I walk past the SUV and into the grass surrounding the parking lot, not hesitating as I pry open Faith’s mouth and shove two fingers down her throat. She sputters at first, trying to use her arms to stop me, but she’s weak and her body has no ability to control what’s happening.
It’s not pretty, and I know she would be humiliated if she were cognizant, but I’m just relieved when her stomach revolts and she vomits in the grass. I don’t know what he gave her or how much, but I do know it’s only been ten minutes tops since she drank whatever he put in her glass.
I keep her angled to the ground, praying she pukes even more, knowing that the more she can get out, the less will be in her system.
Faith groans, a heartbreaking sound as her muscles tense.
“I’m taking you to the hospital,” I tell her, unsure if she can even hear me right now.
“No,” she gasps, her face turning toward me. “No hospital.”
Just the simple request seems to take all of her energy as she grows lax in my arms once more.
“Get her to drink this.”
I turn to see Slick standing there with a bottle of water in her hands. I can’t take it from her, but I watch, a little lost on what to do when Slick bends down to grab Faith’s purse that must’ve slipped free while I was positioning her so I could force her to vomit.
“It’s new. The bartender gave it to me. She needs to stay hydrated.”
“She doesn’t want to go to the hospital.”
Slick looks from me to the contents of her stomach on the ground. “She needs to stay hydrated and watched so she doesn’t choke on her own puke. Other than that, there’s not much the hospital can do.”
I blink at her, all the while holding a drugged woman in my arms.
“Something you learned in college?”
She huffs. “Something most teenage girls learn way too young these days. Let’s get her in the SUV.”
“That’s so fucked up,” I whisper as I carry Faith to the vehicle.
“You have no idea,” she mutters as she pulls the back driver’s side door open. “Get her buckled in, and I’ll ride back here with her.”
I don’t argue, even though everything inside of me is urging me to seek medical care.
“He drugged me,” Faith manages as I gently place her in the seat. “Let Drake know. He’s going to hurt someone else.”
“He’s not going to hurt another person,” Slick says, the certainty in her voice calming me a little.
Tears run down Faith’s cheeks, and I gently wipe them away, only for them to be replaced by new ones.
“Take me home, Ethan,” Faith whispers, her eyes closed, eyelashes pressed against her pale cheeks.
I look up at Slick as she buckles herself in. “You’re sure she’s going to be okay?”
She nods. “Hydrated and doesn’t choke. Get in and drive, Legend.”
Feeling hopeless, I do as I’m told.
“Thank you for coming,” I tell Slick in the rearview mirror when we get caught at a red light a few blocks from Faith’s house.
I’d never try anything with any woman in this condition, and I’m sure Slick knows it as well. She’s here to help, and part of that is that Faith may not know that I wouldn’t try anything with her while she was drugged. As a female, Slick coming with me is an extra layer of protection, and I’m insanely grateful for it.
“Of course,” Slick says, giving me a smile so weak it makes me wonder how crazy-eyed I look right now.
“I bought that drink he drugged,” I mutter.
I didn’t even touch the drink. Drake made them as I was walking away, but I can’t help but wonder if she’s going to come out of this blaming me somehow.
“You didn’t drug her, Legend.”
I refocus on driving when the light turns green, but I can’t help but wonder if this could’ve been avoided if I hadn’t bought the drink, or if I had stayed and spoken to her while she consumed it instead of walking away. I didn’t want to leave her at the bar. I want to talk with her, chat and get to know her better, but I agreed with her that day at Cerberus. I told her that I’d leave her alone.
I shake my head as I slow down on her street, trying to read the house numbers in the dark. This isn’t really leaving her alone, and I can only imagine what kind of hell I’m going to catch from her when she wakes up. I’ll find out soon enough because I’m not leaving her side until I know she’s okay.
Slick already has Faith’s house keys in her hand by the time I pull into the driveway, and she heads to the front to unlock the door as I work on getting her unbuckled and out of the vehicle. The door is held open for me, making it easier to get inside. I don’t bother with the couch, carrying Faith directly to her bedroom down the hall. It’s the only room with the door open, and Slick slides past me to flip on the light before pulling back the covers and propping up pillows at the head of the bed.