Page 55 of Make Your Shot
I’m actually waiting for the car I ordered to get here.
Where are you at?
The Bellvue.
Where is Willow?
She’s in the bathroom.
The hair stands up on my arms. It’s almost midnight and they’re at a bar, so why aren’t they together?
Is she not riding with you?
Oh, no, she is.
She had to go to the bathroom, so I came out to wait for the car. I don’t know why it looks like they’re driving to the other side of town though.
Popping the rest of the cookie into my mouth, I shake my head at my phone and type out my next message.
Cancel the ride, I’ll come get you guys.
No, you don’t have to do that.
Mia.
Caleb.
Cancel the damn ride and go find Willow.
I’ll be there in ten minutes.
Thank you.
Tucking my phone in my pocket, I head back out to the garage. I know exactly where I’m going, so I don’t bother with directions. I would much rather be the one driving Mia than having her fucking around with ordering a car that is clearly not coming to where she is.
I don’t know if she’s drunk, I have no idea what I’mreally walking into here with her and her best friend, but I can’t sit here idly and hope she gets home safely.
It’s one thing I can control. It’s one thing I can do to ease my worried mind.
I slow down as I pull up to the bar, coming to a stop along the curb out front. Putting the car in park, I push open my door and immediately climb out to scan the street for the two of them. Just along the front of the brick building, I find her leaning against it.
She doesn’t see me at first and I allow myself the moment to drink her in from this distance. Her hair is pulled back in a slick high ponytail. The red dress she’s wearing hugs every curve of her body, stopping at the middle of her thighs. In one hand, she’s holding a small clutch and in the other, her heels dangle by the ankle straps.
It’s not warm enough outside for her to be out here without a coat or shoes, but she doesn’t seem to mind the cold air. Must be the alcohol keeping her warm and I can’t help but wonder how much she had to drink.
Next to her stands another woman with strawberry blonde hair and a similar dress, although it’s in a dark mahogany shade.
I walk up to the two of them. Her friend doesn’t notice me, her attention glued to her phone screen, but Mia’s eyes immediately meet mine. Her lips curl upwards into a lazy grin, and her eyes lower as she tilts her head to the side.
“Hey, you,” she says, slurring the words together a bit.
“Hey, pup,” I say in a calm voice. With the swipe ofmy tongue, I wet my lips and inch closer. I reach for her hand, relieving her of her heels. “You ready to go?”
“Is this our knight in shining armor?” Her friend says as she stumbles, knocking her shoulder into Mia’s. “Oh shit, he’s hot.”
Blush creeps across Mia’s face and she bats her eyelashes at me. “Caleb, this is Willow.”
“Hello, Willow,” I respond, dipping my chin at her before my gaze flashes back to Mia. “Let’s get you both in the car.”
