Chapter Thirty-Two #2
I wave my hand dramatically through the air. “Nah, man, you gotta tell her. Tell her before it’s too late.”
My chest tightens painfully. “Girls leave,” I mutter thickly. “They always leave eventually.” The room falls quiet for a second. “You’re lucky, though,” I continue, staring vaguely at Aston. “I can tell Annie loves you back. Even if you two are weird and don’t say it.”
Aston studies me carefully before sitting back down beside me. “I want to tell her. I just… don’t wanna scare her off.”
I scoff loudly. “Women scare easy, dude. One second they’re there, next second they fly away like little birds.” I start flapping my hands around drunkenly. “Flying, flying, flying…”
Chad snorts while Aston bites back laughter.
“And then BAM!” I slap the table hard enough to make the cards jump. “They shit on you from high above and leave you standing there covered in emotional bird crap.”
Aston bursts out laughing. “Emotional bird crap?”
“Yes!” I point at him aggressively. “Relationships are exactly like bird shit.”
Chad nearly falls off the gaming chair laughing.
“No, seriously,” I insist, words slurring together. “It stains. No matter how hard you scrub, that shit never fully comes out.”
“Okay,” Chad says, still laughing. “I think the bourbon’s officially won.” He walks over and gently removes the glass from my hand before I spill it all over myself.
A deep growl suddenly bubbles up from my stomach before exploding out as one massive belch. “That’s better.”
The boys laugh harder.
“Better out than in,” Chad says wisely.
I nod solemnly. “Exactly.”
Suddenly exhausted, I push myself upright. “Right. Better go home.”
Both Aston and Chad immediately shake their heads.
“No chance,” Aston says. “You’re staying here, remember?”
“Oh yeah.” I rub the back of my neck while standing up. The room spins violently, forcing me to grab the chair before I faceplant again. “Right… guest room.”
“Upstairs,” Aston replies, clearly trying not to laugh.
I straighten proudly. “I can handle stairs.”
One step later, my legs completely betray me, and I crash face-first onto the floor. The guys lose it laughing while I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling in betrayal.
“Can you at least make it to the couch?” Chad asks between cackles.
I glance toward the couch barely a few feet away, and nod confidently. Then crawl toward it on my hands and knees, because standing suddenly feels like a terrible life choice.
“Urgh. When did I drink this much?”
“You’ve been drinking for six hours,” Chad reminds me. “You’re obliterated.”
“Aston,” Chad says while I collapse dramatically onto the couch. “Want me to grab a pillow and blanket?”
“Please.”
Everything feels fuzzy and warm as Aston helps me settle onto the couch. My throat already feels thick with exhaustion, but somehow my brain still won’t shut off completely.
I hear the guys laughing quietly while someone lifts my head enough to slide a pillow underneath it. A blanket settles over me seconds later.
“Goodnight, Caleb,” Aston says.
Darkness starts pulling me under almost instantly, then suddenly panic jolts through me, and my eyes snap back open.
“Aston,” I mumble loudly.
“Yeah?” he calls from somewhere nearby.
“Don’t waste time with Annie.” Silence. “Tell her you love her every chance you g-get.” My voice cracks slightly. “Every… damn… time.” My eyes start drifting shut again. “Because when you lose them…” I murmur weakly. “It’s already too late.”
The darkness finally drags me under before anyone answers.
***
I wake with my head pounding.
The lingering effects of the bourbon are still dragging through my system. My mouth feels dry as hell, and my body’s heavy with exhaustion, but the dream I just had is crystal clear.
Indi was calling out to me.
She wanted me there with her.
She missed me.
Needed me to explain everything.
And suddenly one thing feels painfully obvious…
I need to go to her.
Now.
Bolting upright on Aston’s couch, I blink around the dark man cave in confusion before remembering where I am. Right. Aston’s place. Guys’ night. Too much bourbon. Emotional bird shit.
My phone.
Patting down my pockets, I realize it’s missing. Frowning, I stagger to my feet and search around the room, but it’s nowhere to be found. Aston probably hid it. Smart bastard.
Doesn’t matter.
I need to see Indi.
My head’s still foggy from the alcohol, but none of that seems important right now. All I can think about is what I told Aston earlier.
Don’t waste time.
Tell the people you love that you love them every chance you get.
Five weeks.
Five miserable, torturous, soul-destroying weeks without her.
Enough is enough.
I check my watch—it’s just after three in the morning. If Indi’s on night shift, I might still catch her before she leaves the hospital. Adrenaline surges through me at the thought.
Quickly gathering my jacket and keys, I creep through the silent house, trying not to wake anyone. Every step feels louder than it should, and in my half-drunk state, I keep bumping into walls and furniture like a complete idiot.
“Shhh,” I hiss at myself after nearly knocking over a side table.
The manor stays quiet, though. No doors open. No angry Aston appearing to confiscate my car keys.
Finally making it to the front door, I glance back over my shoulder one last time to make sure nobody’s spotted me.
Nothing.
Good.
Stepping outside into the cold night air, I suck in a deep breath and head straight for my car. The second I slide into the driver’s seat, one thought drowns out every other warning screaming in the back of my mind.
I need Indi.
Starting the engine, I pull away from the manor and head toward the streets of London.