“But I wanna…”
“No. It’s late and I don’t want to be out any later than I need to be. We walked, and though it isn’t far, I don’t want to be out when the other drunks leave the bar.”
“You’re walking, D? Do you think that’s a smart idea? You should call a cab.”
“It’s only a couple blocks. It’s no biggie, Caleb.”
“It is. You arenotwalking. Let me drive these guys home and I’ll come right back for you.”
“No, I don’t want to wait around that long, and anyway, weren’t you drinking earlier?”
“I had one beer three hours ago. I’m fine. Now stay here and I’ll be back in fifteen minutes tops.”
I sigh. “I could walk home in that amount of time.”
“Let me do this for you.”
“No, I’ll call a cab.”
The stare he gives me tells me he doesn’t believe me.
I huff. “I promise, okay? I’ll call one right now and spend money on a ride that will take twice as long as me walking home for free. I promise.”
He studies me for a beat too long, making sure I’m telling the truth. Giving a satisfied nod, he agrees. “Fine, but text me when you make it home. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Caleb, you’re leaving?” Zoe pouts, crossing her arms over her chest. “We were doing shots.”
“No more shots, you drunkard. Help D get you ladies home, and maybe grab a coffee.”
“I was celebrating!” She throws her arms up and does a little dance. “Because the douchebag is gone!”
He snorts and lifts a brow my way. “Douchebag, huh?”
I shrug. “Her drunk words, not my sober ones.”
“Call a cab?”
“Promise.”
He gives me a wave and hurries off to gather his own drunk friends and head home.
I reach into my purse to pull my phone out. I go to move my wallet out of the—HOLY FUCK.
Where is my wallet?!
“Shit! No, no, no!”
“Shots, shots, shots!” Zoe chants.
“No! No more shots! My wallet was stolen.”
“Here,” she says, digging into her purse. “Money.”
She hands me two one-dollar bills, and I want to laugh and strangle her all at once. I know for a fact that’s all the money she has because we both only carry our ID, a flimsy wallet, and forty bucks in cash when we go out.
“Thanks, Zoe. You’re a lifesaver,” I say sarcastically. She misses that part and beams at me, holding two thumbs up.
