Chapter Seven #2
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“Jesus, Annie,” I mutter, looking around frantically. “I need to get you out of here before someone takes a photo.”
The last thing Colt needs is headlines about his underage daughter getting completely smashed at her birthday party.
Annie just laughs harder as I scoop her into my arms. At least she still has enough coordination to cling to me properly. Her arms loop around my neck while she giggles into my shoulder like this is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to her.
Meanwhile, my night with Angelica is officially dead.
Fantastic.
I glance back toward Angel and lean down, pressing a quick kiss against her cheek. “Rain check?” I murmur.
Before Angelica can answer, Annie points at her dramatically. “I drank your stole!” she blurts out proudly.
I blink. “What?”
Angelica bursts out laughing while I stare down at Annie in complete confusion. “You stole her drink?”
Annie gasps loudly. “Noooo, I said I drank her stole.”
I rub my forehead. “Jesus Christ.”
Angelica shakes her head, still smiling. “You should probably look after her.”
Yeah.
No kidding.
I suppress a sigh as Annie swings her arms outward like she’s on some sort of drunken amusement ride, nearly throwing herself straight out of my grip.
“For fuck’s sake, Annie, stay still.”
“Weee!” she yells. “I’m flying!”
“You’re not flying. You’re drunk.”
She gasps dramatically. “I’m sparkly.”
Right.
Definitely hammered.
I carry her quickly through the back beer garden toward the exit, relieved when I notice the security guard isn’t standing at the door anymore.
The fewer people who see this disaster, the better.
By the time we reach my car, Annie’s head is lolling against my shoulder while she hums some random song completely off-key.
“You’re my cousin, and I love you,” I tell her while setting her carefully on her feet beside the car. “But you are an absolute fucking idiot sometimes.” I pull my keys from my pocket and unlock the Lexus with a beep.
“Beep beep!” Annie giggles loudly. “Like the Road Runner!”
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
Dear God.
“Get in the car, Annie.”
She twirls once dramatically before collapsing sideways into the passenger seat, laughing hysterically at absolutely nothing.
Yep.
She’s gone.
I shut her door and circle to the driver’s side.
“Sorry for ruining your smoochy time with Princess Hair Extensions,” Annie slurs.
Despite myself, I laugh.
Okay, that was funny.
Maybe she’s not completely unconscious yet.
“Buckle up,” I order as I start the engine.
She grabs it enthusiastically and yanks so hard the locking mechanism catches, then she stares at it like it personally offended her. “Your belt is broken,” she announces seriously before dissolving into laughter again.
I lean across and pull the belt properly over her body, clicking it into place.
“Wow,” she whispers in awe. “You’re like… a magician.”
“Yeah, incredible talent.”
I pull out of the parking space before glancing sideways at her. “How much did you drink?”
She shrugs lazily, then her entire expression changes.
The color drains from her face instantly.
Ah, fuck.
“Nope,” I say. “Absolutely not. You are not throwing up in my car.” I slam the car into park before racing around to her side. The second I yank the door open, she gags violently. “Annie, lean forward.”
She practically falls halfway out of the car before vomiting all over the pavement.
I throw my hands into the air. “Jesus Christ.”
At least it missed the interior.
Small victories.
She keeps throwing up while I stand there uselessly watching her empty her stomach onto the ground. When she finally stops, she groans miserably. “I don’t feel good anymore.”
“No shit.”
I walk around to the boot and grab one of the bottled waters I keep stocked in there, mainly because post-sex dehydration is a real problem.
“Drink this.”
She takes the bottle weakly, sipping while leaning against the seat, looking pale and sweaty.
Yeah.
Hospital.
Definitely hospital.
“Think you’re gonna throw up again?” I ask cautiously.
She shakes her head slowly and closes her eyes, and within seconds, she’s half asleep.
I stare at her for a moment while shutting her door gently. Something about this feels off.
Annie partying? Sure.
Annie drinking herself unconscious? Not so much.
Usually, there’s a reason behind behavior like this, especially with her.
But right now, getting answers can wait until she’s conscious enough to speak English.
“Okay, I’m buckling you in.” I buckle her back in properly before getting into the driver’s seat and heading toward the nearest emergency room.
The whole drive there, I keep glancing sideways at her to make sure she’s still breathing normally.
Every so often she mumbles something in her sleep.
Mostly Aston’s name.
Interesting.
I pull into emergency parking and jump out before rushing around to lift her from the car again. Carrying a limp seventeen-year-old isn’t nearly as easy as movies make it look.
The sliding hospital doors open automatically as I hurry inside.
The nurse at reception looks up instantly.
“Please help her,” I say quickly. “She’s had way too much to drink.”
The nurse eyes me suspiciously. “Isn’t she a little young to be drinking with you?”
I nearly choke. “No. God, no.” I shake my head rapidly. “She’s my cousin. It’s her birthday party. She got carried away.”
The nurse softens slightly. “Okay. Bring her through.”
I follow her into the emergency room while Annie groans dramatically in my arms.
“This is your fault,” I mutter down at her.
She hiccups.
Helpful.
The nurse leads us into a treatment bay and motions toward the bed. I lower Annie carefully onto it and step back when she makes a gagging noise.
Please don’t vomit again.
Thankfully, she rolls to the side and passes back out.
“Has she taken anything besides alcohol tonight?” The nurse asks while attaching monitors.
I shake my head. “I seriously doubt it.”
Though, with Annie, chaos follows her around, so who the hell knows anymore.
“Okay,” the nurse says. “We’ll monitor her for a bit.” Then she glances toward Annie’s dress. “I need to place some leads on her chest, so you’ll have to step outside for a few minutes.”
“Oh yeah. Of course.” I turn away. “Definitely don’t wanna see that.”
The nurse laughs quietly, and I head back out into the waiting area.
Then I start pacing.
Because now that the adrenaline’s fading, all I can think about is how badly Colt’s going to lose his mind over this. I drag both hands through my hair while walking in circles across the floor.
Annie better be okay.
Seriously.
Because explaining this to Colt while he’s in protective father mode sounds like an actual death sentence.
“Caleb?”
The voice hits me like a physical blow.
Soft.
Familiar.
Impossible.
I stop dead.
My entire body locks up before I even turn around.
Because I know that voice.
I’ve known it most of my life.
Slowly, I look over my shoulder and my heart completely stops.
Indi.
Standing there in pale blue scrubs with her blonde hair pulled back, staring at me like she’s seen a ghost.
She’s even more beautiful than I remember.
Older now.
Sharper somehow.
But still unmistakably her, and for a second, I genuinely can’t breathe.
Six years.
Six fucking years.
And suddenly she’s standing right in front of me.
“Indi?” I murmur, her name rolling off my tongue and vibrating through me in a way that sets me on fire. Just the sight of her has my knees weak.
“What are you doing here?” she asks as she walks toward me.
I swallow hard, resisting the urge to reach for her hand. “I haven’t seen you since you left, and all you can say to me is, ‘What are you doing here?’ ” I ask with a smirk.
She shakes her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s nice to see you too, Caleb.” Then she frowns and moves to walk past me.
My heart starts racing, and panic claws at my chest at the thought of her leaving me again. “Indi, wait,” I say, reaching out and brushing my fingers over her arm.
She stops in her tracks and glances sideways at me. “Caleb,” she whispers.
I exhale shakily as those stupid, goofy butterflies erupt in my stomach at the feel of her soft skin beneath my fingertips. I can’t help myself as I lean closer to her. It’s like my lips are magnetized to hers, every part of me drawn toward her with a force I can’t fight.
So I give in.
Leaning forward, I press a gentle kiss to her soft, supple lips.