Page 23 of Diving In
***
When I finally make it back to the living room I spot Josh nursing a beer and make a beeline for him, not ready to engage in more small talk. We’re chatting about his most recent football match when he suddenly stiffens.
“What?” I ask.
But following his gaze I can see what’s making his face tighten. Kath’s sitting on Bobbie’s lap, his hand has disappeared under the hem of her dress, and she looks very tipsy.
My scowl deepens as I exhale slowly. I shouldn’t interfere. Ishouldn’t. But at the same time… maybe Ishould. I don’t trust that guy. And besides, it’s basically time for us to leave anyway.
Before I know it I’m moving across the room.
“Home time, KitKat,” I tell her, reaching for her hand to pull her away from Bobbie. “Sorry, mate,” I shoot at him over her head. “I promised her parents I’d get her home for midnight.”
“Kath’s going to stay at mine, aren’t you, Kath?” he tells me, and I frown.
Kath doesn’t respond right away. She’s really tipsy, her gaze drifting around the room like she’s not fully registering the conversation. Actually she’s definitely gone past the tipsy point. How much did she drink? She definitely wasn’t like this earlier when we were in the kitchen. She didn’t have that slightly glazed look that’s her telltale sign.
“No can do,” I say, forcing an apologetic expression even as irritation builds in my chest. His arm is still wrapped too tightly around her waist, fingers pressing into her side. “Sorry, but I told both our parents I’d take her home. It’s nearly curfew, so it’s timeto go.”
“She’s changed her mind.” His grip tightens on her hip.
And that’s it. The fake politeness slips from my face as I glare at him. He glares right back. I’m not about to play tug-of-war with Kath, but Iamabout to make sure she gets home safe.
I crouch slightly, lowering myself to her eye level. “Kath,” I say gently, “what do you want to do?”
She blinks slowly, like it takes effort to focus on me. “I don’t mind,” she mumbles. My stomach twists. That’s not a yes.
I straighten up, my voice even but firm. “That doesn’t sound like a yes to me. So, I think it’s time for me to take Kath home.”
Bobbie sneers. “Oh, so you get to take her home, but I don’t? Not sure I trust you with her while she’s drunk. I know she’s staying the night at yours.”
The accusation makes something hot and angry flood through me. I take a deep breath.Don’t react. Don’t give him the satisfaction.
“She stays at mine all the time,” I say evenly. “We’re only friends. You know that.Everyonehere knows that. And if it’s not an enthusiastic yes, it’s not a yes. That applies toeverything, including staying at a party or going to someone’s house.”
His jaw clenches, but I don’t give him time to argue.
“Sam, I wanna invoke rule eight of the pirate’s code,” she yawns.
“OK, KitKat. We can go.” I brush her hair back behind her ear before tugging the hem of her dress down, smoothing it back into place. She stands and sways slightly.
Movement in my periphery catches my attention, and then I hear Josh step up beside me.
“Everything OK?” he asks, lifting his beer to take a sip. At the same time, he flexes his arm slightly, an obviousI will ruin your nightkind of move. Josh is big. Not quite as tall as me, but solid—and he still has an inch orso on Bobbie. And now, suddenly, the dynamic shifts. I feel like I have the advantage.
“Yep.” I flash Josh a grateful look. “Me and Kath are just leaving. Can you grab our coats? I left them in the hall.”
And without sparing Bobbie another glance, I walk her out the room.
“You guys good?” Josh asks as we grab our coats from him and I zip her into hers.
“Yep.” I nod. “It’s only a ten-minute walk back to mine. We’ll be fine.”
“Cool, well, see you both Monday. There’s a girl from St Hilda’s I’ve been chatting to.”
I roll my eyes, adjusting my grip on Kath as we make our way down the path. She’s quiet until we reach the road, then suddenly stops and plops herself onto a low garden wall.
She looks up at me, big-eyed and hopeful. “Pirate’s code rule two?”
