One of Those Faces (56)

I staggered, my knees wobbling as Danny caught my elbow. “Are you okay?” he asked.

I searched the crowd wildly, but she was already gone.

Erin was suddenly beside Danny and me, shouting something to him.

I froze, nearly falling again until Danny put an arm around my waist. My legs were paralyzed. I couldn’t will them to move forward, to straighten.

“Harper?” Danny leaned in close to my ear.

I rubbed my eyes and stumbled backward, the floor rolling beneath me. My eyes were still closed as I was pulled back up by rough-skinned hands. My legs were limp, and I slouched back down.

“Jesus, Harper,” Danny growled, tightening his grip around me.

“I’m fine,” I mumbled. My throat constricted, each breath an effort.

He didn’t let go and ushered me out onto the sidewalk, the music falling away. “I think it’s time to leave,” Danny called down the sidewalk.

I leaned against the wall, pressing a hand into the brick to steady myself.

Iann was suddenly by my side, his hand on my arm. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head.

“What happened?” He looked at Erin and Danny.

“I think she drank too much. She fell down inside,” Danny said.

My legs started buckling, and I grabbed Iann’s shirt.

“I’ll get a cab,” Danny called over his shoulder.

“Where did you go?” I slurred into Iann’s ear.

He placed his arm around me. “I had to take a call. You were fine when I left—what happened?”

Who was he calling this time of night?

Danny opened the taxi door, and I fell down onto the sticky leather seat. Everyone filed in after me. Through my blurry vision, I saw the driver nervously glance back at me before he started down the street.

I closed my eyes, my head leaning back on Iann’s chest. He sounded calm talking to me, but I could hear his pulse so quick and loud against my ear.

Erin’s legs were pressed against mine. The smell of her floral perfume made me want to vomit. Minutes later the car stopped, and Iann gently helped me out. My legs wobbled when my feet met the sidewalk. I managed to open my eyes for only a moment to see my apartment.

Danny and Erin appeared behind me.

“She’ll be fine,” Erin muttered as Iann led me up the stairs.

The car doors closed, and it started down the street.

I leaned against the doorframe as Iann looked for my keys, his hand still around my waist. He opened the door and walked me to the bed, setting me down before I immediately slumped onto my side.

He slid my shoes off and put two fingers to my wrist. “How much did you drink?” There was panic in his voice. I could recognize it even then.

It was an effort to even move my lips. “Just one.” I had mixed Xanax and alcohol before, and it hadn’t knocked me down like this. I gasped a breath, the effort stretching my lungs.

His expression didn’t change. Maybe he didn’t believe me. “Your pulse is slow, but are you breathing okay?” He bent down toward me.

I fell silent.

He shook my shoulders with a desperate grip. “Harper, listen to me.”

“Yeah?” I closed my eyes.

“Did you take anything?”

He knows. “I took one,” I whimpered, close to tears. Why did I start taking the pills again? And when had he found out about them?

He pulled me up. “One what?”

I was actually crying now, slouched against his shoulder. “Xanax. It was in Erin’s purse.”

“Shit,” he hissed. He jerked me from the bed and into his arms so abruptly that I almost screamed. “You have to throw it up.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT


Iann was on the floor beside my drafting table, his laptop resting open on his legs as he furiously typed. Light poured out from the window onto his black hair.

His eyes met mine and widened. “You’re awake?”

I flexed my fingers before moving my arms. “Yeah,” I croaked. My tongue tasted sour.

He set his laptop down and sat beside me on the bed.

“What happened last night?” I leaned my head against the wall. My stomach twisted as the room slowly rotated. The last thing I remembered was sitting on the bathroom floor.

He brushed his fingers through my hair. “I think you almost—” He shook his head and pulled me to his chest. “Why would you take Erin’s pills?”

I didn’t respond but melted farther into his arms.

“Why, Harper?”

“How did you know?”

He sighed, then kissed the top of my head. “Someone I cared about had the same problem a long time ago. You weren’t acting right last night. You could have overdosed.” He hugged me closer.

“No,” I said. “I only had one drink at the club.”

“It doesn’t matter. You can’t mix alcohol with that kind of stuff.”

I rubbed my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“This isn’t the first time you’ve taken it, is it?” he asked softly.

I leaned against his shoulder. “I’ve never had a reaction like that.”

An unreadable emotion flashed across his face. “You looked upset last night.” His eyes watched me. “Is that why you took it?”