CHAPTER11
Rowan
I wonderedhow many times in her life Dee had been drunk. I doubted it was more than ten, and I’d be surprised if it was more than half a dozen. She was athletic, obviously, which often meant it was difficult to handle your alcohol, especially if you weren’t used to it. And Dee definitely wasn’t.
Her shoes had been discarded in a corner, and she was wobbling on her legs like a just-born giraffe, a description I knew she’d hate.
I was on my fifth glass of soda water with lime, telling anyone who accused me of being boring that it had a double vodka in it, which was bullshit, but most of them were too drunk to notice anyway.
Ryan wasn’t. He’d stayed hanging around up until now, talking to a couple of his new teammates and the coaches, who’d probably come out to keep an eye on us. He’d made more of an effort to get to know people this evening, and I’d even heard him laughing a few times. Still, something told me there was more going on in his life than just a move from London to Manchester, not that it was any of my business.
Dee almost tripped over her own feet and would’ve gone flying but for my launching out a hand and grabbing her elbow.
A cheer went up from the other girls she was standing with, an impressive wolf whistle in there too. She stumbled backwards and hit my chest, righting herself to the point of almost falling the other way.
“Dee might finally get some!” There was what sounded like a cackle from of Dee’s teammates. “If it’s not healed up.”
“I think mine has; it’s been that long.”
“I thought you were banging that bartender?”
More noise. More women than even I was possibly comfortable with. Dee was still half resting on me, a barely touched cocktail in her right hand.
I took it from her and placed it down on the table. I had no right to cut her off from drinking anymore. It wasn’t my problem if she had a sore head tomorrow, or my problem if sorting out any of her sister’s crap when she got home was even harder because she’d drank too much today. She’d made it as clear as fucking day that she didn’t want me anywhere near her, but given that her teammates were too fucked to step in, and I suspected she was probably the one to look after them, I was intervening.
God could thank me tomorrow.
I bent my head so I could speak to her without being overheard. “Up to you, but I don’t think you should drink anymore.”
She turned, wobbled, and braced herself with a hand against my chest. Dee came to my shoulder, making her fairly tall. I guessed she was about five foot eight or something, maybe a bit smaller.
“I think I need to go to bed.” Her eyes were glazed.
Water, paracetamol and toast were definitely a good idea right now.
“I think you’re right.”
“I don’t think I can walk to the lodge. Can you help?”
I looked around her teammates. A few were still watching us, probably thinking we were about to hook up, but most had moved on to whatever Nate was trying to do with two bottles and a glass.
“Yep. You know everyone will be saying we’ve gone back to fuck, don’t you?” No point being cute about it.
Dee tried to steady herself. “Shall I shout out to everyone that we’re not? I can do that.” She swayed a little.
If I was the man she thought I was, I’d have let her fall.
“I’ll sort it.” I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her in close enough that she wasn’t going to fall over at any point. “Danny.” I nudged our defensive midfielder with my free elbow. He was a decent bloke, said little and kept his focus on the game. But he had a strong dislike for anyone who didn’t get their story straight.
“Ro. She okay?” He nodded at Dee.
I shook my head. “Trollied. Can you make sure everyone knows I’m just making sure she gets back okay and I’m not taking advantage?”
“Sure. What if I go back with you? You don’t want to put your back out catching her if she topples.” He frowned at Dee. “Don’t get why they get that pissed.”
“I don’t think she normally does.” Dee’s head was now resting against my shoulder. “That’s half the problem.” The other half being her sister. “Good idea to give us a lift.”
Danny went to her other side, hooking his arm round her waist. He was frowning as he took hold, as if he wasn’t used to being this close to a woman.
