Page 77 of Wild Tangled Hearts

I fumble with the display, my vision seeing double as I navigate to the rideshare app. My fingers seem to have a mind of their own, but I order a ride and provide my location. A sense of relief washes over me as I see the estimated arrival time.

“Thank you.” I wrap my arms around her in a wobbly hug, and she squeezes me tightly before letting me go. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

With a last wave to the other girls, I stumble my way outside to wait for the blue Toyota with a driver named Bart.

As I stand alone on the sidewalk, the night air slowly clearing my head, a couple of guys come out of the club, clearly inebriated. Their voices echo loudly, reverberating in the night's stillness, and their demeanor is brash and obnoxious.

A tall and wiry man with disheveled blond hair and an arrogant glint in his eyes sees me and asks, "Need a ride home, sweetheart?”

“I…I’m fine.” I reply, my words not as clear as I’d like them to be.

He persists, moving closer, and putting his arm around my shoulders. My heart races, and I try without success to push him away. “No, thank you.”

His breath smells of alcohol, as he leans in and says, “You look like you could use some help, beautiful.”

A nervous knot tightens in my stomach, and I wish I had a clearer head to deal with this situation. I scan the area, hoping to catch sight of my Uber, but there's no sign of the blue Toyota or Bart.

“Stop. Let go...” I hate the way I stumble over each word. “Please.”

The guys merely chuckle. The one with his arm around me tightens his grip, pulling me closer and turning me within his grasp. “We’re just trying to be friendly,” he insists, his tone far from reassuring.

I muster the strength to push him away, but my unsteady balance betrays me. I stumble backward, right into the arms of the other guy, who wastes no time in encircling me with his own, holding me tightly and leaving me trapped and vulnerable.

As I struggle in the grasp of the persistent stranger, a sudden, sharp sound cuts through the tension — a car door slamming shut.

Then, a familiar and commanding voice sends shivers down my spine as it echoes through the night. “Release her. Now.”

Sebastian.

The grip of the two guys on either side of me loosens instantly as they turn their heads toward the source of the voice. Their expressions shift from arrogance to unease, and Sebastian’s commanding presence shatters their bravado.

“We were trying to help her,” the wiry guy stammers, raising his hands in a surrendering gesture, but the withering look Sebastian levels at them is enough to have them scurrying away.

Sebastian strides toward me, those dark eyes searching mine. “Are you okay?”

I manage a shaky nod, my head still spinning from both the alcohol and the ordeal.

“Why the hell are you out here alone?”

“I’m waitinghic...” I sway slightly and his hands steady me. “For Bart.”

“Bart?” His brows furrow.

As I sway slightly, struggling to maintain my balance, the Uber finally pulls up to the curb, and I nod at the blue Toyota. “Bart.”

Sebastian rubs his hand over the back of his neck. “I’ll drive you home.”

I protest, my slurred words stumbling over each other as I attempt to decline his offer. But when I meet his gaze, I close my mouth abruptly, and stumble over to the passenger side of the car.

My fingers fumble with the seatbelt, my coordination still impaired, and I sigh in frustration, struggling to make sense of the simple mechanism.

Just as I’m about to give up, Sebastian reaches over to help me. His touch is gentle and reassuring as he threads the belt through its buckle and secures it in place.

“Thanks,” I mumble, embarrassment heating my cheeks.

The engine purrs to life as Sebastian starts the car, and we pull away from the curb, leaving the dimly lit streets behind us. The silence is thick, filled with unspoken words and tension. I fidget with the hem of my shirt as memories of my drunk texts and the phone call make my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

I’m grateful when he pulls into a fast-food drive-thru and orders a chocolate milkshake. When he hands me the drink, I give him a grateful smile and take a sip. The cold, creamy sweetness is a welcome change from the alcohol-induced haze that had clouded my senses, and as I continue to sip the milkshake, I can feel myself starting to sober up, my mind slowly clearing.

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