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Barry dropped the paper into the sink and sighed. “Yeah. Everything’s fine. It’s just a little—”
“Beer?” My nose wrinkled as I stepped closer. The yeasty scent of hops wafted toward me, and I wondered if he’d gotten some on his clothes.
“Yeah.” He laughed. “A lot of beer, actually. Your sister got the brunt of it, though.”
“They’re idiots,” I said, coming to stand beside him as I ignored the knee-jerk reaction to bemoan my failed attempt at hooking him up with Mia.
I should be upset at everything she said to me. But instead, I simply felt relieved.
“Yep. Just JT being JT.”
Mia’s words from earlier in the night drifted through my head. Though he had a point about JT, I knew none of this would’ve happened had I not convinced him to come. Still, I nodded like I agreed, then focused in on his shirt, which read:Come to the dork side,we have ??,and I laughed. Nodding to his chest, I grinned. “Nice shirt.”
He held it out, staring down at it a moment before he grimaced. “Somehow I don’t think it scored me points with the Royals.”
“Eh. They’re overrated anyway.”
“That's a fact.” He matched my smile before he ducked his head. “Well, I guess I’ll just head home.”
“You don’t fancy smelling like a brewery?”
Barry scrunched his nose. “You know, the scent of fermented grains really isn’t my thing.”
“Really?” I laughed, then sobered as I asked, “Do you really have to go?”
“Don’t you have to get back to Luca?”
I shrugged. “I don’thaveto do anything. We could sneak out and get ice cream instead . . .?”
Barry pursed his lips. “I don’t know,” he drawled. “Let’s see. Stay here and get ridiculed by those assholes—”
I barked out a laugh.
“—go home and watch my mom cuddle on the couch with her obnoxious boyfriend, or go out for ice cream with a pretty girl.” He mimed weights in each hand.
I clicked my tongue. “Yeah. I see your dilemma. That’s a tough one.”
“It is. It is.” He pursed his lips, as if deep in thought, then sighed. “But I guess if I had to choose, I’ll go for the ice cream.”
“Can you drive, by chance? Because my sister kind of abandoned me.”
“I’d love to. Come on.” He nodded for the door as he walked over to it and tugged, but it wouldn’t budge. Pulling again, he tried to wrench the door open, but all it did was rattle on its hinge.
“Uh oh.” My stomach sank as I stepped forward and tried it on my own with no luck. Then I remembered the plastic wedge propping it open, and I stumbled back. A nervous giggle echoed in the cramped space between us. “Well, how do you feel about lukewarm bathroom water and old pocket mints instead?” I asked, reaching into my back pocket and holding out a half-empty tin of Altoids.
At Barry’s frown, I gestured toward the door. “I think the lock is jammed. The door must be broken, which was why they had it propped open. But I accidentally knocked the wedge out of the way. Which means we’re stuck.” I glanced around me at the dingy gray walls, and needles prickled up my spine. “And Ihatesmall spaces.”
“Seriously?” Barry slid his phone from his pocket and began typing, then pressed it to his ear, waiting as it rang. “They’re not answering.”
“I’ll try my sister,” I said, now than but when I called, it immediately went to voicemail. Probably ignoring me on purpose. Resigned to our fate, I shoved my phone back in my pocket. “Nothing.”
“Are you okay?” He stepped closer and pressed a hand to my forehead. “You’re not feeling faint, are you?”
“Is it that obvious?” I asked as the blood drained from my face.
“You’re looking a little pale.”
I grimaced. “Gee. Thanks.”
