Page 42 of Untouchable Player

He shakes his head and pulls a familiar set of car keys from his pocket. Was that what I felt just now? No, it was definitely not that.

“Designated driver.”

“That’s not like you.”shut up.

“I know, but…” he glances at the dryer and back at me before shaking his head, “never mind.”

“What?”

Is he blushing? He rubs the back of his neck, “I uh… agreed to drive when I knew you were coming.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t want you to see me being a drunk idiot.”

“Oh.” Something flutters in my stomach, “and now you’ve seen me being a drunk idiot.”

Jesse laughs. “You owe me like, five thousand times of drunk idiot. Don’t worry, you’ll never catch up. I’m the world’s biggest drunk idiot.”

“No you’re not.”

He drops his eyes. “Do you want a ride or not?”

“Do you mind?”

“Course not, I’ll have to tell your brother though.”

I feel my eyes widen. Jesse laughs. “Don’t worry, I’ll sneak you out through the back door and tell him you’re just tired.”

“You’re good at this.”

“Told you, world champion drunk…”

“Don’t say it.”

“Idiot.”

I wait for Jesse by Harrison’s car. The cold air outside starts to sober me up. What the hell am I doing? What the hell did I just do?

I’m still drunk enough that when Jesse comes outside looking hot in a varsity jacket and jeans, I tell myself I still might have a chance. Why doesn’t anyone tell you how confident alcohol makes you?

The car smells like Harrison and it helps to mask the irresistible smell of Jesse’s aftershave. When he turns the engine, the radio comes on and I ask him for his phone so I can put his music on.

I’m tempted to skip toSexual Healing,but thank god I’m sober enough to see how much of a bad idea that is.

I keep Aretha Franklin on instead and sit back in the chair, starting to feel a little sick, and kind of silly.

Jesse’s face is illuminated by the streetlights and I can’t believe I never noticed before how gorgeous he is.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

He smiles as he stops at a red light.

“You don’t have to be sorry. You’re doing me a favour, do you know how boring parties are when you’re sober?”

“Yes, I’ve lost count of how many parties I’ve been to sober.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” he says, “you study too hard.”

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