14. Skylar
CHAPTER 14
SKYLAR
I park my car as close to the front of the party as I can get, ignoring the looks and calls from people gathered there. I take the steps three at a time and push through the front door. I’m taller than most here, so I scan the crowd quickly as I make my way through the frat house. I finally spot Alek’s big head in the kitchen and walk his way.
He almost grins when he sees me, which should have been my first warning. He’s leaning against the kitchen counter in his leather jacket and jeans with Evan at his side in a sparkly tank top and loose pants, glitter all over his face.
“Oh, thank fuck.” Evan sighs, leaning into Alek, who drops an arm around him and kisses his head, a natural move that makes me extremely jealous. “It’s your turn for Bones duty. I’m going to dance with my boyfriend. Have fun and good luck.” Evan pats my side. “You’ll need it.”
Turning my eyes from them, I find Bones, and my mouth drops open.
Evan was right. I’ll need all the luck I can get to be a saint tonight with my boy.
He has on a white button-down, but it’s ripped open, showcasing his stacked chest and tattoos, and black jeans that are glued to his body as he winds his hips and shakes his ass.
Is he twerking?
I swear my brain malfunctions, and I find myself just staring at him until a big guy starts to head his way, and I snap out of it. I narrow my eyes at him in warning, my face cold. It’s a familiar look, one I’ve never used around my friends. It’s a look I learned on the streets, and sometimes it was enough to scare them away before they tried anything. It works this time, and the big bastard blanches and scurries away. I reach Bones, my hands falling to his hips to stop his movements as I lean closer for him to hear me over the music.
“Let’s go, baby.”
His eyes snap open, and he blinks at me. His face is red from the alcohol, and his eyes are blown wide. “Skylar?” he mutters, and even slurred and drunk, hearing him say my name sends a shiver through me.
“Uh-huh.” Taking his hand, I pull him from the dancing throng and into the kitchen so he can hear me better. He stumbles, his hand warm in mine, but he doesn’t let go, and I want to scream in victory. “It’s time to go. Say goodbye.”
“No,” he snaps as he tugs his hand away. Looking around the kitchen, he plucks a random cup from the side. “I’m staying. I’m drinking and having fun. You can leave.”
“Baby, you don’t need another drink.” After handing it off to the closest person, I cup his face. “Why don’t you play with me instead?”
“No.” He pouts, pushing me away. “I want to drink. I can do anything I want.”
I follow him around the kitchen, plucking more cups out of his hand until he spins and glares at me. His finger pokes into my chest, and I glance down at it then back at him. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. You’re always getting into trouble. Why can’t I?”
Leaning closer, I slide my hand under his shirt and across his warm, tight waist to the base of his back, then I pull him until he falls into me, his lips parted as he stares up at me. “There’s only room for one troublemaker in this relationship. Now, you’re drunk, and it’s time to go. I’m all for you having fun, but when you can barely stand? Yeah, I’m taking you home. So say your goodbyes.”
“I’m not yours to order around,” he slurs, sassy even now.
I smirk. “That’s where you’re wrong, baby.”
His eyes narrow and he lifts his hand, his fingers clumsily running across my lips. I still, my heart hammering as I stare into his face. He doesn’t know what he’s doing, but it doesn’t stop me from wishing he would keep going. He pulls my lower lip down slightly, rubbing it. “You have a pretty mouth.”
“Baby,” I murmur, trying to be gentle. “I’m trying my best to behave here.”
His eyes rove across my face. “You’re very handsome. It’s fucking annoying.”
Biting back my smile, I tug him into a hug, propping my head on his shoulder so my mouth meets his ear. “I’m very sorry. Now, can I take you home so you can sleep this off? As fucking adorable as you are drunk, I can’t wait for you to remember tomorrow and be embarrassed and take it out on me.”
“Asshole,” he mutters, pushing me away.
“There you are.”
He goes to grab a cup again, and I sigh.
“Alright, I tried the nice way. Don’t say I didn’t.” Pulling him closer, I button up his shirt so he doesn’t get cold and then bend down, sweeping him up and over my shoulder. He cries out, hitting my ass, and then I turn and walk through the party.
No one stops me. Alek grins and tugs Evan out after me as I stomp toward my car. I can hear them laughing, but I ignore them and Bones as he shouts.
“Skylar, you fucking asshole, put me down! I want to drink. You’re not my boss. Put me down right now. I will kill you!” He screams the entire time, and I open my car one-handed and slide him down my body before pushing him into the seat. Leaning over, I buckle him up and kiss his forehead as he rants.
“Hold on, baby.” Shutting the door, I roll my eyes when I see Evan with his camera out. “Send me those.” I grin as I look at Alek. “Text me his address. I know the apartment building but not the number, unless you want me to take him to my place, and we both know he’ll murder you if I do that.”
“Tricky bastard. You probably planned all this just to get close to him,” Alek mutters, but he pulls out his phone.
“Well, I’d just be taking lessons from you, Anders.” I grin. “Like that time you purposely broke Evan’s skateboard so you could buy him a new one?—”
“Get going!” Alek snaps, covering Evan’s ears, who just grins.
“See ya.” Waving, I jog around and get in, locking the doors as Bones tries to get out. His hands hit the window, trying to get Alek’s and Evan’s attention.
“You’re all assholes!” he yells at them. “Don’t let this psycho kidnap me!”
I pull into traffic, but his hands tug at the door, so I reach over and capture both of them, put them between my thighs, and shut them to trap them. “If you can’t behave, I will stop and tie you up, understood?” I warn him seriously. “I will not let you put yourself in danger because you’re drunk and annoying. Behave.”
“Skylar,” he whines.
“I mean it, Bones,” I reply as I drive to his apartment.
He slumps back in his seat, and I release his hands.
I crank the AC and spare him a look. “There’s water for you in that bag and some crackers. Let me know if you feel sick or anything.”
“I never get sick,” he snaps.
“It’s okay,” I murmur as I rub his back. We are on the side of the road over two blocks from his house. He vomited in my footwell since he couldn’t hold it. I ignore it as he leans out of the car into the street. Pushing his hair back, I hold the water for him. “Get it all out, baby. It’s okay.”
He coughs and throws up again. I rub his back before grabbing some tissues, and when he slumps into his seat, I wipe his mouth and face. He doesn’t even move.
“Are you okay for me to keep going? We should get you into bed.”
“I’m fine,” he whines.
“Okay.” Bagging the tissue, I pass him the water. “Hold that and sip it,” I caution as I lift his legs and put them in the car, careful of the pile of vomit.
After hurrying into the driver’s seat, I pull back into traffic, driving as slowly and carefully as I can to calm his stomach. At the next red light, my phone rings, and I hit answer.
“Just wanted to check you got him home okay,” Alek says.
“Almost there. We had to stop for him to be sick,” I reply. “We didn’t make it. Luckily, it was only once in my car. I think he just needs to sleep it off now.”
“Shit, he vomited in your car? I spilled water once and you tried to murder me!” Anders barks out a laugh.
“Shut up,” I mutter.
“Oh, to be whipped,” he jokes. “Alright, have a fun night.”
He hangs up, and I sigh and spare Bones a glance to see him looking far too pale again. “Almost there, baby, hang on.”
Luckily, we have no more vomit incidents, but I do have to carry him into his apartment. I had to search him for his keys while he tried to beat me, and I struggled to get us both inside. I peer around at the dark, open-plan living and kitchen area before he groans, and I focus back on him.
“Where’s your bedroom?” I ask, but he ignores me, curled in my arms. “Never mind, I’ll find it.”
I head down the hall, eventually finding it, and I lay him on his mattress. He doesn’t even react as I pull off his shoes and socks, lining them up at the end of his bed—he strikes me as someone who wouldn’t like a mess.
Leaving him for a second, I grab more water, some pain relief I manage to find in a cupboard, and a few wet washcloths. Everything is meticulously organized but cold and empty.
I head back to his side to find him struggling from his shirt. “Hey.” I grab him, and his eyes open halfway.
“Hot,” he whines.
“Okay, okay, let me help you.” I unthread his arms and throw his shirt to the floor to deal with later as he collapses back onto the bed, his chest heaving and flushed from the liquor. I try not to look, I really do, but I stare for a moment before clearing my throat. I put the water and pills next to his bed before grabbing one of the washcloths and sitting at his side. I start to clean his face, since it can’t feel nice being all sweaty and gross after being sick.
“Why did you get drunk?” I murmur as I wipe his face with the compress.
His eyes are closed, but he responds, “Girl from my class kept demanding your number and asking if you were single. It was annoying.”
Biting back my victorious smile, I continue wiping as his brow furrows. “So you got drunk because you were jealous?”
“No,” he snaps. “She can have you,” he grumbles and rolls to his side. My eyes widen when his arms wrap around my waist, his head on my thigh. He holds me tightly despite his words.
“So kind of you.” I hum as I stroke his hair. “I’ll stick to you though.”
“You’d like her,” he mutters. “She’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you,” I tell him as I lean down and kiss his forehead. “When will you realize you are the one I want? I’m not going anywhere, angel. I don’t want anyone else’s number or even their vomit in my car. It’s you. It’s been you since the first moment I saw you.” I know he probably won’t remember this tomorrow, but I can’t stop myself. “I’ve never felt like this before. That first moment I met you, I felt like I was hit by lightning. You restarted my heart, and you don’t even know it. Don’t be jealous, my beautiful boy, because there is no one else in this world I want the way I want you. I’m yours. You never have to doubt that.”
“You’re just a friend,” he mutters. “Friend.”
“Angel,” I murmur into his skin. “I don’t look at my friends the way I look at you.”
His eyes open slightly as he presses his face against my thigh and peers up at me. “How do you look at me?”
“Like you are the most precious, beautiful thing in my entire universe,” I admit.
He stares up at me for a moment before glancing at my lips. His intention is clear, and it takes a herculean effort to pull back when he tries to kiss me, but I manage it.
“See?” He pouts, rolling away from me and sitting up with his arms crossed like a bratty child. I never knew he had this side, but drunk Bones is so fucking cute and different from his usual grumpiness that I have to hide my smile since he’s busy telling me off. “You don’t want to kiss me. You don’t really want me. I bet you want her!”
I cover his mouth with my fingers and kiss the back of my hand as his eyes widen. When I drop it, I rub his lips.
“I want to kiss you more than I’ve ever wanted anything, baby, but our first kiss won’t be while you’re this drunk. You’ll remember it and you’ll give me consent. Tomorrow, when you’re sober, ask me to kiss you and I will without hesitation.”
His arms uncross slowly and drop as he stares at me. His pout is so fucking cute, I have to look away.
“Now, you need to sleep.” Grabbing his legs, I yank him down until he hits the bed, then I tuck the sheets around him and fluff his pillow. He watches me silently the entire time, looking far too vulnerable and almost scared. Sitting at his side again, I lean down and kiss his forehead, unable to help myself.
“Sleep,” I order.
His hand darts out and grabs mine as I go to stand. “Stay?” he whispers softly. “Will you stay with me? I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Kicking off my shoes, I climb onto his bed and lie next to him, my arms under my head so I don’t pull him close. I won’t take advantage of him like that, but it doesn’t stop him—two seconds later, he rolls and drapes his whole body over me.
“Thank you, Sky,” he whispers softly, pressing his face closer.
“Anytime, angel,” I whisper as I glance down at him. “Sleep.”
One of us should, because I know damn well it isn’t going to be me tonight, not with everything I want in my arms. I won’t miss a fucking second.
Whatever reason he got drunk, I’m stupidly thankful since it got me this, even if it’s all I’ll ever have.
It’s enough.