“You got it.”
On the way down in the elevator, Don can’t help shooting me a few knowing glances.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Nope.”
JULIET’S BAR HAS NEVER FELTso far away. I whiz through the streets, Sycamore flying by in a blur, slamming on the brakes when we hit a crossroad.
“Easy, man.”
When we finally pull up outside the buzzing neon sign, Juliet is already waiting on the sidewalk, yelling at Lewis, who’s crumpled at her feet, bent double. Lois is slumped on the ground, too, laughing with her head resting against my friend’s shoulder.Keep it together, Lane.
Juliet glances up. “Oh, thank fuck! Get these two out of my sight before I commit double homicide.”
She shakes Lewis off her foot, giving me a quick peck on the cheek before heading back inside. I take a deep breath in—and a second when I catch Lois looking up, scowling at me.
“I’d rather go to jail,” she slurs.
Clutching her drinking buddy’s arm, she lays her cheek against his Cardinals jacket and starts humming to herself.
“Aww, aren’t they cute?” Donovan croons.
I clench my fists. “Lois, get in the car.”
“Burn in hell!”
I lean down and catch her arm, dragging her off Lewis and throwing her over my shoulder, and though she wriggles hard, and starts hitting me in the back, I hold her tight. When we get to the car, I lower her to the ground and force her inside, gently pushing her head down and settling her onto the back seat, ignoring her whines as I slam the door shut. I lean against the car with my arms stretched for a moment, trying to catch my breath.Now what?I feel so pissed right now, but I don’t know who I’m mad at—Lois or myself.
There’s a finger prodding me in the back, and I spin around to find Lewis swaying on his feet.
I shove him back. “What the fuck were you two doing?”
“I saw her on campus, crying her ass off, you jealous stupid fuck! She told me what you did to her. Absolute disgrace, dude!”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I spit.
“Whatever. All I know is Lois is a super catch, and you’re a super dick for not noticing. I told her you were shady as fuck, and I was this close to taking her home…” His eyes struggle to focus on the thumb and index he’s holding out in front of him. “But don’t sweat it—I didn’t say anything about your brother.”
He mimes zipping his lips.
Don yells at him through the window. “Come on—let’s get you home, sloppy joe.”
Lewis salutes me as he teeters his way back to the car.
I wait until they vanish down the street and turn to Lois, still slumped in the back. I slide into the driver’s seat with a sigh. She doesn’t say a word all the way home. Instead, she keeps her forehead pressed to the window, misting up the glass with her breath, drawing circles through the air. I park outside my building and open the back door. Her pale face stares up at me.
“I don’t wanna go to your place,” she slurs. “Like, ever.”
I shut my eyes, dipping into the car and slipping my hands under her arms. I was expecting her to fight back, but instead she whimpers softly, relaxing her body as I lift her up and out.
“Wh… Muh… Couch,” she mumbles.
She smells like fruit and tequila. I scoop her up into my arms and carry her to the elevator, listening to her mutter and groan, checking that she isn’t about to puke all over me. Pushing open the door to my apartment, I eye the couch and briefly consider dumping her in my bed. I hate everything I’m feeling right now.
She wriggles in my arms. “Couch!”
I lay her down gently. Her eyes are glazed. Kneeling on the floor, I tug off her shoes and peel off her socks, watching her scrunch up her toes. She’s shivering. I wrap her snug in a throw as she rubs her eyesand forehead, pulling a face and rolling over onto her side. I crouch there for a moment like an idiot, looking at her stretched out on the couch.
