Page 58 of The Two of Us

I slump in my chair with a heavy sigh. His interrogation chips away at the fun I’m trying to convince myself I’m having. I don’t know how I’ll get home. I’m drunk, but not irresponsible enough to attempt driving myself. I would ask Jackson, but he’s just as drunk as I am and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a list of girls who’d come rescue him from himself and tuck him into bed tonight.

As if I don’t already feel terrible about my life decisions, a dull pain begins spreading through my temples. I lazily surf the internet for a taxi service that might still be open at this time while Jackson sings off-key to the song playing overhead.

I’m opening my tenth search tab when the bell to the bar entrance jingles overhead. Fun left about thirty minutes ago and my body longs for sleep. My search for a ride is fruitless and my sluggish brain is making it difficult to be resourceful. Jackson left five minutes ago with a beautiful blonde, not the least bit concerned about how I’d be getting home. Asshole.

I’m chewing on the ice from the bottom of my glass when a warm hand encases my lower back. I shudder out a breath when I meet Ambrose’s hard eyes.

“Let’s go.” He slightly tugs me off the stool, his posture tight.

I don’t argue as I stand on shaky legs and Ambrose closes out my tab, the vision of my bed encouraging my feet toward the door. When we reach his car, I balk at the sight of Anya in the passenger seat. I stumble backward, gravel scattering beneath my boots.

“On second thought, I don’t need a ride,” I slur.

“Oh, really?” he grits. “How are you getting home?”

“My friend.”

Ambrose crosses his arms. “What’s your friend’s name?”

“Car,” I say.

“Your friend’s name is car?”

I’m swaying now. “Cara. I meant, Cara.”

Before I can escape, Ambrose draws closer, dwarfing my small frame. “Get in the damn car.”

I puff out my chest and lower my voice as deep as it can go, imitating him. “Get in the damn car. Oh, look at me, I’m Ambrose and I can be bossy because I’m as tall as the Chrysler Building.” I roll my eyes. “You know, you can’t tell me what—”

Ambrose lifts me over his shoulder like I weigh no more than a sack of flour and I shriek. He swings the door to the back seat open, chucking me inside. When he reaches for the seat belt to buckle me in, I swat at his hand and he makes a sound of frustration.

“Brat.”

“Caveman!” I snarl.

When he sticks his key into the ignition, I turn my head and let out an embarrassed groan at the sight of the fourth person in the car.

Matty.

He’s half asleep, but my yelling must have roused him because he stares at me with rapt attention from his booster seat. I lean my head against the window, unable to face him in my pathetic state.

As we drive, I focus all my attention on the Toyota Corolla following closely behind us before my eyes shut, allowing the coolness from the glass window to cool my overheated skin. Ambrose and Anya’s conversation in the front is hushed, but I don’t have the energy to eavesdrop.

We come to a full stop and the gear shifts into park. I immediately let myself out, knowing we are in my driveway. I blindly stumble up the porch stairs, attempting multiple times to get my key into the keyhole—something I tell myself is taking so long because it’s pitch black outside. I personally want to donate streetlights to Speck Lake.

I don’t fight Ambrose when he pulls the key from my hand, opening the door himself, and I don’t fight him when he laces his fingers with mine, pulling me inside.

Silence engulfs us as we watch each other in the darkness of the entryway. I stand there, waiting for him to leave so I can collapse right here on the floor and sleep. Ambrose lets out a harsh sound of frustration and scoops me up into his arms with ease. I’m too drunk to be embarrassed as I wrap my arms around him and bury my face into his neck, sleep quickly claiming me.

I don’t recall the climb up the stairs or even being put into bed, but when I wake in the middle of the night in nothing but an oversized T-shirt and fuzzy socks, I can still smell the fresh linen scent lingering on my skin.

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