Sighing, focusing my attention back onto the phone, I let out a sad laugh. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Our eyes lock again as I speak to Low, and I swear it seems like I see anger boiling over in them.
“We’re at the house, though.”
“Why?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Yeah, yeah…” she laughs. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
* * *
2 drinks, 4 shots, and an hour and a half later, Low shows up.
“You’re late.” I launch myself around her neck.
“And you’re drunk.” She laughs as she shakes her head.
“How else am I supposed to deal with this shit?” I shrug my shoulders. “If I leave, everyone will figure that something’s up and staying… well….”
“He still here?”
“Yes! Why? I have no fucking idea.” Shaking my head. “How he even got here. I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“I may have slashed a tire last night.”
“Drew!”she shouts as I just grin widely in response.
“And broke into his house and changed all his clocks so he’d miss the trial today.”
She stares at me wide-eyed, trying not to laugh and encourage me.
“Low!”Z slurs out, wrapping her up in a hug, already drunk himself.
“Hey Z, congrats on beating a murder rap.”
He laughs loudly as he pulls away from her.
“Z, why’s there a cop here?” Low sends him a questioning look.
“Who?” he questions, turning around and looking. “Oh, that’s just Eli.” He laughs. “He’s cool. I told him to hang out for a bit if he wanted to.”
“Wow, you’re saying a cop is cool?” Low gives him a hard time, playing into the whole notion that she’s not supposed to know who Eli is.
“We go way back.”
Zeke gives him a look, making him laugh as well.
I’m trying not to look at Eli and continue this awkward opposite poles-like reaction we have been keeping up all night. I’m curious why he’s still here. Why would he continue to hang around here all night?
* * *
The warmth presses against my side, causing my eyes to pop open. Arms are wrapped around me.
“No!”I gasp as I glance behind me. Of course it’s Eli. Trying to rack my brain if I can remember anything about how I ended up in bed with him. Slowly, I maneuver his arm from around me and push backwards out of the bed, tumbling to the floor. Stopping, covering my mouth, waiting to make sure I didn’t wake him before looking for my clothes.
