I was almost certain of it, though Jack hadn’t seen the best sides of Neil. He’d never gotten to see the sweet guy who befriended a lonely girl on the playground.
Wendy started to head our way, but Jack waved her off, coming over himself. “Are we drinking?” he asked, looking at me.
I shrugged helplessly as Neil ordered a rum and Coke, double the rum.
Jack held out his hand. “Keys first.”
Neil rolled his eyes. “I took a rideshare here, and my girl will get me home.” He waved his hand at me. “She’ll pay, too.”
“One drink,” I agreed, figuring it was easier. I took out my card, and Jack stared back at me, not taking it. I nudged Neil’s shoulder. “And then I’m taking you home. Understand?”
“Whatever you say,” Neil said.
Jack took the card, but he didn’t look happy.
“Get her a drink, too!” Neil called after him. He leaned closer to me. “You loosen up when you have a drink.” His hand patted my clenched fist. “Always wound so tight. Fruit juice.” He scoffed, pulling away.
I studied Neil’s face, seeing the shimmer in his eyes. “Did your date not go well tonight?”
He grimaced. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Which was answer enough. “All right, Neil.” I reached out, rubbing his back as the band started up again, introducing the first song in their next set.
Neil glared over at the stage. “What is this shit? Country?”
I winced. Alcohol always did that to Neil. He no longer had a filter, and every thought came out of his mouth.
Jack gave him the drink he’d ordered, watching as Neil downed half of it in one go.
“Are you sure this is a double?” Neil complained, wiping his hand across his mouth.
“It’s not,” Jack admitted, setting a glass of water in front of me and handing me my card with the already printed check. All he’d charged me for was Neil’s drink, but I didn’t argue, making sure I tipped him extra. I didn’t often get the chance to.
“Just finish it, Neil, and we’ll head home.” I grabbed the water, bending the straw to gulp directly from the glass.
“Home? What about your date?” He blinked over at me, as if only then realizing that I was sitting where Levi had been before. “Oh, shit, he ditched you already? It’s like he knew you hated sex.”
My body stiffened. The water glass slipped out of my hand and hit the edge of the bar, tilting. Jack’s tattooed hand snagged it, setting it upright.
“Careful!” Neil cried out a beat behind. “Jesus, you’d think you were the one drunk.” He downed the rest of his drink.
My eyes burned as I stared at Jack’s hand, unable to raise my gaze from it. I would have expected to feel flushed. That wasn’t it, though. It was as if the blood had drained from my face. My empty hand shook where it still hovered.
“Hailey.” Jack took my hand between his. “You don’t have to deal with this. Let us help.”
I pulled my hand free, scrambling up from the barstool. “No, I can handle it. I’m sorry; one drink was a bad idea.” I gripped Neil’s arm with both hands. “Come on. Let me get you home.”
He turned his eyes on me, and what had shimmered minutes ago became a flood. “Sorry. I’m sorry, Hails.” The first tear slipped down his cheek, another following. “I can be such a jerk.”
“It’ll be okay. We can talk about it once we get home.” Yes, later, when Jack couldn’t hear everything Neil had to say.
“Thanks, Hails.” Neil’s arm slipped around my shoulders, his weight almost staggering me. “How are you so nice? You can’t make me feel sexy, but you’re always so nice.” His words slurred toward the end.
My eyes filled. I blinked rapidly. I couldn’t cry, not yet. Trying to shuffle us a step forward, I nearly toppled us both.
“Sean!” Jack called to the door, a snap in his voice.
Neil’s weight shifted, Sean gripping him around the waist. “I got him. You focus on getting out your keys.”
