Page 16 of Something Good
“I’m not telling you.” I pouted and crossed my arms.
“Jesus. I’ll take care of Jason. Just tell me where your car is.” He sounded pissed. Oops.
“It’s over there.” I vaguely gestured toward the path that led up the hill, away from the bonfire and the crowd of people.
He sighed heavily before taking my hand again and tugging me in the direction I’d gestured. We took three steps before I stopped again, yanking my hand back.
“What now?” he hissed at me.
“We can’t hold hands,” I said through clenched teeth. “People willseeus.”
“Fine,” he said and turned back in the direction of my car, waiting for me to follow. We walked to my Jeep in silence. Mostly. Sammy muttered something about drunk assholes and about something else not being too much to ask for, but I couldn’t make out what he said and had a feeling I didn’t want to know.
By the time we got to my Jeep, I was feeling pretty sleepy. My feet were heavy, and I just wanted to close my eyes. Sammytried the doors and, finding them unlocked, helped me into the passenger side, reaching across to buckle me in. Very sweetly, I might add. He shut the door, and I leaned my head against the cool glass, closing my eyes.
I was asleep in moments.
8
SAMMY
Against my better judgment,I walked back across the sand to where the crowd was standing on the other side of the bonfire. I prayed Will wouldn’t puke in the car while I was gone. Though it was his car, so I supposed it would be his problem to deal with.
I’d come here with Joey, who I noted was currently wrapped around some girl I didn’t recognize. Tony was in town and around here somewhere, but I didn’t see him in the crowd of people that had nearly doubled since I’d followed Will into the woods.
I spotted a group of guys in polos and pastel-colored fitted tees standing near the keg and made a beeline in that direction. Pushing through the crowd, I made my way to Jason, shoving between him and a busty blonde, uncaring that I was being rude.
“I’m taking your boy home. Give me his keys,” I said and held out my hand.
He grabbed my arm, stopping me. “What?” he asked, confusion written all over his features.
“Will. He’s shitfaced. I need his keys so I can take him home. You’ll have to find your own ride.”
I rolled my eyes as he all but dragged me away from the crowd until we were standing near the front ends of the row of pickup trucks. It was slightly cooler over here, the trucks effectively blocking the heat from the bonfire and the press of people. The breeze coming off the lake felt good on my overheated skin.
“You and Will haven’t spoken since we were kids, and tonight, you’ve decided you’re his friend?” Jason’s shrewd eyes looked me up and down, no doubt finding me lacking. I wasn’t sure what his deal was with Will. Maybe he had a crush Will didn’t know about, or maybe they really were just friends. Either way, his question made me wonder what Will had told him about me, about our history. I was surprised he knew we’d once been friends. I figured most people either didn’t know or had forgotten. It was pretty easy to do, considering we were polar opposites.
“We’re not.”
“Then why are you trying to take him home? I was the one who rode here with him. I have the keys, and I’ll take him.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest and glowered at me. Too bad it took more than that to intimidate me. I’d always liked a challenge.
“Man, just give me the damn keys.”
He raised an eyebrow but otherwise stood stock still.
“Look.” I huffed in frustration. I was tired of this stupid conversation, and I just wanted to be done with it. “I’m not going to violate him or anything. Just give me the keys and go back to your friends.”
“I don’t fucking trust you.”
I shrugged. “I don’t really care.” We were locked in a stare-down. I wanted to walk away, just leave Will in the Jeep and let Jason deal with him, but there was some part of me, some deeply ingrained protective streak that didn’t trust anyone but me totake care of Will. I rolled my eyes and pulled my phone out of my pocket. “Give me your number.”
“What?” he asked, brows drawn up in confusion.
“Give me the keys and your number. I’ll send you proof of life as soon as I get him home.”
“That can be faked.”
“For fuck’s sake. Just do it.”
