Page 70 of Fall Apart

I grab my beer, now the only one I plan to have tonight, and watch as she practically skips off back towards the stage to join Grace.

It looks like my night just got a whole lot more interesting.

I watchas Lizzy points at the song list, jumping up and down, smirking devilishly at Grace who’s grinning right back at her. She pats Grace on the back before walking off the stage towards the bar.

They have done at least four or five songs over the last hour, each a bit sloppier than the last.

I head to meet her at the end of the bar, standing next to her, but she doesn’t notice me. I watch as she leans over the bar, standing on her toes to stretch out to flag down a bartender. Seeing her stretched out, her ass up like that, makes my dick twitch.

I stand next to her, shaking my head when she turns and notices me standing there. “You’re drunk.”

She stands straight and steps toward me. “Am not.”

I arch an eyebrow at her, clearly not believing her. “We should get you home before you do something stupid.”

She leans into me and hooks a finger into one of my belt loops, pulling me closer. “Like this?”

I look again towards the stage making sure our friends can’t see us. I pause when I see Grace pointing two fingers at her eyes and then at TJ, gesturing for him to join her up there. I raise my eyebrows and look down at her. “Yes, exactly like that. You’re lucky no one can see us right here. Now come on, I’ll take you back to the house.”

I step away and she stumbles forward, her face landing in my chest. “Ok. Fine. Maybe you’re right,” she says, “but you’ve been drinking too,” emphasizing it in a singsongy tease, poking my chest with each word.

I clench my jaw and exhale through my teeth. If she wasn’t so adorable like this, I doubt my patience would last this long. “I’m twiceyour size and I’ve been nursing the same beer since we got here. Now come on, let’s go.”

I hook my arm around her and she begrudgingly follows at my side.

I walk past the table where Tanner and V are sitting, stopping on our way out. I hear Grace and TJ singing another round of karaoke and notice they have a crowd gathered around them now.

“Hey, I’m heading back early. Just a little tired. But I think she’s had a little too much fun tonight and is going to call it a night too. I’ll take her back to the house with me.”

V looks at Lizzy and frowns. Lizzy tosses her hand back with a sigh. “I’ll be fine, V. Grumpy McGrumperson here is just being his usualno funself, convincing me to be responsible too.” She flicks her eyebrows at me and I glare back at her. She might be tipsy, but she knows what she’s doing and she’s definitely starting to test my patience now.

“Yeah, right. That’s exactly it.” I look at V and Tanner, cocking my head at Lizzy. “Good luck getting this one up in the morning for first chair.”

Tanner and V both laugh and I tip my chin before gesturing for Lizzy to lead the way out of the bar.

When we get to her Bronco, I open the door for her. I watch as she steadies herself on the grab handle, still a little off balance. I grab her by her hips and help her up. She turns and glares at me, fire in her eyes. “I can do it myself, Mr. No Fun.”

I scowl back at her. “I don’t care. I’m helping you anyways.”

My eyes stay locked on hers as I pull her seatbelt across her chest, my knuckles grazing the soft fabric of her sweater when I feel her hard nipple pressing through. Fuck me. She’s not wearing a bra tonight.

She grins at me, knowing what I just felt. “See? One of us knows how to have fun.”

Now she’s testing my patience in a different way.

I buckle her in, close the door, and walk to the driver’s side. When I get to the door, I reach for the handle and hear a sound.

No. She didn’t.

I reach for the handle and yep, it’s locked.

My eyes meet hers and she blows a kiss at me. I look down at her hands and see the one resting on the lock button.

I mouthbratbefore pulling out her car keys, the ones she must of forgotten I had since I drove her SUV from the house. I jingle them in front of the window and I watch as she relents and unlocks the doors.

I get in and get situated before starting the car and driving off.

After we leave the parking lot, I feel her finger tips run up and down my thigh. Even through my jeans, it sends a shiver up my spine.

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