Page 221 of Hooking Up

---

Chapter Thirty-Six

Walker

"Either you're an idiot or you have a deep appreciation for irony." Brendon hoists my arm onto his shoulder.

"He's an idiot." Dean grabs the other.

Fucking assholes.

I don't need their help.

I can get wasted and stumble home on my own just fine.

Dean drags me up the steps to my apartment.

"Fuck you." I try to pull my arms to my sides, but there's two of them and one of me. It isn't happening.

Fuck this.

Fuck the entire universe.

"Didn't work the first time." Dean motions to the door. "Hand me your keys or I'm digging through your pocket."

"You're holding my arm." I grit my teeth.

"You're being a child." He shoots Brendon a look and releases my right arm.

"Thanks." I flip him off, dig into my pockets, take out my keys. The pewter Millennium Falcon, the one Iris bought me, mocks me.

I can see her soft lips pressing into a smile. I can hear her nervous giggle.Do you like it? Tell me you like it.

Was she high?

Thinking about getting high?

Did she mean a single fucking thing she said?

Dean grabs the key. Slides it into the lock and kicks the door open.

"I can walk." I place both feet on the ground.

They share a look.Can he?

I use their distraction to pull my arm free. Stomp into my apartment.

All right, I stumble.

I'm drunk, yeah, but not drunk enough.

I won't be drunk enough until the entire fucking world is a blur.

I can't think about this. I need it far away. I need to forget every time Iris ever smiled.

I need to forget how badly I want her.

How much I meant it when I saidthe past is the past.

I did. I really fucking did. I was sure there was nothing ugly in her past. I was sure there was nothing like this.

---