Understanding crashed over me like ice water. “How well do you know them?”
“I’m sorry.” He was backing away now, toward the parking lot. “I’m so sorry. This was a mistake.”
“A mistake?” The word came out sharp, cutting. “Now you know who my brothers are and suddenly it’s a mistake?”
“It’s not.” He struggled for words. “You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it to me!”
But he just shook his head, pulling out his phone. “I need to get you home. I’ll call someone to pick you up.”
The humiliation hit me like a physical blow. “Are you serious right now?”
“I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“Who are you calling?” I moved closer, seeing him start to dial. “Dex, who are you calling?”
“Someone to pick you up. Someone who can get you home safe.”
The realization made my blood run cold. “Are you callingthem?”
“I just need to make sure you get home.”
“To come get me?” My voice was getting louder, but I didn’t care. “After you… After we… You want to call my brothers, brothers I haven’t evenmetyet, to come pick me up like I’m some kind of problem you need to dispose of?”
“That’s not what this is.”
“Don’t.” I grabbed his phone hand, stopping him from finishing the call. “Just don’t.”
“Leigh.”
“You were ready to take me home thirty seconds ago!” The words came out harsh, all my hurt and anger and humiliation pouring into them. “But now you know who my brothers are and suddenly you want to pawn me off on them? Now you want them to come collect me like I’m a mess you made?”
“I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“By calling them? The people I’m supposed to meet tomorrow, you want to call themnow?”
“You’ve been drinking.”
“So have you!” I was shaking now, rage and embarrassment burning through me. “That’s why you were going to call someone else, remember?”
I shoved his phone back at him and started walking toward the bar entrance. I’d call my own cab. I’d get myself home. I didn’t need him or his guilt or his sudden conscience. He was just one more person seeing me as the problem when all I’d done was dare to exist.
“Leigh, wait.”
“Don’t follow me.” I didn’t turn around. “Don’t call anyone. Just leave me alone.”
“You can’t just…”
“Icanand Iwill.” I spun to face him, and whatever he saw in my expression made him stop. “I’ll call my own cab. I’ll handle it myself. Clearly, I can’t trust you to give a shit anyway. You’re just like all of them. For all your words and your understanding, when it really comes down to it, I’m the problem.”
His face crumpled, but I didn’t care. Didn’t want to care.
I turned and walked back into the bar, my hands shaking so hard I could barely pull out my phone.
The bartender looked up as I approached. “You okay, miss?”
“Can you call me a cab?” My voice was steadier than I felt. “Please?”
