The way he’s slurring his words and swaying tells me the whiskey just hit him like a freight train.
Britney’s the least of my worries when he digs his keys out of his pocket.
“You can’t drive, Jace.”
“I’ll be fine,” he argues, taking a step back.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Britney coos.
Ignoring her, I concentrate on him. “You’re drunk.” I look at Oakley. “Come on, we can drop him off on the way home.”
Oakley starts to nod, but Hayley pouts. “But, bunny, you promised we could spend the night here.”
That’s news to me.
Something passes in Oakley’s gaze and he shrugs. “She’s right. Sorry, cous.” He kisses Hayley’s arm. “What my girl wants, my girl gets.”
Awesome. He pretty much dragged me here for no reason.
Cole holds up his hands. “I’d drive, but I’ve had a few beers.” He grins down at the brunette. “I was planning on crashing here for the night too.”
Jace plows past me. “I’m fine.”
I grab his arm. “Give me your keys. I can drive you home.” Thinking fast, I add, “Or I can call you an Uber. Either one works.”
He mumbles something incoherent.
“Um, excuse me,” Britney snaps. “I’m his girlfriend, therefore, I’ll take him home.”
I swear it feels like everyone’s eyes are on us.
Stuffing down the urge to put the bitch in her place, I twist around to face her. “Have you had anything to drink?”
As much as I hate the idea of Britney giving him a ride, it’s more important that he gets home safe. Considering he hates my guts, I’m pretty sure he’d prefer leaving with her.
“I had like half a Bay Breeze three hours ago.”
A quick assessment attests she’s not impaired. “Fine, but—”
“Oh, God. Fuck off, bitch.” She pushes me out of the way. “No way in hell am I gonna stand by and let you try to violate him.”
Say what now? “Excuse me?”
She tosses her head back and cackles. “Oh, honey. Everyone knows you’re obsessed with Jace. I wouldn’t put it past you or your desperation to take advantage of him in his inebriated state, because you know it’s the only way he’d ever fuck you.”
“Wow, Brit-Brit. Projecting much?”
Her eyes narrow into tiny slits. “I beg your pardon?”
Nope, not gonna air Jace’s dirty laundry. “Nothing.”
“That’s what I thought.” She drums her talons up and down Jace’s chest. Eyes closed, he looks like he’s trying his hardest not to throw up. “Now run along and find some other poor guy who’s drunk enough to screw trash like you.” Her nose crinkles. “I’ve got this covered.”
A few people laugh.
“Want some cream for that burn?” some guy calls out.
More laughing.
My hand twitches with the need to launch my fist into her face, but if I do, it won’t end there and Jace might take off during the fight.
Swallowing my pride, I move out of the way.
Britney laces her arm through one of Jace’s. “Let’s go, babe.”
Shaking his head, he staggers back. “No.”
Britney rolls her eyes. “Fine, we’ll hang out inside for a little while.”
She tries tugging him, but Jace doesn’t budge.
“Jace, hon—”
“No,” he grinds out so low and deadly the tiny hairs on my arms stand up.
Laughing nervously, she looks at Cole and Oakley. “A little help, please.”
Neither of them moves a muscle. It’s clear by their expressions they’re not too happy with her at the moment.
She reaches for him again, but that only makes him more irritated.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” he growls, side-stepping her. “I told you before I was done with you and your bullshit.”
Hayley gasps.
“Oh, shit,” Oakley exclaims.
“About damn time,” Cole mutters.
Britney gives Jace a tight smile. “Sweetie, you’re obviously drunk. Earlier you dragged me upstairs because you couldn’t keep your hands off me and kept begging for my mouth.”
That’s a distorted version of an event if I’ve ever heard one.
Britney’s not done yet. “I know I hurt you when I told you we should take a break, but I meant what I said about wanting to be friends.” She tries touching his face, but Jace turns his head. “This is me being your friend. I suggest you don’t do anything to screw that up.”
I’m starting to think she’s the inebriated one, because that’s not what happened at all.
I open my mouth to say something, but Jace starts laughing.
Hysterically.
“Jesus Christ.” He’s literally shaking with laughter. “Your easy access snatch used to be worth the side of freak show that came with it, but not anymore.”
My jaw drops. So does Britney’s.
“Want some cream for that burn?” Oakley calls out.
She shoots him a dirty look before focusing on Jace. “Look, this is your last chance. Do you want to stop being a drunk, belligerent asshole so I can take you home or not?”
He tosses me his keys. “Ready when you are.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice.
“I swear to God if you leave with her,” Britney warns when he staggers over to me. “I will tell everyone about your little issue.”
Back to her, he flips her the bird.
“Fine. But just so you know, the alcohol will only make that limp dick of yours even more limp.” Her smile is cruel as she looks around the patio. “It’s why I broke up with him tonight. He no longer has what it takes to satisfy me, or any other girl…if you catch my drift.”
My hands curl into fists as Jace turns around.
“You can’t break up with someone who never wanted to date you in the first place,” he snarls. “And maybe my dick would have liked you better if you took care of your little issue down south.” Waving a hand in front of his face, he steps to her. “I’m no doctor, but I’m positive your cunt shouldn’t smell like something crawled up there and died.”
Well, shit. Not only are his words brutal, they’re punctuated by the fact that he seriously looks like he’s going to be sick.
“If I had to spend another minute in that room with you and your fish box, I would have—”
I watch in equal parts horror and enchantment as he projectile vomits chunks of pineapple pizza and whiskey all over her.
Britney screams so loud I’m surprised my eardrums don’t shatter while everyone laughs and cheers.
Jace takes off his shirt and wipes his mouth with it before throwing it at her. “I would have done that.”
He looks over at me. “You ready?”
I try not to focus on those washboard abs of his on display. “Yup.” I sling an arm around his waist when he sways. “But what do you say we find you a toothbrush and some mouthwash first?”
Chapter 30
Dylan
Apart from warning me not to crash his Lexus and asking to stop at a twenty-four-hour gas station, Jace hasn’t said a word since we got in the car.