Page 54 of Inseparable
“What?” I can’t believe my ears.
“The guys have noticed something’s up too, but he hasn’t breathed a word to them either.”
“Do you know where he is?”
She reluctantly nods. “When you texted me, I called Cody. He’s at the party at Zach’s house.”
“Can you drive me there?”
“You sure you want to do this?”
“I need to know what’s going on with him. He won’t talk when he’s sober. Maybe he’ll fess up when he’s drunk.”
The party is in full swing when we arrive, and I cough as we fight our way through the stuffy, congested hallway, past the crowded living room, and into the kitchen. I hear him before I see him, his loud laugh reaching me from across the room. Cody, Josh, Zach, and Ayden are surrounded by cheerleaders, and he’s laughing at something they said. My blood instantly boils.He stood me up to flirt with Becky’sminions?
I stalk toward him, tugging on his elbow. He looks down at me, blinking, his forehead puckering. “What are you doing here?” he slurs.
I cross my arms over my chest, ignoring the gaggle of girls waiting with baited breath for a new showdown. “I could ask you the same thing. Forget about something?”
His brows knit together, and he squints at his watch, swaying a little on his feet. Considering he’s so wasted, I’m actually glad he forgot to pick me up. There’s no way I want him driving in that condition. “Shit, Lina. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was so late.”
“Can we please go?”
He batters his forearms. “Don’t feel like going home yet.”
“Well, tough.” I hold out my hand. “Keys. Hand ‘em over.”
“Chill, babe.” He smacks a loud kiss off my cheek. “Stay and have a drink.”
“I don’t want to stay. I’ve been on my feet all night and I’m tired. I want to go home.”
He shrugs. “Well, go home. There’s nothing stopping you.”
“I’m not leaving you here.”
“You’re not my fucking mother, so quit acting like it.”
A few of the cheerleaders titter, and I grind my teeth. “You are not driving home when you’re fucking smashed, so give me your keys, and let’s get out of here.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” he repeats, sending me a challenging look.
I close my eyes in exasperation. A hand reaches out, patting my elbow. “I’m sober, Ange. I’ll drive him home, and he can come get his Jeep in the morning,” Josh offers.
My throat constricts as I nod, turning to leave. I’ve said all I’m prepared to say in front of the others. Before I go, Ayden hauls me to him, smashing his lips against mine. He smells like he drank the brewery dry. Annoyed, I wrestle out of his grip. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“See ya, babe.” He swats my ass as I walk away, oblivious to the tears welling in my eyes.
“I’ll drive you home,” Mariah says, looping her arm in mine.
I shake my head. “No, stay with Cody. I want to walk anyway. That’s why I didn’t offer to drive Ayden’s Jeep home.” It’s only a twenty-minute walk, and I need the time to process my thoughts.
“I don’t mind, and Ayden wouldn’t want you walking home alone.”
I send her an incredulous look as we step outside the house onto the lawn. “Yeah, right,” I harrumph. “Were you not just there when he patted me on the ass and sent me on my merry way so he could stay and get drunker and flirt with those sluts?”
