Head back?
At this fucking hour?
I got to my feet. The moment between us was gone, disintegrated like it had never happened.
“I’m at least two hours away. Please call 911 if it gets worse. No—Aris.” She paced. “Don’t be stubborn. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Okay, I’m on my way.”
Her fingers shook as she ended the call. Before I could say anything, she was already moving for the door.
“Mia—”
She didn’t look at me. Didn’t even hesitate.
And then she was gone.
Fuck.
Whatever was going on with her stepmom was clearly more important than the photo I still had on my phone.
I followed after her. I wasn’t worried. Of course not. This was about unfinished business. Now that my brain was working again, I’d make her a different deal—the one I should have made in the first place.
She weaved through the crowd toward her friends, unaware that I was right behind her.
The girls all looked surprised when they saw me, but they quickly focused on Mia, who was explaining the situation.
“My stepmom’s not well. She’s having chest pains, and there’s no one else around. I’ve got to go home.”
Nina shook her head. “We’ve all been drinking. Fabi’s car is back at her mom’s house.”
“I’m calling a rideshare,” Mia said, already scrolling through the app.
My jaw clenched. She was actually going to call an Uber and sit in the back of some random guy’s car for two hours in the middle of the night?
“She can’t ask a friend to come over?” I asked.
Mia ignored me.
“We’ll go with you,” Fabi said.
“There’s no point ruining your weekend.” Her phone screen blinkedNo drivers available.
“Shit.” She tried again. Same result.
“Probably because of the storm,” Nina pointed out. “Forecast says it’s starting tonight. I doubt there are many drivers wanting to go that far right now.”
I glanced out the window. It was too dark to see anything, but the glass wasn’t wet. Yet.
I hated driving in the rain. Especially in this fucking place. I rolled my shoulders, the tension already setting in. But two hours in the car with her when she was agitated and still a bit buzzed… It was the perfect chance to get what I wanted.
Screw it. I could handle it. It was worth the risk.
“I’ll drive you,” I said.
The girls all turned my way.
“No way,” Nina said. “You’ve been drinking too.”
“One drink. I’m fine.”
