Page 97 of Undone By The Mountain Daddies

“Great. I’m glad to be the first.” Jesus. This alcohol is going straight to my head. I sit on the barstool and tilt my head to the side, assessing him from different angles.

He’s ripped, no matter what angle I look at him from.

So fucking ripped.

Heat gushes between my legs.

“If you keep leaning back like that, you’re gonna fall,” says Eli, walking closer. “And maybe stop drinking whiskey. Eat something first. We can all enjoy a glass after dinner, you know, when Henry’s asleep.”

“Ah.” I tap my nose, picking up what he’s putting down. “But I don’t think I can wait that long.”

Eli clenches his jaw.

“What if I want you to fuck me now?”

“Sienna.” Eli looks at me, raising his eyebrows. “C’mon, girl, no more whiskey. It’s not even dark outside yet.” He gestures out the window, the sky streaking red as the sun starts to set.

“Loosen up! Have some fun.” I hear the words, but my voice doesn’t sound like my own. How fucking strong is this stuff? I cling to the glass and take a breath. “I have a very important phone call to make to a certain someone. I needed a bit of liquid courage.”

“Is that all? Nothing to do with last night?” Eli levels me a glare. “Sienna,” he begins, “you know alcohol isn’t going to fix anything.”

“Oh,” I drawl, “here he goes again—Dr. Shrink. Don’t you think I know that already?” I sway to the left, feeling gravity take me. It feels heavier than before. “The only thing that will fix anything is me leaving.”

“That’s not true,” mumbles Eli.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me⁠—”

Eli grabs my wrist before I can stand, pinning me to the kitchen countertop. His hand clamps down on top of mine. I look down, admiring the strained veins in his forearm. Those are some good forearms. I’d lick them right now if he’d let me.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“You don’t want me to leave?”

He looks away, not answering the question.

“Let’s be real here. We all know this thing with all of us is going to end,” I say.

Eli meets my gaze again, but this time, he really looks at me. Like I’m not talking garbage anymore. “What do you mean by that?”

“I can’t be here forever.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t seem to keep a man around. Ever.” I throw back my head. “So annoying. Especially this time around.”

Eli’s fingers soften, lifting from my hand. “Why? What’s different this time around?”

I stare through the window, watching the sun drop behind the mountains. Everything is starting to turn black, which means I’m running out of time. Holden doesn’t answer his phone after dark. Says the blue light interferes with his circadian rhythm or some shit.

I grab my glass of whiskey since Eli no longer has his hand on it, and rush into my bedroom.

“Sienna?” I hear Eli call from behind. “Where are you going? That’s really enough alcohol. You’ll get⁠—”

“We’ll talk later. Promise,” I say before shutting the door in his face. God, they all must be horrendously tired of me doing that. They have the patience of angels—Eli especially.

I sit on the edge of my bed and reach for my phone. I’m pretty sure it’s too late and he’s not going to pick up.

But I call him anyway.