I duck into the room I saw James go into not five minutes ago. “You hiding back here?” I call out softly
“Who said I’m hiding?” A low voice ripples through the dark.
“You’re sitting alone in silence in a dark room with a party five feet away. I took a wild guess.” I sit next to him on the bed.
“Right.” We soak in the silence for a bit, the sides of our arms brushing, but otherwise not touching each other.
“I’m so sorry,” I say after a while. Even though I’ve said it before, more times than I can count, I don’t know what else to say at this point.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, sunshine,” he says, turning to me and cupping my chin. “I promise.”
It’s late. I’m dying. Is it possible to get a hangover if you haven’t gone to sleep yet? Thankfully enough of us are here that Beck has the café closed tomorrow, so I can sleep in as long as I need. My head is starting to pound as I grab my coat, my uber approaching from around the block, according to the app.
Jill walks up to me as I’m zipping up, a drunken haze coating her eyes as well. Her loose smile widens when she sees me and winds her long, spindly arms around me.
“Thank you for coming, it’s so nice to have you around,” she slurs, draped over my shoulder.
“Thanks,” I laugh, “it was nice to officially meet you all.” She murmurs something I can’t hear, and I nod along in fakeunderstanding. Satisfied, she smacks my ass and sends me outside.
I stand on the curb in the cold, trying to piece together every weird interaction I’ve had tonight as Tracy drives up in her Subaru Forester. The moment I start climbing my drunk ass in, I sense someone behind me.
“Got room for one more?” James says slyly.
“I thought we said no sleepovers?” He’s not one to break the rules, but I’m weak, and the thought of falling asleep next to him is intoxicating.
“Just this once. Let me have this.” It’s not a question, even though his eyes are pleading. He needs this more than he’s letting on, more than he can say. I’ve been there, not wanting to be alone with my thoughts. I get it, the need for a distraction.
“Hop in then, stud.” The car has barely started moving before we’re all over each other, much to the dismay of our driver. She grimaces at us through the rearview mirror, clearly pissed, but doesn’t interrupt otherwise.
I almost don’t hear her when she mutters “I better get a big fucking tip for this.”
Chapter 34
James
Beth has never been one for subtlety, so it shouldn’t surprise me to find her propped up outside my building, lounging on the steps. I squint at her under the glow of the streetlight, trying to deduce her motives when she approaches me.
“You’d better not screw this up, Finlay. I like her,” Beth says, her hand propped on her hip as she meets my unwavering eye contact. It’s no secret who she’s talking about.How did we ever think we could keep this from people?
“I don’t remember you being this mean,” I say, trying to walk around her. She sidesteps expertly, placing herself in front of me again.
“Don’t play dumb, James. I’ve always been this mean.” She waves her arm out in front of her. “Let’s take a walk, shall we?” I sigh, knowing better than to fight with her. Beth may put on a nice exterior for everyone else, but never once has she been some wilting violet. She has no issues putting people in their place.
“Where are we headed on this cold-ass evening?” she asks. I give her a look, arching an eyebrow. “Secret mission, got it.”She nods, allowing me to guide us down the street in silence, watching the gentle wisps of snow float off the surrounding rooftops.
I take my usual walk to the grocery store, waiting for her to speak. She seems content to sit in silence with me. Beth has never been one to avoid silence. It’s one of the qualities that drew me to her in the first place; she never tried to force me to talk.
“Why are we grocery shopping at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday?” she asks, watching me inspect some fruit before putting it in my basket.Who iswe? She’s the one stalking me.
“Needed groceries,” I grunt out.
“Bullshit.” I spin to glare at her, and the look on her face reminds me why she and Nessa are such good friends now. Her arms are crossed, and she has a look on her face that dares me to contradict her.
I huff. “Needed to get out of the house,” I admit.
“Why?”
“Because.”
