Epic Sins (Epic Fail #1)(46)

The drive home is short, and Heath drops me at the front door. “Want to come in for a beer?” He looks at me funny. I’ve never been super social with him, but somehow the two of us always wind up together.

“Nah, I’m exhausted.” He looks in his rearview mirror as another car is pulling up behind him.

Cassie parks next to Heath’s car and the passenger door flies open. Sam yells, “Heyyy!” and practically falls out of the car.

Holy shit, she’s wasted.

Heath laughs and puts his car in reverse. “Glad to see you’ve got this under control, G. Happy birthday.” He backs up, and I can see him laughing down my long driveway.

“I’m really sorry, Garrett. I don’t know how she got like this,” Cassie says and runs to help Sam into the house.

“You gave me shotsssss,” she says almost incoherently.

“Only a couple. Sam, what else did you drink?”

Sam mumbles something and goes limp in Cassie’s arms. “A little help?” she calls out to me, and I rush to help get Sam inside.

We bring her right upstairs to one of the guest rooms. Sam falls onto the bed, and I leave her with Cassie.

I walk down the hallway toward Kai’s room. Peggy steps out into the hallway, holding him in her arms. He’s sound asleep and looks content. Good.

“I thought I heard the girls come in. Are they here?” she whispers.

“Yeah, Sam may have had a little too much to drink,” I warn her, and she smiles.

“It’s been a while since she got out, and I expected she would enjoy herself a little too much.” She shakes her head and turns to go back inside his room.

“You can go home tonight, if you want,” I suggest. “I can take care of Kai if you need me to.”

“That’s okay. It’s your birthday too, so you both should have the night off.”

“How did you know?” I ask Peggy, curious. I don’t make a habit of telling many people.

“Your mother called the house phone earlier and she mentioned it.”

Cassie emerges from the guest room down the hall. “I’m so sorry, I thought I only gave her a few drinks, but wow, she’s a mess.” She giggles a little and walks down the stairs. “I hope you don’t mind if I leave. I left our friends at the bar and I’m the designated driver.”

She disappears through the front door, and Peggy says, “Why don’t you get some rest? Happy birthday, Garrett.”

I walk past the room where Sam is passed out, and I’m tempted to peek in. I restrain myself and head toward the other end of the floor where my room is.

I strip down to my boxers and climb into my huge bed. I sink into the mattress and immediately fall asleep.





I WAKE UP WITH A START, and I feel my covers being pulled off of me. What the hell? I look at my feet, and Sam is curled up at the end of the bed and she’s attempting to roll herself in my comforter. She seems disoriented, and I whisper, “Sam? What are you doing?”

Startled, she sits up straight and pulls the blanket up to cover her chest.

“Where am I?” she asks, clearly confused.

“You’re in my room,” I state, and she gasps.

“How did I get here?”

“I have no idea.”

She looks around, her eyes squinted. “Wow, I feel like shit.” She holds her head, and she doesn’t look so good. I glance over at the clock, and it’s almost five in the morning. The blanket shifts and I see she’s wearing a tight tank top.

“I guess you don’t know how long you’ve been in here?” I ask her.

Her embarrassment is evident, and she begins to get up.

“Wait,” I say to her, doing everything in my power to stop a half-naked Sam from leaving my room. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just insanely hung-over.” She plants her hands into the mattress, pressing downward. She seems to be trying to steady herself.

“Why don’t you lie down for a second. It may help you feel better.” I can’t believe what I’ve suggested, and she does so without hesitation. She’s no longer at the foot of the bed but closer to the headboard. She tucks her knees up toward her chest, and they brush up against my thigh. Her legs are bare. Is she wearing pants?

“So you had fun last night, huh?” I ask.

She looks mortified. “I don’t even remember coming home. I didn’t think I had that much to drink, but apparently I did. I’m sorry for coming in here. This must feel totally weird to you.” She holds the blanket close to her face, and I see her eyes get heavy again. It’s not weird at all. It feels… good. “I must have thought this was Kai’s room.”

“I hope you had a great birthday,” I say.

“I think I did.”

“My birthday was yesterday also.” I can’t believe I just told her. I didn’t think that through. I never celebrate it because of what my dad did to himself on this day, but I just blurted it out without thinking.

Her eyes grow wide. “Really?”

I nod slowly and turn on my side to face her. “I don’t really like to celebrate it. It doesn’t elicit happy memories for me.”

“Me either,” she says, and her eyes glaze over. She looks exhausted. Is she about to cry?