I turn. Or someone. Someone gorgeous and lean and tall and smart and nice.
“Hey, Oliver!” I call, waving a hand.
Oliver turns and I see him hesitate before he walks over. I see that I’m curled up beside Noah and sit up straight.
“Where’s Ruby?” Noah asks once Oliver’s close enough.
“Why do you care?” Oliver says.
Both Noah and I flinch at his tone. “Because she should have been looking after Eve.”
Oliver appraises me, but not in a hot undress-me way. It’s the way a doctor looks at you. “Is she alright?” he asks Noah.
“I’m right here,” I say.
“I’m looking after her. This is her first time drinking. I don’t want her to get sick or hurt.”
Oliver sits on the couch beside me. He smells like deodorant and sandalwood and cider.
“How much did you give her?” Noah asks.
Oliver’s eyes flick over his jaw clenching. “Two. She asked for them.”
“Shouldn’t you have been careful?”
“You know how bossy she can be. She got the rest from others,” Oliver says. He turns to me. “Hey, you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say. “Everyone’s overreacting.”
“You’re slurring,” Oliver says.
“Nope.”
“Maybe you should go check on your sister,” Noah tells Oliver.
Instead, Oliver sits on the side of me. “I came back from the front room. She’s there with Jasmine, and she’s fine.” I feel him look over my head at Noah. “I can look after Eve, now. You go and enjoy the party.”
“That’s alright,” Noah says. “I can stay.”
“You her boyfriend or something?”
I stiffen.
“No,” Noah says, voice tight. “I’m her friend.”
“So am I,” Oliver grits out. “It’s all good. I can take it from here.”
In the kitchen, a brown-haired guy looks around, a finger stroking his lower lip.
“Hey,” I say to Noah before he can interrupt. “It’s fine. And look, there’s Henry. I think he’s searching for you.”
Noah follows my gaze before turning back to me. “You sure?”
“Of course!” I say, lower my voice. “TJP, right? TJP. Go!” I push him off the couch.
“TJP?” Oliver echoes.
“Go, go, go,” I say, waving Noah off the couch. Once he’s standing up, he gives me one last look of concern. I smile at him. I want to sit on a couch alone with Oliver, and I want Noah to go with Henry.
