Crow: Can you take her with you?
Me: It’s 2 in the morning!
Crow: I know. Look, I’ll send a prospect to sit on the house while you’re gone.
Me: Can’t the prospect pick him up?
Why is he making this so hard?
Crow: We don’t have a vehicle available at the moment for that and based on the fact that he needs a ride, I’m guessing he won’t last on the back of a bike
Me: Fine. How fast can the prospect get here?
I start to get dressed as I wait for his reply. It takes a bit longer than the others, which fuels my annoyance. After several minutes, my phone dings.
Crow: Ben should be there in 10. Mrs. West will be okay by herself for a few. Go ahead and leave.
Grudgingly, I type out one last text.
Me: Thanks
It takes me a few more minutes to gather my purse and grab a bottle of water. Dumbass is probably gonna need something to drink that’s not booze.
And you care because?
Unease settles in my gut as I drive down the street, away from the house, but the rumble of a motorcycle reaches my ears when I turn to head further into town. Good, Ben must be close. At least I can worry a little less about Mrs. West.
Now I can focus all my worry on myself and the stupid man I’m playing designated driver for.
CHAPTER 15
GHOST
Parker died when you left him.
“Your ride’s here.”
I lift my head off the bar and smile at Meri. Being mad at her took too much effort, so I decided to let it go. Besides, Ember’s picking me up, and that can only mean good things… right?
I’m sure if I were sober, I’d be thinking much differently.
“‘Kay.”
When I try to stand, all I manage is to slide off the stool and land on my ass. I’m sure I’d feel pain, but the alcohol is dulling all my senses.
“I shoulda left you here,” Ember sasses when she gets to me and stands at my side.
“Aw, c’mon,” I whine.
“Don’t,” she snaps. “I had to leave your mom alone to come pick your drunk ass up.”
I screw up my face, trying like hell to remember why she’d be with my mom, but for the life of me, I can’t.
“She’ll be ‘kay.”
“Dammit, Ghost,” Ember huffs.
“Um, I don’t mean to interrupt,” Meri says. “But I really need to get home. I’ve got class in the morning, and I’m beat. Let me help you get him out to the car, and the two of you can fight there.”
