Page 24 of One Night Only
My phone vibrates where it’s resting on my chest, pulling me from my thoughts. I pick it up and my brows knit together to see a new text message from Mason. Who’s literally four-feet away from me.
Mason: You should offer her a ride home.
I glance at him, meeting his eyes to see him wink like a conspiratorial bastard. I’ve only had the one beer. Well, half a beer because I spilled the rest all over the table. I look to where Happy is lying on the opposite section of the couch, intently focused on the TV.
Me: What about him?
Mason: He’s so far up his own ass, he won’t even realize you’re gone.
I laugh under my breath. He’s not wrong.
Glancing back at where Fran and Emily are still chatting, I consider Robbie’s suggestion. It’s getting late. How was she planning on getting home? The thought of her catching an Uber—or worse, the subway—alone at this time of night makes myspine stiffen. Nope. Not happening. I’m taking her home. No question about it.
Sitting up, I stretch my arms over my head, yawning louder than necessary and causing everyone to look at me.
“Dude, you sound like my dad after Thanksgiving lunch,” Happy scoffs, focusing back on the game.
I roll my eyes, pushing up to my feet.
“Well, I’m gonna head out,” I say, louder than my yawn.
“This isn’t La Guardia, Dallas,” Fran quips. “You really don’t need to announce your departure.”
Robbie bites back his smirk, staring straight ahead at the TV.
I glance at Emily, meeting her eyes momentarily before she quickly looks away.
“How’re you getting home, Goldie?”
She bristles at the nickname I’ve designated for her, and I can’t help but smile.
“I’m fine,” she murmurs.
Fran pipes up then. “How are you getting home? It’s late.”
She shrugs. “I was just going to order an Uber.”
“No way!” Fran interrupts. “Nope. You should go with Dallas. I heard some woman was attacked the other day by a guy whocarjackedan Uber and posed as the driver.”
I don’t know if that story’s true. I really hope it isn’t, for that poor woman’s sake. But regardless, I could kiss Fran right now.
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Emily scoffs.
“Nah, it’s true. I read about it on CNN,” Robbie suddenly chimes in, still staring at the television. “Apparently, it’s this crime ring. There’s been, like, three separate incidents in the last week.”
Okay, so now I’m definitely not taking no for an answer. Hell, I don’t even want to get in an Uber if it’s true, and I’m a six-four, two-hundred-pound professional puck blocker.
“Come on, Goldie,” I say. “I’ll let you choose the music.”
She glances at Fran once more before rolling her eyes and, with a huff, she stands, glaring at me with a muttered, “Fine.”
My subconscious cheers, and I hurry to grab my jacket and Emily’s coat from the closet, collecting my keys from the side table and sliding on my boots. Hell, I’m like a damn dog, waiting impatiently by the door for walkies.Get it together, man.
Emily says her goodbyes, Fran walking her out, and I offer her a reassuring smile, holding her coat out. In a perfect world, she’d turn and allow me to drape it over her shoulders, maybe even lean in and press a kiss to the soft skin just below her ear. But, of course, that doesn’t happen; she takes it from me with a muttered thanks, shrugging it on herself and ignoring me completely as I open the door for her.
I glance at Fran who gives me a sly wink, and, with a small salute, I pull the door closed and walk to the elevator, moving to stand next to Emily as she stares up at the floor counter with intense focus.
The elevator arrives and we hop in, saying nothing on our way down to ground level. Stepping out, we walk through the lobby, the night doorman waving as we head out into the cold night air. Still, we say nothing as I lead the way down the sidewalk and around the corner to where I parked.
