“Come on, I’m taking you home.” I move her through the crowd and toward the door, not caring to continue the mind-numbing conversation with her friend while the other two girls stood back and gawked.
They’ve all had more than enough to drink tonight, but her friends seem to be a bit more experienced in this department.
“Ay, Johnny!” The bartender catches my attention on the way out. He points to the sloppy girl in my arms. “She hasn’t paid her tab.”
I reach into my pocket, fishing a hundred out and slapping it onto the counter. “Does that cover it?”
He slides it across and holds it up to the light. “Yep.”
I continue to navigate us through the crowd and out into the brisk night. It’s refreshing to get away from the thick atmosphere of that bar.
I glance down at the girl at my side. “You okay?”
She’s not heavy by any means, which makes me wonder how the hell she managed to drag my ass out of that alley and into my place.
“Mmm,” she mumbles. “I can w-walk.” She pulls herself from my assistance.
I hold out my arms in case she falls again. I don’t want to encroach, but I’d like to be there if she needs me. “I can help.”
“Y-you can’t…help…me.” She walks a few feet and stops, perking up and glancing around. “Where are we?” She blinks stiffly.
I point in the direction of our complex. “We’re this way.”
“Right.” She takes off the opposite way.
I steady her by the shoulders and spin her around toward the proper route.
“Yes, that’s what I meant.” She giggles. “I was…testing you.” She reaches out, weaving her hand around mine, our fingers interlocking, and pulling me with her. “Come on.”
My breath hitches, and I stare like an idiot at the joined connection. I have to force myself to move, otherwise I’d stand there totally flabbergasted by the ease of our hands fitting together.
We walk a little until we’re about to pass a food cart.
“I’m starvingggg,” she emphasizes while holding onto her stomach.
Getting something in there to soak up some of that booze is probably a good idea, and considering how adorable she is, I can’t exactly refuse her.
I buy her a slice of pizza and her eyes light up like I gave her the moon. Her reaction warms my heart in a way I sort of wish I could shut off.
She walks slowly and manages to devour it within minutes. She balls up the wrapper and turns, looking for a trash can.
My gaze falls to the red splotch of sauce on her chin. Everything turns to slow motion, and without thinking, I reach up and swipe it away with my thumb. Another one of the things I’ve done tonight that I clearly shouldn’t have.
Her eyes meet mine, and she seems just as surprised as I am by the entire interaction. Her breath is steady and even.
We stay that way for a long second, peering at each other.
Finally, she grins and grabs onto my hand, pulling us in the direction of our complex.
I take her garbage and toss it into a dumpster that we pass.
I don’t say another word on the trek to our building, and thankfully, she doesn’t either. There are so many things I should tell her, but now isn’t the time. I don’t know if there ever will be. An apology would potentially repair things between us, and if that happens, I lose the advantage I have of her hating me. The one that helps keep her safe.
All I have to do is get her home. Get her into her house, and the rest will be history. She’s drunk enough that she’ll probably forget all of this happened and assume one of her friends walked her back. She won’t remember holding my hand or touching my face, or the many times I caught her when she was falling.
I’ll be able to walk away and pretend nothing happened. I’ll live with the secret memory of her skin on my fingertips and the strange sensation in my chest when she’s around.
I’ll cherish it but tuck it away, like a photograph from a long-ago era.