My phone vibrates again as I'm trying to get to the passenger door, and as I'm trying to look at it, I drop it onto the ground. "Shit," I mumble and bump my head on the car when I reach for it.
"I got it. Go ahead and get in." He helps me into the car and leans down to get my phone.
I rest my head on the seat, a sort of quiet falling between us. I glance over at Alec as he examines my lit-up screen.
"It's not broken, just a little dirty." He wipes it off on his shirt and gives it back to me, something strangely stern and deceptive in his voice.
I might be drunk but I'm still hyper-vigilant to any sudden or even subtle shift in other people’s energies.
Alec shuts the door and as he's walking around to the front, I click the screen and spot the very aggressive texts that Ricardo has sent me.
Unknown: It was such a pleasure seeing you tonight, pet.
Unknown: You're not going to answer me, really?
Unknown: The more you try to hide from me, the worse this is going to be for you.
Unknown: You’re mine whether you want to be or not.
Unknown: I will find you, and when I do...
Alec slams the door shut behind him.
I flinch and put my phone aside.
"I'm sorry," he says a second later. "I didn't mean to scare you." His voice is cool and even despite his fist wrapping around the steering wheel tightly.
"I...I don't want to go home. Not to my house." The idea of being this intoxicated and having Ricardo fuming at me grows a concern that can't be hidden by any amount of alcohol.
"Where do you want me to take you?" Alec pushes the button to start the SUV and waits for me to answer him.
I consider my options: home is off limits, so no to that. Silver's place crosses my mind, but I don't know how I would explain that to Alec or Silver. I guess I could crash at June's since there's no shortage of beds in that mansion.
"Can I stay with you tonight?" I blurt out the second the thought hits me.
"Yeah, of course." Alec pulls out of the parking spot and onto the main road, navigating around the slow traffic surrounding the stadium.
I tilt my legs toward the door and sort of fold into myself, my cheek resting against the seat as I stare out the window. I don't mean to, but I doze off, and when I wake, Alec is standing outside my door and scooping me into his arms.
"I can walk," I mumble.
"I've got you," he says without any indication he's going to set me onto solid ground.
Alec carries me the rest of the way through the garage and into his house, only stopping to set me on a cushy chair in the living room. "Let me help you." He takes each of my shoes off and sets them aside.
I sit up and scoot forward. "Hey."
"Hey." He grins back at me.
"Can we have sex?" I ask him, the question surprising even me as it slips out.
Alec closes his eyes briefly and looks down. "Cora, you're wasted."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I don't want to. Sober me wanted to earlier tonight." I inch closer to him. "Please?" I tilt his chin to force his gaze. "I want to."
He shakes his head slowly. "I'm sorry, Cora, but no. Not tonight. Not like this."
I sigh. "You're not attracted to me?"
