“Shedoesn’tneedtobe drinking that much,” I hiss at Evan, intercepting the next drink he’s trying to pass to Harper. I don’t know how many I’ve watched him hand her since they walked in together, but it’s getting to be more than she needs. I should know—I haven’t taken my eyes off her. I’ve watched as she’s started to wave her arms a little more haphazardly, swaying a little more when she walks.

“What the fuck, dude? Chill out.” He leans close, like he’s divulging a secret. “It was hard enough to get her here; I’m making sure we at least have a good time.” What the fuck does that mean?

“Are you kidding? You keep plying her with booze and she won’t be able to walk.”

“And you’re complaining because…?” He snorts, his eyes already glazing over from whatever the fuck he’s drunk and snorted in the two hours we’ve been here.

Normally, I could give less than two shits what Evan does when he comes to a party, but there’s something about the way he keeps shoving drinks into Harper’s hands and whispering in her ear as he touches any part of her he can that has me raging.

“Because she’s a fucking lightweight, dude.”

“Still standing right here,” Harper slurs, pushing off the wall she’s leaning against and stumbling over her feet. I catch her, curling my fingers around her biceps and pulling her flush to my chest. Evan watches us as closely as his glassy, unfocused eyes will let him, but a guy I don’t recognize mutters something in his ear, and Evan leads him off to God knows where. “I don’t need you saving the day, Madden,” Harper says as I hold her upright.

“Forgive me for giving a shit,” I grumble. I’m in a foul mood because I’ve spent the last week or two being near Harper but feeling so fucking far away. She’s always there, and Evan is always touching her. We’ve barely said two words to each other, and the same goes for Evan—seems I have very little to say to him these days.

“Funny way of showing it,” she snarks back. “I’m a grown-up. I can drink however much I want and it’s not any of your business.”

With a scoff, I loosen one hand, bring my fingers beneath her chin, and nudge upward until she’s staring straight at me. “Have you not realized yet that what you do will always be my business?”

She stares up at me, so much sadness in those beautiful big eyes, and my heart clenches. The party falls away, our classmates and the fact she arrived with my best friend disappearing. It’s all irrelevant right now. All I see is her, and all I want is her—us—again. She blinks as her eyes begin to shine, pushing against my chest with her hands, but I hold on, an arm banded around her back.

“I’m trying, Harper.” I’m not even sure what I mean—whether it’s trying to forgive her, or trying to accept her with Evan. I need to try harder either way, I know that, although I’m not sure I’ll ever not feel rage when someone else touches her, whether they’re my best friend or not. I think back to the day he found her first—forgave her while I was searching to do the same—and I know we’re well overdue for a conversation. If she even wants to hear it from me. I also know now isn’t the time. “Let me get you home.”

She pushes feebly again, shaking her head, and I assume she’s refusing my help until her brows crease, then she lurches to the side and throws up against the wall she was previously slumped against. There’s a collective groan as people jump away from the splash zone, but I don’t give them a second glance. Once she’s finished, I swoop Harper up and carry her out of the house bridal style, depositing her quickly in the cool air.

She retches again, no doubt the copious amounts of alcohol Evan was supplying her coming back up, and I hold her hair away from her face, rubbing her back as she rids her body of it.

It doesn’t take long, and soon, she’s shivering in the January air. She doesn’t say anything but lets me guide her to my car and strap her in before climbing in myself. It’s a short drive back to campus, and thankfully, Harper doesn’t puke again, although she’s unnervingly quiet as I get her back to her dorm.

There’s no way in hell I’m leaving her like this, but she’s already pulling her dress over her head as I turn from locking the door behind me. I walk to the chest of drawers and grab the first oversized T-shirt I find, covering her up as quickly as possible.

“You need anything?” I call as she face-plants on the bed.

“Not from you,” she mumbles, but it’s muffled from the comforter. I watch as she rolls onto her side, kicking her legs as she struggles to maneuver herself underneath the material. She looks adorable … and is gonna have one hell of a hangover tomorrow.

I pull it back for her to settle under, cover her over again, then sit and stroke the hair out of her face.

“Why are you here?” she murmurs, though her eyes remain closed.

“Just making sure you get home safely. Clearly Evan—your knight in shining armor—can’t manage that much,” I can’t help but add, with a bitter edge to my voice. She huffs a humorless laugh, even as she gets more comfortable.

“Yeah. That’s what he is. My fucking savior.”

A frown takes over my face at her sarcastic tone, at odds to her now looking peaceful and relaxed. Is she pissed he left her tonight—left me to bring her back? Or are things not as good between them as they seem?

Harper

My eyelids feel heavy, as if they’re made of cement, but I try to peel them open. A persistent thump in the back of my head pleads with me not to, but a comforting weight over my stomach convinces me otherwise. Blinking against the bright sun streaming through the windows, I look down to see an arm slung over my waist, a hand tucked into my side. His arm. His hand.Madden.

Why is Madden here? I try to flick back through memories of last night, but there’s nothing—just a blank space where they should be. I wiggle my arm free, rubbing at my sore eyes and temples while I try to think, but I can’t remember anything after arriving at the party. I remember seeing Madden’s furious gaze when Evan and I turned up together, even though he had Bethany rubbing up against him. I hadn’t even wanted to go to the stupid party, but Evan had shown up to get me, and the guilt from our date-that-wasn’t was too strong to say no again. And then what…?

Madden’s arm flexes against my middle as he fidgets, pulling back as he wakes and notices our position. Maybe he doesn’t know either. He doesn’t say anything, and the silence presses down on me.

“This is a first,” I say softly.

“Which part?”

“You staying the night.”