Page 28 of Hearts on the Line

I rush forward and catch her, an awkward hush falling over the crowd as Neil Diamond continues singing in the background.

“Hey there,” I whisper as her eyes flutter open.

“You missed my singing.” She sinks into my grip, resting her head against my chest. “I made everyone sing.”

“She’s alive!” Annie yells, throwing her arms up into the air again as the rest of the bar cheers and the crowd dissipates a little. “She’s safe, Ethan. You can go back to being a grump.”

“Think it’s time to call it a night,” Brooks says beside me.

Annie squares up to him and sticks her chin out. I might have even laughed if Sloane didn’t make a small moan that hits me hard. I motion for a man to hop off a barstool and swing her upright.

She slumps forward, so I gently hold her up. I lean in close, yelling a bit as the noise around us filters back in.

“I’m going to check your head for a bump or a cut.”

But even as I say it, I can see the problem won’t be with the top of her head, but the top corner of her cheekbone by her left eye.

I don’t know whose hat this is, and I don’t like her wearing it, so I carefully slip it off and then toss it to the crowd. I hear someone yell, “Hey, man,” but I don’t bother looking up to figure out who.

“It’s time to head back,” I say. “You should get some ice on that.”

Annie leans forward and yanks on my arm. “I was having fun. We’re celebrating. Just a little bit longer.”

“Dan wants you out, Annie,” Brooks snaps.

I want you out, she mimes. Then she takes her hat off and jumps to place it on his head.

He rips it off, frowning at “Expensive and Difficult” embroidered across the cream-colored trucker hat.

Fine, so we’re playing good cop, bad cop. I really figured I would be the bad, but that’s Brooks for you. Full of surprises.

“And you’re still opening for me tomorrow. Go home and sober up.”

There. That’s how fun I am now. Jesus, I sound old. I kick my little sister out of bars for being out past her bedtime because she has work in the morning.

“I can’t wait for next week,” she grumbles. Annie reaches around me and pulls Sloane in for an awkward hug. “I’ll miss you, friend.”

I don’t hear what Sloane says, only notice the way her body stiffens beneath me, and I recognize we have a second problem. I rush her outside in time for her to clutch the trash can with two shaking hands and throw up.

Annie holds Sloane’s hair back, glaring at me and tapping her foot like it’s my fault. Brooks tilts his head toward the sky at the sound of her retching. I can all but feel his skin crawl. We had our fair share of wild nights before things fell apart. I’m surprised he even walked into Markey’s. I’m pretty sure Dan refused to even let him in the bar at one point.

“Come on, Annie. I’ll drive you home,” he snaps.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

She lets go of Sloane, who stumbles forward, almost ending up headfirst in the trash can. I dive forward and catch her before she can fall.

“Go ahead,” I mutter. “I’ll make sure Sloane is okay.”

“Sloane is fine,” Annie whines. “She’s totally okay, even if her heart is shattered. She’s tough like that. You better be nice to her or I’ll…”

I arch an eyebrow, challenging her to continue.

Brooks turns and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Come on, Annie.”

My sister peeks between me and my best friend before childishly sticking her tongue out and plopping her hat on top of his head again.

“Serving you tequila should be a capital offense,” he grumbles.