Our lips are inches away from touching. I stand on the tips of my toes. Just as we’re about to kiss, a stumbling jock knocks into me, spilling a full glass of beer down my front.
Nate grabs the drink-spiller by the front of his shirt. “Watch where you’re going, dickwad.”
The drink-spiller cowers and musters a feeble apology, while a group of girls cackle. It was no accident.
“Are you okay?” Nate asks.
“I’m fine,” I insist, even though I smell like a brewery. “I’ll grab some paper towels to clean the mess.”
“I’ll come with you,” he says.
Before he has the chance, he’s swarmed by guys shouting, “Captain! Drink! Captain! Drink!”
While Nate gets swept into the chaos, I slink away to find a restroom, getting jostled back and forth as I weave through the gaps. My earlier euphoria takes a nosedive. People are too close. My head throbs from the pounding music. Everyone has drunk more than they can handle, including me.
Away from the safety of the dancers, the floor feels like it’s turned to Jell-O. Each step takes more effort than the last, and I walk like an astronaut taking my first steps on the moon. Mia isnowhere in sight, and I decide against calling her. I don’t want to ruin her night.
“Do you know where the bathroom is?” I ask a nearby couple. They’re too busy eating each other’s faces to give me any directions.
I take deep breaths to steady myself, which only intensifies my dizziness. I make it to the stairs and lean against the banister to balance, then I hear his voice…
“Erin?”
I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping I’ve imagined it, until his firm grasp closes around my forearm. He grips so tightly it’ll bruise.
“Erin!”
I open my eyes to see my father. I’ve not seen him this angry since the aftermath of one of Sarah’s partying antics. His nostrils flare in fury.
“Dad,” I stammer, “w-what are you?—”
“We’re leaving,” he declares menacingly. “Now.”
Onlookers snicker as he drags me from the house, yanking my wrist so hard my shoulder almost dislocates.
“Please, Dad,” I whimper. “You’re hurting me. I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean?—”
He marches me down the steps to his waiting car, ignoring my pleading.
“Dad—”
How did he even get past security? Surely he wasn’t on the guest list?
“Don’t say another word,” he hisses, throwing me into the back of the car.
My lip trembles as the door shuts. Stupidly, I reach for the handle, but it’s already locked. Of course it is. He’s done everything possible to keep me confined. He won’t stop now.
“After all I’ve done to keep you safe, this is how you repay me,” he rages, getting into the driver’s seat and revving the engine. “It’s time I taught you a lesson.”
CHAPTER
FOUR
ERIN
I struggle into an upright position,getting thrown around without a seat belt. A particularly violent turn sends my head crashing into the window. Dad doesn’t check whether I’m okay. His icy stare penetrates me from the rear mirror, watching with a look of disapproval that makes me want to hurl.
“You lied to me,” he says.
