Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WILLOW
“Come out with us tonight, Will.”
Startled, I glance over my shoulder and meet Finn’s gaze as he walks into the living room.
I’m already curled up on the couch with my e-reader in hand and my new book boyfriend holding on to my attention.
Turning back around, I look down at the words on the screen, not fully reading them as I can still feel my brother’s eyes on the back of my head.
“I’m good.”
“Come on,” he says as he walks deeper into the room. He circles around the back of the sectional and flops over the edge of it, landing on the cushions to my left. “Noah and I are going to go get drinks and we want you to come along.”
“I don’t feel like going anywhere,” I admit, lifting the blanket to show him my fuzzy pajama pants. “I’m already in comfy clothes.”
He shrugs with a sheepish grin. “You can wear that. You know no one at the bar gives a shit.”
I stare at my brother, leveling my gaze on his. “You’re not going to give up, are you?”
“It’s just not in my nature.”
The front door slamming echoes through the house. Noah’s voice carries after it, although it sounds like he’s talking to himself rather than to either of us. “You guys ready?” he asks as he steps into the doorway of the living room. I look back at him and his brow furrows. “Are you not coming?”
Noah has a confused look on his face and Finn is giving me puppy dog eyes and sticking out his bottom lip. For him being the oldest brother, sometimes he’s more immature than Noah and me. An exasperated sigh escapes me as my shoulders sag and I close my e-reader. “One drink.”
Finn curls his hand into a fist, bends his arm at the elbow, and jerks it past his body. “Yes!”
“It’s been forever since we’ve all gone out together.”
I scrunch up my face at Noah. “We just went out last winter when I was home for the holidays.”
“Yeah, I know,” he says, his eyes widening as he nods at me. “That’s the definition of forever.”
I roll my eyes, a laugh escaping me as I throw my blanket from my body and leave it on the ottoman with my e-reader. “You’re ridiculous,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m going to go get changed and then I’ll be ready.”
Finn climbs up off the couch. “We’ll be out in the truck.”
The bottoms of my pants shift around my ankles as I head out of the living room and into the hallway, then make my way up to the second floor. The sounds of my brothers’ voices carry throughout the house as they both walk into the kitchen and then it grows silent after the door closes.
I find a pair of jeans and a sweater and change into it before gathering my hair on top of my head, securing it in a high ponytail.
Going out wasn’t exactly my plan tonight, but I know how persistent my brothers can be.
They’re both lucky that I like them and enjoy their company.
I couldn’t imagine having two brothers that I didn’t like.
The three of us have always been close. Whatever they were doing when we were kids, I was always close behind. They didn’t always want me to tag along, but Jace was always the one who talked them into letting me.
Jace Miller. The one I tried to forget when I left here… and the one who still has a way of creeping into the corners of my mind.
Staring at myself in the mirror, I apply a layer of mascara to my lashes on both eyes, the last step in my routine. My brain needs to shut up and I think going out with my brothers might just be the ticket. A little bit of alcohol can chase the stupid thoughts of him away.
He still feels like the same Jace, but I can’t help but wonder what all I don’t know about him anymore. He hasn’t spoken of anyone else, but what if there’s someone waiting for him out there?
Shaking my head, I shove the thoughts of him away.
What he does is none of my business… just like it never has been.
“Dear god, Willow,” Finn laughs, shaking his head as the side of his body knocks into the bar. “You just spilled bourbon all down your shirt.”
Everything blurs and distorts as I look down at the wet spot on the front of my sweater. “Oh, shit.” It’s not a big spot, but in the center of my chest is a mark, followed by a small stream down the front, stopping above my navel.
Noah shakes his head at the two of us. “You guys know that none of us are okay to drive home, right?”
“Well, obviously.”
“I can give you guys a ride,” George, who sits to my left, speaks, half slurring his words. George went to school with my brothers. He grew up in the Hollow and never left.
Noah lifts an eyebrow. “You’re just as drunk. There’s no way we’re getting in a car with you.”
“I don’t even have my car,” he laughs, shaking his head. “I drove my ATV.”
Finn gives him a look. “So, how the hell would we all get home on that anyway?”
My head spins momentarily, pulling me out of the moment with the three of them. I have to close my eyes and grip the barstool, attempting to get myself under control. But my palms have started to sweat. Uh oh, this isn’t good.
We are three hours into our excursion to the bar and my one drink turned into three, plus two shots.
My brothers are definitely bad influences when it comes to things like this.
At this point though, I’m not even mad about it.
I can’t even remember what I was trying to forget, so that means this plan is working.
“Is that Jace?” Finn asks as he turns more in his seat, looking past me at the door. “Hey, Jace!” He says louder than necessary as he starts waving his arm like Jace can’t see us. It’s a weekday night and there’s only a handful of people here.
My body sways as I glance over my shoulder and my breath catches in my chest as he walks over. I slowly close one eye. Is he sauntering? I quickly shake my head to myself, turning back around in my seat to grab my glass of water.
After my last drink, I asked for something other than alcohol, then Noah insisted that we get shots anyways. I don’t know how long ago that was now, but as I stare at my glass, there aren’t any visible ice cubes floating in the liquid.
“You both look like you’re going to regret whatever you’ve been drinking tomorrow morning,” Jace chuckles, his deep voice scratching an itch inside my brain.
A shiver trails down my spine and I slowly spin around on my bar stool, the room slightly spinning as I turn to face him.
As my surroundings fall still and I get my bearings, my eyes drift to his and I find him staring at me intently.
His eyes are hooded, the muscle working in his jaw and his nostrils widen subtly as his gaze shifts to George and back to me.
Now I remember what I wanted to forget.
“Are we still on for tomorrow?”
Lifting my glass of water, I take a large gulp, forcing it down. “Yep.”
“What are you guys doing tomorrow?” George asks, his words slurring together again.
Jace doesn’t take his eyes off me, and he doesn’t bother to answer George. “You sure you’re going to be up to working?”
“Oh, yeah, I’ll be fine,” I tell him, my eyelids staying closed longer than what would be considered a blink. Lifting my other hand, I wave it dismissively and my body sways to the side. “I don’t get hangovers and I’m just drinking water now.”
Jace’s mouth twitches as he finally directs his attention to George. “How are you, George? It’s been awhile.”
“I’m good, man. How about you? I heard you were back in town.”
Glancing to my right, I see my brothers have fallen into some conversation between the two of them, and I’m now stuck in the middle of this catch up moment between Jace and George.
I’m drunk, but not too drunk to notice the weird shift in the air.
There’s a tension that I can’t quite put my finger on.
“Yeah, an injury that didn’t heal properly has a way of doing that.”
My eyes slowly scan Jace, taking in how rigid his body looks. His back is a little too straight, his shoulders pushed back, and his arms crossed over his chest. He’s as sober as sober can be and doesn’t have a drink. Why come to the bar if you’re not going to indulge?
Then again, he did just walk in and came straight over to the four of us.
“My bad, man. You want a drink?” George asks Jace as he throws his arm around the tops of my shoulders. “Let me get you a beer or something.”
Jace runs his tongue across his top teeth, his eyes flicking to George’s arm on my shoulders and back up to his face. “Thanks anyway.” His eyes slice to mine and there’s something lingering in his gaze. Almost like a nonverbal question, but my vision is hazy and my brain’s muddled. “I’ll get it.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I slip off my barstool and out from under George’s arm.
Jace walks over to the other side of George and I follow after him, my feet leading me in his direction like a lost puppy.
He leans forward, resting his elbows against the counter as he stares head, looking for the bartender.
George slides closer to my brothers and dives into their conversation.
Jace looks at me from the corner of his eye, but he doesn’t say anything. The bartender comes over and grabs him a beer, popping off the cap before he hands it to Jace.
Jace wraps his long fingers around the neck of the bottle and slowly lifts the rim to his lips. His head tilts back, elongating his neck, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows down the cold liquid.
“Can you give us a ride home?”
He turns to look at me, pulling the inside of his cheek between his teeth as he sets his beer down on the bar. “You and George?” His tone slides across my skin like a cube of ice. “Whose house am I taking you to?”
My eyebrows tug together as my mind takes a few seconds to process what he’s insinuating.
And then I realize how my question could have been misinterpreted.
When it clicks, my eyes widen and I shake my head at him, my head swimming as my surroundings do a quick shift.
“No,” I say, my slur dragging out the last syllable. “Oh, god, no. I would never.”
Jace lifts an eyebrow. “No?”
“No way. He’s not my type.”
Jace’s lips part, his eyes slowly searching mine. “What is your type?”
“Certainly not him,” I say, a laugh escaping me. “I don’t know,” I admit with a shrug. “Not really a fan of athletes. They all seem to be nothing but trouble.”
He tilts his head to the side, amusement shimmering in his eyes now. His fingers circle around the neck of his beer once more and he slowly lifts it, taking a long sip. “Trouble, huh?”
“Mhm,” I murmur, swallowing another mouthful of water before my body half sags from exhaustion and I lean against the edge of the bar. “They’re always married to whatever sport they play and have some serious god complex issues.”
Jace chuckles softly. “I don’t have a god complex, Will.”
“Yes, you do!” I bump my shoulder against his, my body swaying too hard to the right as I bounce off the side of him. Jace’s arm darts out, his hand wrapping around my waist as he catches me before I go down. “Sorry,” I laugh, shaking my head, feeling the alcohol still coursing through my veins.
Jace’s hand lingers on my side, leaving an imprint on my skin with the heat of his palm. “I think it’s probably time for you to go sleep this off, huh.”
Laughter bubbles in my throat, but it comes out as a hiccup instead. “I think you’re right.”
Jace reaches into his back pocket, pulls out his wallet, and leaves a twenty on the bar. “Come on,” he says, pulling me closer as he wraps his arm around my back, keeping me upright. He leads me over to my brothers. “Are you guys ready to go?”
My body jerks as I hiccup again.
“Oh no,” Finn says, his eyes widening as he stares at me. “When the hell did you get so drunk?”
My shoulders lift. “After you guys insisted on shots.”
“Did you both forget that she doesn’t handle shots well?”
Noah laughs, shaking his head, but I don’t make out the words as I lean against Jace for support. His fingers tighten around my waist and I let my eyelids fall shut as I tip my head to the side to rest it against his chest.
Inhaling deeply, I breathe him in as his warmth wraps around me like a twisted vine.
The bar sounds fade away and I drift into the darkness.
Time gets away from me and I’m not sure whether it’s been five minutes or thirty, but Jace’s fingers trail along the side of my face. “Hey, sleepyhead. Let's go.”
“Mmm, okay,” I mumble, lifting my head away from him. My legs wobble as I take a few uncoordinated steps. “Shit,” I laugh, bumping into Jace’s side as he guides me through the bar, following after my brothers.
I don’t know how he managed to wrangle them, but it looks like he’s giving the three of us a ride home.
Jace pulls me to a stop and his knees bend slightly. My eyebrows tug together as he slides his arm beneath the back of my knees, lifting me into the air in one fluid movement. “Oh,” I breathe, adrenaline running through my veins as he sweeps me into his arms. “I can walk, Jace.”
“Barely,” he laughs, the sound vibrating through my body as I wrap my arms around the back of his neck. He doesn’t say another word and I let my head fall against the top of his shoulder as he carries me out of the bar and to his truck.
“I doubt your girlfriend would be happy about this,” I slur, not even thinking about the words before I speak them.
Jace is silent for a beat. “I don’t have a girlfriend, Willow.”
The rocking motion of his body lulls me. The darkness pulls me into its depths and the only thing I notice is the absence of his warmth as he sets me in the backseat of his truck.
Leaning my head against the window, I glance up at the front of the cab in a drunken haze and meet his gaze through the rearview mirror. His throat bobs as he stares at me for a moment. My brothers ramble about one of the maple trees as Jace’s gaze doesn’t waver.
The darkness tugs on the corners of my vision and I let my heavy eyelids fall shut.
The gear shifter clunks as he puts his truck in reverse, easing from the parking spot.
His scent is about as strong as it was when I was leaning up against him.
I can’t tell if it’s just because I’m in his truck or if it’s clinging to my shirt and my hair.
I pull my collar up to my nose, breathing in once more before I drift back to sleep with his green eyes following me into the dark.