Page 6 of Keep Me Safe

I don’t answer. Instead, I reach up, cupping his cheeks with both hands, anchoring myself.

“Oh, Jared, how drunk are you?”

His brow furrows. “Have you been crying—?” He stops mid-sentence, his attention snapping toward the house.

“Uh oh.”

I glance up, following Jared’s line of sight and the man storming across the lawn in his work uniform. He does not look happy. He stops about two feet away and looks down at us. Slowly, I bring my gaze up to meet his dark eyes, my stomach knotting at the fury there.

“What’s going on here?”Noah demands.

Shit.

I thought he was supposed to be at the station tonight. His eyes move to Jared’s arm around me and dart back to mine, his features hardening.

He is pissed.

chapter two

noah

“Don’t make me ask again,” I say through gritted teeth.

Tearing my gaze off Kira, I look over to Jared. They’re lying in the hammock, his arm around her waist. His droopy eyelids tell me he’s already three sheets to the wind, and the pink tint in Kira’s cheeks makes me wonder. Is there something going on between them?

“Don’t worry, Dad, everyone’s leaving,” he slurs.

“You’re right about that one,” I agree, turning toward what’s left of the party. “Party’s over, go home,” I bark.

The guests scramble to gather their things, a few engines revving to life before fading into the night. I exhale sharply. Why didn’t Jared tell me he was having people over? I wouldn’t have said no. I just prefer a heads-up when there’s underage drinking on my property.

“Let’s get you inside, big guy,” Kira says as she rises to her feet, grabbing Jared’s arm and pulling him with her.

Ishouldhelp her. Instead, I pivot and stride toward the house, anger simmering beneath my skin. But why? I don’t fully understand it. I pull open the sliding door—not a complete asshole, after all—and hold it as she guides Jared inside. I even help her steer him into his room.

As she leans down to tuck him in, I catch myself watching.

Her long, wavy brown hair spills over her shoulders, cascading down her back, stopping just at her waist. Her jeans fit snug, hugging her curves—

What the fuck am I thinking? This is Kira. I’ve known her since she was in seventh grade.

Jaw tightening, I force my eyes to the floor, sighing as I turn and leave the room.

Sinking onto a barstool at the kitchen island, I drop my head into my hands. What the hell is wrong with me? I wasn’t even supposed to be home tonight. I should be at the station, covering for Dave. His husband had planned a surprise for their anniversary at the last minute, but his work called him in, so Dave ended up taking his shift back. I should’ve just stayed there.

A door clicks softly down the hall. Footsteps pad into the kitchen.

Kira stops when she sees me, her eyes wide.

“Kira,” I say, my tone edged with warning.

What were they thinking?

She turns toward me and immediately starts to apologize. “It won’t happen again, I promise,” she says, worry written in her features.

I sigh, my voice softer now. “I know, it’s okay. I’m not upset with you, but I am a little irritated with Jared.”

She lets out a breath, visibly relaxing. “He can definitely be a handful sometimes,” she laughs.

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