Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(27)

I found it difficult to concentrate on my waitressing duties once the band was in full swing. Friends kept chatting with me around every corner, and several customers that were not there for me were a little irritated by the whole thing. Eventually, Pete came out of his office and let me go several hours early. There were loud cheers and whistles as I handed him my apron. Pete patted my shoulder, thanked me for my time here at the bar, then handed me an apple-flavored sucker. I tried to not get teary-eyed, but when my coworker Kate gave me a hug, I lost it.

Kate, teary-eyed herself, walked me up to the bar. Rita was tending, as she did almost every night, and she poured us shots while Jenny grabbed the cake from the back room. For the first time since I’d known Rita, she didn’t mention my rock-god husband. She usually bragged about sleeping with him, or made some vague remark that reeked of innuendo, but tonight she seemed almost respectful as she ate some cake and chased it with a celebratory shot.

By the time the group of us had finished the cake, I’d had about six celebratory shots. They just kept miraculously appearing in front of me, and someone—usually my sister—kept encouraging me to drink them. My head was fuzzy when someone else pulled me out onto the dance floor . . . Cheyenne, I think. When I was pulled into the middle of the band’s fans, I let go of my inhibitions and danced my heart out. I’d always found dancing freeing, a way to get out of my head. The alcohol surging through my system helped there too, of course. I felt like I was floating as I twirled around.

After an eternity of dancing mixed with drinking, I was sweaty, insouciant, and feeling no pain. I bumped into a familiar, athletic body, and turned to peer up into Denny’s warm, dark eyes. He smiled down on me as he steadied me. The music, the crowd . . . it reminded me of dancing with Denny on a much different occasion. Examining my face, Denny asked, “You all right there, Kiera?”

Looking around the bar, I wondered if Denny’s girlfriend was with him. She and Denny worked for a prosperous advertising company. Denny was sort of her boss. “Is Abby here?” My question came out a little slurred. As Denny started to answer me, a random thought popped into my head and shot right out of my mouth. “You guys work together . . . so, since you’re in charge during the day, is she your boss at night?”

His cheeks red, Denny mumbled something about her being out with friends tonight while I giggled at the image now firmly etched in my head.

While I was chuckling, I noticed a friend of mine holding out another shot for me. I eagerly took it, reaching over Denny’s body to grab it. We were flush together with my arm draped over his shoulder as I tipped it back. Giggling, I handed the empty glass to my friend and wrapped my other arm around Denny; a feeling of familiarity flooded through me as our eyes locked.

Even though Jose Cuervo didn’t really care about personal boundaries, I knew in the back of my head that we were too close together. While Denny frowned at me, I gently pushed him back so that our chests were no longer touching. Well, I meant to push him. I ended up forcing myself back a step. I bumped into the guy behind me and almost lost my balance. Denny’s frown deepened as he grabbed my elbow to keep me upright.

“You’re drunk, aren’t you?”

My answer came out in a high-pitched laugh.

Denny rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I was just about to head home, but I can’t leave you here like this all alone. Did your sister leave already?”

I pursed my lips, trying to remember through the fog. Was my sister still here? Had she ever been here? I couldn’t quite recall . . . and then my hazy brain pulled out a memory from just a few minutes ago. Anna had started feeling a bit run down, and had wanted to go home and crawl into bed. She’d tried to get me to leave with her, but I’d wanted to keep dancing and refused to let her move me. Irritated, Anna had grabbed Jenny as she’d walked nearby and told her to take me home before she waddled out the doors. It had shocked me a little. Anna had never been the first one to leave a party before.

I shook my head. “Nope, she pooped out . . . left.”

I giggled, and Denny sighed. “Well, then, I guess I’m driving you home.”

Touched by his offer, I squeezed him tight. “You’re the best, Denny.” A slight sob came out of me. “I’m so sorry I cheated on you.”

Denny started moving me toward the back room. “Yeah, I think it’s definitely time for you to go. Come on.”

I clung to him like a lifeline as grief and giddiness battled within me. A part of me hated that he was taking care of me after I’d been so horrible to him, and a part of me loved that we were still such good friends that he needed to make sure I was okay. We ran into Jenny in the back as I was grabbing my stuff.

“What’s going on?” she asked cautiously. She didn’t seem happy as Denny explained that he was going to take me home. “Oh, well, I told Anna I would drive her after work.”

Denny looked over at me. I couldn’t stand straight, and I wobbled a bit . . . which made me laugh. “I don’t think she can wait that long, Jenny.”

Not wanting her to worry, I tossed my arms around her and told her I loved her. She seemed even more worried as I left.

Denny helped me to the Chevelle with a hand on my back. The band was still playing as I dug in my bag for the keys. I felt a little bad that I was missing the end of my going-away bash, and a part of me still wanted to be dancing—but my head was starting to spin. Eyes half-closed, I handed Denny my keys. As he opened the passenger door and helped me sit down, I asked, “What about your car?”