Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(55)

“Oh, that’s just great. There’s no f*cking way he can go home tonight. He was drunk before leaving here and now he’s headed

there?”

I cut the rest of my thought off as Adrian returns with beers for both of us. I manage to push thoughts of Bo out of my mind for

the next hour. We all enjoy the warm July breeze and tease Josh and Monica about perceived married life. None of us are married;

they’re heading out into uncharted waters.

Adrian’s been distant since our argument this morning. I have, too. His accusations and assumptions hurt. I’d never cheat on

anyone. That he questioned my character has weighed heavily on me all day. It’s weighed on him, too, according to the amount of

beer I’ve seen him put away tonight. I stop drinking since it looks like I’ll be driving everyone home.

Two hours later, I’ve deposited Josh and Monica at her place and returned to get Adrian from Finnegan’s, when I receive a text

from C.J.

C.J.: Bo’s here. Dude’s in bad shape—he needs to get home.

I growl and punch my steering wheel. I knew this would happen, and I’ve used the entire night trying to plan how to deal with it.

I text Regan.

Me: Hey, are you guys in town or in Concord or what?

Regan: Concord, why? Everything OK?

Me: Not really...don’t say anything to Rae but Bo’s drunk and can’t drive home. I’ll figure it out. Seriously, don’t say

anything to Rae.

Instantly, my phone rings. It’s Regan.

“Ember, what’s going on?” I can tell he’s gone outside by his breathlessness.

“Bo drank a lot tonight. I don’t know if he’s planning on driving home to Concord, but C.J. texted me and said Bo’s in rare

form at Lost Dog right now. Adrian’s gonna be pissed.” I mumble the last part under my breath.

“Listen, I’ll tell you where my spare key is. Take Bo there, if you’d like. I actually just left Rae’s.” Regan dictates where

I’ll find his spare key before we hang up, and I prepare to deal with Adrian by resting my head on the steering wheel.

After a few minutes I return to Finnegan’s, resolved that I have to take Bo back to my place. I can’t leave him alone in a

stranger’s apartment—not in the state he’s in. Adrian is once again chatting up Marley at the bar. Ordinarily, his attention to

her might irritate me, but right now I have other issues stalking my nerves.

“Hey, we gotta talk a sec.” I reach around him and give his waist a squeeze.

“What’s up, Blue?” His slur tells me he’s drunk, too.

Great.

“C.J. just texted me. Bo’s at Lost Dog and he’s too drunk to drive—” Marley’s eyes widen just before Adrian cuts me off.

“Hell no, Ember.” Adrian hastily pushes his chair back, crashing it to the ground as he walks outside.

Mouthing a sorry to Marley as I right the stool, I follow behind Adrian. I catch up with him outside in time to see him kick over a

trashcan.

“What the hell, Adrian!”

“God dammit, Ember, how deep is his hold on you?” Heads turn in our direction as he yells.

“So because yesterday was the anniversary of his parents’ death, and I don’t want him to drive drunk all the way back to New

Hampshire, that means he has a hold on me?”

“He’s not staying with us tonight.”

“And where do you suggest he stay?” I place my hands on my hips, bored with Adrian’s insistence that this is a pissing contest.

“How about his car—he’s no stranger to that, if I remember correctly.” Adrian accurately recalls Lost Dog’s last involvement

in our lives.

With an annoyed sigh, I turn for the parking lot. Adrian doesn’t follow. Turning back around, I see him walking the opposite

direction toward the beach.

“Where the hell are you going?” My head is spinning with anxiety.

He doesn’t turn around. “Going for a walk.”

A frustrated growl punches its way out of my throat. “Adrian!” I call as I jog toward him. “You’re too drunk to drive, and your

car is at my place. Just come with me and we’ll figure everything out. I can take Bo to Regan’s apartment,” I concede.

“Blue,” he sighs, “just go pick him up, and I’ll catch up with you later.” Adrian continues his walk without another word.

Before getting in my car I leave Marley my number, instructing her to call me if Adrian comes back in. She agrees, tucking the

paper in her pocket as she pours shots. I remember to grab my guitar from the stage before driving to Lost Dog with giant knots

strangling my stomach.





Chapter Twenty-Four



“Rapunzel, over here!” C.J. shouts from the corner of the bar as my eyes squint to adjust to the dungeon-like lighting of Lost

Dog.

C.J. is sitting with a few guys I don’t know, but I easily spot Bo’s broad-shouldered torso hunched over the bar. I’ve never

seen Bo drunk before; it’s sad. His forehead rests on a clenched fist, while he grips a short glass with the other.