Me? Well, she’s the closest I’ll ever get to having someone know what it’s like, I don’t really know how I’d react if I lost her.
Miller wouldn’t know how to be soft anymore, I think he’d turn hard and cold.
August would do the opposite, all he’d ever be able to do is feel.
Blair would shut everything out, he’d close in on himself and fade further into the shadows than he already is.
Lucas… well, I don’t even know what would happen to him, but the closest thing I can think of is the world burning.
“Anyway, I swore to myself that she’d never deal with this day by herself ever again. So every year, I go out with her, let her get wild and watch. Better she has someone looking out for her right?” She wipes her fingers under her eyes and steels her spine.
Steph is normally so strong, she’s tough and snippy, so it’s weird to see her soft, even if it is just for a moment.
“I’m assuming the guys don’t know you’re here?” I ask.
“Do they knowyou’rehere?” She arches a brow.
Touché.
Claire spills another drink on herself and pouts, “I’m all sticky.” I can barely hear her over the music, but the second she goes to lift the hem of her shirt, I step in.
Time to go.
I hear Steph protest from behind me, but whether or not this is something that Claire needs to do, I’m not letting her strip in this bar. She’s always pushing us to talk or take care of ourselves, it’s time I return the favour.
Pushing through the crowd, I grab her off the bar and throw her over my shoulder, “you’ve been naughty, Clairity, I think it’s time for bed.”
She falls into a fit of giggles, “I think it’s time for shots!”
One of the guys who was grabbing at her like a plaything steps in front of me. His eyes drift to her ass before coming back to meet mine, “I don’t think she wants to leave, bro.”
“With all due respect, I’m not your bro,” I say through gritted teeth, “and this doesn’t concern you, so step aside.”
Steph forces herself between the two of us, preventing it from going any further while she tries to pull Claire off my shoulder. “Both of you can fuck right off.”
The guy walks away, clearly annoyed but doesn’t put up any more of a fight.
“Put her down,” Steph demands.
I bat her hand away, “this isn’t healthy!”
Storming out of the bar with Steph hot on my heels, I try to keep a drunk Claire from falling flat on her face. She’s wiggling and yelling at me to put her down, drawing attention from everyone in the area.
“I’m not kidnapping her,” I announce, “I’m taking her home so she doesn’t hate herself tomorrow morning.”
Everyone looks away.
“Davis!” Steph runs out in front of me. “Davis, stop!”
I do.
“If you want to be here and watch over her, that’s fine, but don’t take this away from her. She only allows herself one night, one fucking night to let herself wallow in self-pity and self-destruct.”
I put Claire down on the ground, leaning her against my side and holding her upright. “Lucas is worried about her.”
Steph nods, “and that’s a conversation for the two of them to have tomorrow morning.”
Okay then, we’re doing this. We’re allowing her to do this. “Where to?”
