Page 66 of Going the Distance
I scoffed, standing up. “Okay, this is so not the same thing.”
Lee struggled to his feet, too, swaying. “So you get to be let off the hook, and I don’t?”
“I never— Jeez, Lee, this has nothing to do with Noah! This has nothing to do with me feeling lonely! Forget about me! Rachel is so upset she can’t even talk to you right now. You don’t think you owe her an apology?”
He looked away.
“I get you hate being Noah’s little brother, and that he was this big star on the football team, and he left you this big reputation to live up to, but nobody ever said you had to be such a jerk and push away everyone who cares about you. When was the last time you went to see a movie with Warren, and Cam and Dixon, and Olly? When was the last time we went to the mall for a milkshake? I know we all hung out last night, but that was for the first time in months. Literally, inmonths.I’m not trying to ruin your Friday night and tell you to stop hanging out with the jocks, but Jesus, Lee, have some self-respect.”
I turned on my heel, marching off. I thought I heard him say something, but when I looked back, he was just puking his guts up instead.
I hesitated.
I couldn’t justleavehim there like this.
I jogged down the road to Rachel. There were tear tracks down her face, and she made quiet sobbing sounds. She sniffled, swallowing hard, when I reached her.
“He’s in bad shape,” I told her.
“Did he apologize?”
I bit my lip. “Not…exactly. Look, Rach, why don’t you take my car and go home? I’ll sort him out. He’s puking. I can’t leave him. I’ll come get my car from you tomorrow. Hey, I’ll come get my car, and we’ll go to the mall together, huh? Some girl time. No boy talk or any of that crap. We’ll just hang out.”
“That sounds…that sounds good, Elle. Thanks. But are you sure—”
“I’ll get a ride home, don’t worry. I’ll fix this. And I promise that by the time he’s sober, he’s going to be groveling to you for your forgiveness for weeks.”
Rachel smiled, but it was strained. She took the car keys from me, twiddling them in her fingers and rattling my keychains. “Elle, do you…d’you think I…Did I do something wrong?”
“What?”
“Peggy’s a cheerleader.”
“He’s not interested in Peggy. I don’t think he even knew she was sitting on his knee. He’s literally so trashed right now, Rach, he can’t even stand up. I can promise he’s not cheating on you. But he is being a total jerk for some reason, and you have every right to be mad at him.”
“Let me know he’s okay? Let me know you’re okay, too? Are you sure you can get a ride home? I just…I can’t see him right now, Elle, I can’t.”
“Go home. I’ll text you later, okay? Promise. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Rachel nodded, and once she’d got into my car and had started adjusting the mirrors, I went back to Lee. He was slumped, sitting back on the sidewalk with his head in his hands, groaning, a pool of vomit in front of him.
I took my cell phone back out and called my dad.
I’d told him I was going to see Lee and Rachel, which hadn’t been a lie. It took a couple of rings before he answered. “Elle? Everything okay?”
“No. Dad, I need…I need some help.”
“What’s wrong? Did you get in a crash? Elle? What—”
“No, I’m fine,” I said quickly, “but Lee’s so drunk he’s throwing up, and I can’t leave him here.”
“Where are you?”
“Jon Fletcher’s house. You know, from the football team. Lee was here for some football party thing. Rachel doesn’t want to see him. I gave her my car and she’s gone home. I can’t leave him here like this, Dad.”
“Text me the address. Give me five minutes. I’ll have to get Brad in the car, too.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I hung up, texted him Jon’s address, and nudged Lee with my toes. “You owe me big-time.”
