Chapter Four #3
“That’s all right,” I replied softly, wishing like hell he’d move off the subject.
Emerson opened his mouth, but his eyes blew open wide and he grew pale.
“Fuck,” he muttered, and my heart sank. Shit just got real for him.
I turned my head and watched Natalie walk past us, cuddled in the chest of the blond guy, both oblivious to us.
She was wearing a pair of tiny Daisy Dukes, and the guy’s hand was clamped on her mostly exposed ass.
Emerson picked up his mug and drained it, then filled it to the top and finished half of that in a few swallows.
“That sucks, dude. I know that feeling,” Krasinski commiserated.
“Sorry, man. Here, have another.” Ross filled his mug to the top and raised his own. “To the single life.”
“I can’t believe it. She lied to my face. Everything was bullshit.” Emerson drank more beer. If he didn’t stop, he wouldn’t be able to drive home. As it was, he was borderline impaired.
“Kane. Take it easy.” I leaned forward so no one else in the bar would hear that a deputy was getting drunk. “She’s not worth getting a DUI on your record. No one is.”
Of course he didn’t listen, finishing his third beer and grabbing the pitcher to pour another, but I pulled it from him.
“You’re cut off.”
He grunted. “I want another drink.”
“No.” I held on to the pitcher. “Go home and deal with it, but you’ve had enough.”
He yanked it from me, and the beer sloshed over the rim, soaking his hand. “Bastard. Give me the goddamn pitcher.”
“No,” I repeated, and I could see the others at the table were sympathetic but understood where I was coming from. “Help me out, guys.”
“Dude, she ain’t worth it,” Krasinski pitched in. “She’s a bitch.”
“Don’t call her that,” Emerson responded automatically, but his lashes lowered to hide his eyes. “I gotta take a piss.”
He stood up so abruptly that his chair fell crashing to the floor. At the sound, Theo made as if to come out from behind the bar and help, but I shook my head and picked it up. Along with the others, I watched Emerson weave an unsteady path across the bar to the restrooms.
“Guy’s not cool to drive,” Malone commented but picked up another wing. Obviously, none of them were willing to help.
I rose to my feet, pulled out my wallet, and tossed a few bills down. “I’ll make sure he gets home.”
I waited outside the men’s room for a moment, decided it was stupid, and walked in. Emerson immediately turned away, but not before I saw his devastated face. Shit.
“Come on, Kane. I’m taking you home.”
“Fuck off. I don’t need you. I’m okay.”
“You’re not, and you know it. You want to get stopped? Lose your job? Quit being an asshole.” I spoke through gritted teeth. “You either come with me on your own, or I’ll fling you over my shoulder and carry you through Sweeny’s, which I don’t think you want.”
He blanched, then turned red. Without answering, he splashed water on his face and wiped it up with a paper towel.
“Fine,” he grumbled as he passed by me. The room was small, and we were both pretty big, so it was close quarters. I didn’t know what made me do it, but I gripped his arm.
“I really am sorry. That was a shitty thing for her to do to you.”
Warm breath hit my cheek, and his questioning green eyes met mine. “What are you doing?”
I dropped my hand. “Nothing. Just…let’s get out of here.”
“Fine.” He put a hand to his forehead. “I don’t feel so great anyway.”
“I’ll get Theo to give us some water.”
We walked out and the guys waved at me, but I signaled that I’d be leaving. At the bar, I called to Theo.
“Can I get a big to-go cup with ice water?”
One glance at the dejected Emerson swaying at my side, and Theo didn’t even bother to ask. He got what I asked for and handed it to me. “Here. I hope he feels better.”
I flashed him a smile. “He will. Thanks, buddy.”
Once outside, I made him drink a good amount before getting in my car. “Don’t get sick. I just had the interior cleaned and detailed.”
“You’re such a comfort,” Emerson muttered, his head lolling on the seat. “Got any Tylenol?”
“Not if you’re drinking. Bad for your liver. But I have aspirin.” I gave him three extra-strength and started the car. “Put your seat belt on.”
He tried three times, cursing under his breath until I finally heard the click, and we were off.
“I’m such an idiot,” he declared after a few minutes on the road. “I got too into her, too fast.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. It happens.”
“Yeah?” In my peripheral vision, I saw him turn his head to stare at me. “I wanted to meet someone and stop running around. Can’t seem to find anyone. Watching Jet and Harte…I thought it would be nice to come home to someone who wants to be with me.” He sighed. “Maybe I’m the problem.”
“Nah.” I turned onto his street and slid into the spot in front of his place. “You’re all right. You just haven’t met the right girl yet.”
“Maybe.” He met my eyes, and that odd sensation that came over me in the bathroom at Sweeny’s hit me again. “Thanks, Starr. You didn’t have to do this. Honestly, I don’t know why you did.”
Neither did I.