I heard TJ laugh over the music and knew that he’d moved closer to Drew. “Oh yeah? You gonna make me, tough guy?”
The thought of Drew getting into a fight because of me scared me even more than what had happened when I’d been dancing with TJ. I fisted my hands in the back of Drew’s shirt, afraid that if I didn’t hang on to him, we’d get separated.
“You really wanna do this?” Drew asked as he took a step forward, pulling me along with him. “Because I don’t have a hell of a lot to lose. Can the same be said for you?” Drew’s tone was scarily calm, a hint of danger underneath. It was the sound of someone who knew how to handle himself and was likely not someone to trifle with.
TJ must have sensed the same thing, because when I released Drew’s shirt so I could peek through the gap between Drew’s arm and his ribs, I saw TJ take a step back.
“Whatever, man. I’m just looking to get laid. And she’s not hot enough to be worth the drama.”
I felt Drew’s body tense. He took a step toward TJ, but I grabbed at his shirt again and he stopped immediately.
TJ walked away smirking, and Drew stood in front of me until he was out of sight. Then he turned and put his arms gently on my biceps.
“Are you okay?” he asked, the smooth honey back in his voice, though it was sprinkled with concern. His thumbs rubbed soothing circles on my skin as he looked me over.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” My voice was shaky. I looked around. “Where’s everybody else?”
“They went downstairs a little bit ago. Too crowded at the bar up here.”
I looked up into his eyes. “You didn’t go?”
He shook his head.
Our gazes stayed locked on each other’s, as if we were trying to see all the things neither of us was comfortable saying.
“Why?” I asked.
He took a deep breath and then released it harshly. “I promised Taylor I’d keep an eye on you.”
I felt my body sag with disappointment. I looked down at the floor. “Oh. Yeah, she’s good like that.”
Drew released my arms, and I glanced back at him.
He dragged a hand through his hair. “We should probably get the hell out of here.”
“Yeah.” I began walking, knowing he was close behind me, the sensation still comforting even though he hadn’t said what I’d wanted to hear.
Once we were off the dance floor, in a spot that was slightly quieter as we neared the steps that would lead us downstairs, he called my name.
I turned to find him looking tense as hell, his hands fisted at his sides.
“What?” I asked, wondering if he saw TJ lurking around somewhere. The thought caused me to instinctively step closer to Drew, seeking the safety of his proximity.
I didn’t realize how close I’d gotten until his arms wrapped around my shoulders, and I sagged into the hug he was giving me.
His cheek grazed my ear as he said, “I didn’t…I didn’t like seeing his hands on you. So…so I stayed. Not because Taylor asked me to but because I just…I had to.”
I squeezed him tighter, not entirely sure what his words meant—if it was a brotherly protectiveness or a romantic possessiveness behind them—but right now, I didn’t care. I’d needed him, and he’d been there, just like he’d been since we’d met.
There’d be time to figure everything else out later.
Chapter Nineteen
S O P H I A
On the way out of the bar, Drew stopped to let the rest of our group know we were headed out. I figured Taylor would want to hang there for a while, but when I saw the state she was in, I didn’t plan on giving her much of a choice.
She’d either had about five too many drinks while I was upstairs, or someone had laced one with a drug that made her giggle uncontrollably while trying to speak in a fictional language she insisted was real.
“You’re coming with us,” I told her.
“Ratcha Borey Unosis,” she replied.
“I’m assuming that means you’d love to accompany us home.”
“It means ‘Why you leavin’?’” she slurred from her seat at the bar.
Drew looked to Carter, who stood behind her like he was the Alpha and a member of his pack had gone astray. “How much did she have to drink?”
Carter shrugged but seemed more concerned than he’d been when we’d come over.
“I wasn’t counting,” he said. “I was busy trying to convince that blonde over there to be my plus one to Aamee’s party.”
I squeezed my forehead before running a hand down the side of my face in frustration. Fucking Carter. I wrapped an arm around Taylor’s chest and gave her a hug.
“Come on. Time to call it a night.”
“Bachsa orpham!” she snapped, pushing my hand off her but standing with some help from Drew. She was a mess, and I knew there was little chance she’d remember any of this tomorrow. I’d have to film it.
Since Taylor was in such rough shape, Drew called for an Uber to take us the few blocks home, and he helped her up the stairs and into bed.
“She’s sleeping,” he said when he came out of my room. “I took her shoes off, but you might wanna take her jacket or jeans off so she’s more comfortable.”
I nodded, unsure of whether to go deal with Taylor or stay with Drew. The latter definitely seemed more appealing, but the friend in me overruled that urge.
“I guess I’ll go make sure she’s okay and then get ready for bed,” I said.
We were standing a few feet apart, and I wanted to close the distance completely, wanted to be as close to him as possible. Even closer than when I’d been wrapped around him at the club. But things felt different back in the apartment. In the darkness of the club, we’d been honest. Vulnerable even. But in the apartment, the spell was broken, and I had no idea how to get it back.
The harsh lights in the living room shone around us, and I suddenly wished we could go back to the darkness of the club, where we were just two souls who could count on each other instead of two people who needed something from each other.
“You going to sleep soon?” I asked.
Drew looked at the couch for a second before turning his attention back to me. “I’m going to try, though I’m kind of wired.”
“Yeah. It was a crazy night.”
“That’s one way to describe it.”
We stood there awkwardly for a second, both of us fidgeting restlessly, before I decided to put us out of our misery. “I guess I’ll go check on Taylor.”
He nodded, and I flashed him a small smile before hightailing it to my room. Once I was inside the bedroom, I closed the door behind me and sank back against it. My brain was a jumble of emotions, and I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to parse through any of them.
The night had been intense. What I needed to do was go to bed and think about all this shit when I had a clearer head. Nothing good would come out of obsessing over things tonight.
I moved away from the door, did the best I could to make Taylor comfortable, and then got myself ready for bed. All that was left was to go into the bathroom so I could wash my face and brush my teeth.