“I’ll be right back, okay?”
“Sounds good,” was all I managed before Jude leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek.
“Be right back,” he murmured against my ear. He squeezed my waist once more before stepping away. Elias was grinning at me.
Was that…? Did he just…?
Jude-fucking-Ransom just kissed my cheek and lingered there. His scent clung faint on my skin, proof enough. Oh. My. God. I drifted toward Bridget on autopilot.
“Well?” she hissed the second I reached her.
I couldn’t speak. Could barely form cohesive thoughts. Instead, I grabbed the nearest red cup which happened to be in her hands and tipped it back.
“Solace—” she tried.
It burned going down. It wasn’tshitty warm beer, or even a sweet wine. It was vodka. Straight vodka. Or at least, I thought it was. I wasn’t exactly a party-goer, to even know. Swallowing every last drop, my brain was slow to catch up. I coughed into my elbow, wiping my mouth with the back of my arm.God, that was awful.
Bridget stared at the empty cup. “That was four shots.”
“What!” My pulse was already racing, I thought I might pass out. I could still feel the shadow of him against my back. Pressing close. The ghost of a kiss placed in the wrong spot.
The alcohol hit fast and hard. Harder than it should have, although, I’d never had vodka before and four shots would probably take out a bear. So…
Twenty minutes later, I sat on Jude’s dining table, legs swinging, with an open bag of sandwich bread in my lap. Bridget fed me sips of water between bites of bread as she made a half-assed attempt to soak up the alcohol in my system.
“You’re supposed to eat before you drink, you shit-head.” Her face was twisted up with concern—but oh my god she was so pretty.So pretty.I ran my fingers through her sleek straight honey golden hair.
She swatted my hand away. “Stop that.”
“Why is this so good?” I muttered looking up, taking another piece from her hand and stuffing it into my mouth. The ceiling seemed very far away, or maybe I was drifting. I could hear music somewhere. People laughing. Someone chanting? In the backyard.
That would be weird. I should check it out.
“I am completely fine,” I announced. The table wobbled as I shifted to climb down.
Bridget’s hand tightened on my back. “Sol—”
The world slipped and then I was on the floor. “Oh,” I laughed, staring at the chandelier. “That seems… wrong.”
Bridget groaned. “Luca!”
Footsteps. Arms under mine.
“Okay,” Luca said suddenly. “We’re taking you home.”
“No,” I protested weakly, though my limbs were heavy and uncooperative.Damn you legs!“I live here now.”
“You absolutely do not.” Bridget looked mad, as they hauled me upright. Or maybe worried.
“Rose and Ji-yoo wouldn’t care.”
“While that might be true, they might care if you vomit all over their freshly remodeled kitchen.”
The room moved like water, and suddenly I thought I might be sick. “Jude,” I mumbled.
“We’ll tell him,” Bridget promised.
“Judeeee,” I tried louder as they maneuvered me toward the door. My head lolled back dramatically. “Ransoooom.”
