“You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I couldn’t resist,” Charly says, also watching Van as she retrieves her phone again and responds to a text. “This is fun. Thanks.”

“Thanks for inviting me to play with the shoes,” I reply. “I love shoes.”

“Honey, if you didn’t love shoes, there would be something fundamentally wrong with you.”

“Eli!” Kate exclaims and then shimmies in her seat as Eli walks across the room to her. “You came!”

“Your offer was compelling,” Eli replies and sits next to her, then scoops her into his lap and kisses her hard.

“What did you offer him?” Gabby asks.

“I just offered to blow him while he drove home.”

“Good one,” I murmur, longing to suck Declan’s cock. I’m gonna do that the next time I see him, and there’s nothing he can do about it. He’s not gonna distract me with his lips and hands and cock.

Nope.

“Will you drive us home?” Van asks Eli. “I don’t want to call a cab.”

“No problem.”

“Hey! Ben’s here!” Charly says.

I watch as the hottest-man-in-the-known-universe, besides Declan of course, walks over and stands right in front of Van.

“Who’s Ben?” I whisper to Charly.

“Long time friend of the family,” she whispers back. “And he might be in love with Van.”

“Does she love him back?” I reply and watch as Ben pulls Van to her feet, wraps his muscly arms around her and hugs her close.

“Do I have to stay with Charly tonight?” Gabby asks Van with a frown. “Are you guys gonna do some weird shit?”

Ben just chuckles.

“After everything she’s been through, Van needs Ben right now,” Charly says softly.

“What has she been through?”

“That’s a sad story for another night,” Charly says and pats my knee. “Let’s not ruin this buzz. Come on, Gabby, you can stay with me.”

Without a word, Ben leads Van to the stairs. She waves, then disappears behind him.

“I hope she knows what she’s doing,” Kate says with a frown.

“They’re adults,” Eli replies with a frown of his own. “They’ll be fine.”

We say goodbyes, and Eli ends up promising to drive Gabby and Charly to Charly’s house. When they’re gone, I join Adam at the bar.

“Declan’s family?” he asks.

“Yep.”

“Do I need to call him to come and get you, or are you actually going to sleep in your own bed tonight?” The words are meant to be teasing, but I sense a seriousness to them that I don’t want to examine right now. I’m enjoying this buzz, from the alcohol and the good time with new friends.

“Awwww, do you miss me, Adam?” I ruffle his hair and then wrap my arms around his waist and hug him close. “Don’t worry, I’ll be home to tuck you in tonight.”

“I think I’ll be the one tucking you in,” he replies with a laugh and kisses my head. “Did you have fun?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“I’m glad you’re making new friends.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“I don’t like seeing you lonely, Cal.”

“Been lonely most of my life.”

“I know.” I feel him sigh, his hand is rubbing up and down my back. I’m still buzzing good and man, I could fall asleep right here.

“But know what?”

“What?” he asks softly.

“You can be in the middle of a crowded room and still be lonely.”

“I know that too,” he replies, then tips my face up so he can look in my eyes. “Damn, you’re toasted.”

“Feels kinda good.”

“I just want you to be happy, Cal.”

“Happier than I’ve been in a long time,” I reply, surprised that it’s true.

“Good. Let’s go tuck you in.”

“Have to close the bar.”

“Jessica can handle it.”

Chapter Ten

~Callie~

Oh, dear Jesus, I’m dying. My head is pounding. I’m sweating. My mouth is dry and sticky.

And I’m wrapped like a mummy under something heavy.

I’ve already died and someone is trying to bury me. I swear, God, if you don’t let me get buried, I’ll never drink like that again. Ever. Okay, maybe not ever, but not for a very, very long time.

I’m gonna throw up.

I hate throwing up.

I moan and try to move, but I can’t. Not only am I wrapped in the sheet and blanket as tight as can be, but something—or someone—is wrapped around me.

“Damn it, I know you tucked me in, but don’t you have a bed of your own to go to?” My voice sounds raw, like the evil stepmother in Snow White.

“I know I didn’t tuck you in last night,” Declan says in my ear, making me grin. His voice sounds… musical, with its soft tone and slight accent. God, that accent makes me crazy.

“Don’t worry,” I whisper, still not opening my eyes. “Adam took me to bed last night.”

“This conversation isn’t improving,” he says dryly. “Maybe you should stop while you’re ahead.”

“Mm,” is my only response as I snuggle closer to him and sigh in contentment. I didn’t like falling asleep without him last night, wasted or not. I’ve gotten used to sharing a bed with him in the past few weeks, which surprises me. I’ve never shared a bed with anyone long-term, even Keith when I was in Denver. He didn’t like to sleep over, and I didn’t think I did either, but sleeping with Declan feels right.

“What do you want to do today?” he whispers into my ear. His fingers are combing through my hair gently, rhythmically. He’s warm and safe wrapped around me, and I can feel the slight scrape from the scruff on his chin against my neck.

As soon as I’m done dying, I’m going to attack him.

“Stay here. Sleep.”

He chuckles and bites my earlobe, but all that does is send sparks of electricity down my back. How in the ever loving fuck am I severely hung over and turned on at the same time? I didn’t think that was possible.

Huh. Weird.

“You can’t sleep all day.”

“I can until I have to go to work. Just watch me.”

“I want to spend the day with you,” he says and kisses my cheek, then nudges me onto my back. “Open your beautiful eyes, darlin’.”

“Don’t have to.”

“Are you always so chipper when you’re hung over?”

I crack an eye open and glare at him. “Who says I’m hung over?”

“I do!” Adam yells from the doorway.

“God, he’s annoying,” I moan and bury my face in my hands. “Just let me die in peace.”

“I’m making you breakfast,” I hear Adam say and then his footsteps as he walks down the hall.

“See? We’ll feed you and then I’ll take you somewhere fun.”

“This is fun,” I reply and smile sweetly.

“We’ll do this later,” he replies, brushing my hair off my cheek. “You’re even gorgeous hung over.”

And that’s when it hits me; I must look insane. I squirm out from under the covers and rush into the bathroom, then cringe. “Oh, God.”

“What’s wrong?” Declan asks from the doorway, leaning against the jamb.

“Last night's smokey eye has turned into this morning’s five-dollar-hooker eye.”

He barks out a laugh and then shakes his head. “Fifty dollar hooker. At least.”

I spread toothpaste on my brush and glare at him in the mirror as I scrub my disgusting mouth. “Bread haf be didguding.”

“Your breath wasn’t that bad,” he replies, his hazel eyes shining as he watches me brush my teeth and then take a makeup cleanser to my face. “You’re actually pretty cute when you’re all messed up.”

“You’re not supposed to be here.” I frown and stare at him as I wipe my face clean. “What are you doing here?”

He shrugs, but then he shakes his head, as if he’s saying fuck it to himself, and he meets my eyes as he says, “I missed you this morning.”

Oh. How am I supposed to resist that?

I toss the dirty cleaning cloth on the trash and walk to the impossibly tall, ridiculously handsome man and stand on my tip-toes to gently press my lips to his. I’m so much shorter than him when I’m not in my heels.

“What do you want to do today?” he asks me again, then brushes his knuckles down my cheek.