing in a thick, strained silence.
“So, you were just going to leave without speaking to me?”
“I don’t want to argue with you, Joe,” Aoife whispered, arms moving to wrap around her waist protectively. “I’m too tired.”
“I don’t want that, either.”
She nodded stiffly and continued to stare down at her stiletto-clad feet.
