“That doesn’t make sense,” Bridget argues. “Wouldn’t it be more productivewhileinebriated?”
“Nothing is more productive while inebriated.” Braxton sighs as he shepherds us toward the door. I watch him from the corner of my eye, sure he’ll look back at Paisley, but his focus never shifts from his mission of getting us outside without anyone face-planting.
He’s parked his truck at the curb, right in front of aNo Parkingsign.
Nick’s standing next to it, hands propped on his hips. “You’re lucky I don’t ticket you for this,” he says with a grin. “But I’ll let you off this one time. Just for you, eh, Gracie?” He winks at me, and Braxton sends him a dark look. Nick ignores him, looking between Bridget and me. “You ladies have a good night?”
Bridget belches, covering her mouth a second too late. “You know what? It was, actually. Tequila is a fantastic drink for washing away woes.”
Nick lifts one brow. “What woes were you washing away?”
She purses her lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now, don’t you need to go pick up your sister? What’s her name? Parsley?”
He bites one side of his cheek, his mouth trembling. “Paisley.”
She furrows her brow. “Yeah, that’s what I said. Anyway, she’s in there.” Bridget waves a hand over her shoulder before wobbling over to the truck and slumping against the side of it. “She seemed pretty desperate for a ride.”
I snicker, stumbling over a crack in the footpath as Braxton eases me forward. He’s quick to right me with a quiet, “Careful.” When he’s sure I’m steady, he looks at Nick. “You got here pretty quickly.”
“I was out getting a burger.” He shrugs. “And now I bet I have time for a quick drink before I need to take Her Highness home. You working tomorrow?”
“Nah, I’ve reached my cap of overtime for this week.”
“Is Ben doing any better?”
Braxton shakes his head. “He’s still on oxygen, but they say he can come home as soon as his stats increase and stabilize. Hopefully in a couple of days. The chief is asking for guys from Ashland to come over and cover some shifts next week. Take some of the strain off everyone.”
I’m trying to focus on the conversation, but the alcohol-induced warmth has worn off. I shiver, swaying slightly. Braxton glances down at me, brows drawn together.
“Hopefully, he gets discharged.” Nick’s expression is grim. “Would suck for his family if he got stuck in there over Christmas.”
“You’re not wrong,” Braxton mutters. “I’m gonna get these girls home.” He tips his chin at Nick, who gives us one last smile before he disappears inside Benson’s.
Braxton helps me into the passenger seat, pulling my seat belt over my chest and clicking it in. He gets in, checking on Bridget before turning the heater on full blast, but it still takes over a minute before my teeth stop chattering.
The ride to Bridget’s is quiet, and the only sound is the low hum of music coming from the truck’s speakers—some country rock that Braxton pretends to be embarrassed of, but never actually turns off. At one point, he reaches over to adjust the vent so it’s pointing directly at me. “Warm enough?”
“Getting there,” I mutter, tucking my hands into my sleeves, keeping my eyes focused on the windshield.
As Braxton parks in Bridget’s driveway, I turn to face her. “See you Monday?”
She’s looking a little green around the gills, and she bugs her eyes out at me. “Maybe. There’s a good chance I might be sick.”
I scoff. “I thought you could handle your booze.”
“I can,” she says primly. “I can drink it like a pro. It’s what happens later that’s the problem.” With that, she sings out a “Good night!” and hops unsteadily out of the truck.
Braxton tells me he’ll be right back before getting out, leaving the truck idling and the heat on. I watch as he helps Bridget up the front steps, taking the keys from her unsteady hands. He holds the door open as she stumbles inside, giving her a stern frown, probably lecturing her on locking the door.
He is back in less than a minute, reversing easily out of the driveway with one arm around the back of my seat. When he’s on the road, he shifts gears, urging the truckforward before reaching over to lay a heavy palm against my leg.
“I’ve missed you, baby.”
Have you?The words are right there, but I don’t let them loose. Too much has happened over the past week, and I need to process and sober up before I get into it with him.
When I don’t say anything, Braxton looks over at me, his eyes worried. But all he says is, “Can I stay with you tonight? I thought we could hang out tomorrow. I’ve actually got a surprise lined up for us.”
I stare at him, my heart feeling like it’s skipping every second beat, but all that comes out of my mouth is, “Yeah. Okay.”
