“I want a bourbon.” The words slur.
Make me forget.
“Too late.” Carla gives me a toothless smile. “We already closed the bar.”
Already?
“I think I’ll be the one walking you home.” Both of Emilia’s faces weave in and out as I squint at her. “Jared?”
“’m fine.” I stumble off my chair. “Let’s go. We can get a drink.”
“No more drinks.” Emilia follows me, her thumb tugging at her lip as she watches me warily. “Seriously, Jared. I don’t drink, anyway.”
“Why not?” The cold air hits my face, a little clarity returning in the night air. Beside me, Emilia puts her umbrella up. “It’s not raining.”
“Because I don’t like what it can do,” she says quietly.
“The umbrella?”
“The alcohol, Jared.” She starts walking away from me, her shoulders hunched. “I use the umbrella because I’m scared of the dark.”
I chase after her. “Wait.”
Why the hell do I feel soguilty?
Midnight-blue eyes meet mine.
Shit. That’s why.
“Why are you scared of the dark?” The questions roll off my tongue more easily tonight. All my curiosity, flowing out of me with alcohol-induced ease. “Tell me.”
I have a lot of curiosity when it comes to Emilia Marsters.
“Not tonight.”
“I won’t ask when I’m sober.”
Truth.
I won’t let myself.
But now, with the warmth of the beer in my veins and the world around me in soft focus, it doesn’t feel like reality.
A soft sigh. “I always have been. It got worse as I grew older.”
“Why?”
She turns to face me, her breath puffing out. “God, you’re an annoying drunk.”
I smile sloppily down at her. “And you’re cute when you’re annoyed.”
Fuck’s sake.
Shut up.
39
Emmy
