Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(56)

“Thanks for texting me, Ceej,” I mumble.

“No problem. His pissing and moaning over you was a major buzz kill.” C.J. and his friends laugh at his joke.

I roll my eyes and cautiously place my hand on the small of Bo’s back. The gesture startles him, as if I’ve woken him up from a

deep sleep. He whips around to face me. Hollowness has filled his eyes and his paleness makes me worried that he’ll throw up—

there’s no way I can leave him alone at Regan’s.

“The hell are you doing here?” He slurs as he cocks his head back.

“Saving your ass.” C.J. snickers behind his beer, as I reach for Bo’s arm to throw around my shoulders.

“Need help, Rapunzel?” C.J. half-heartedly asks.

Of course I need help, dickweed, look at the size of him.

“No thanks, Ceej. This princess doesn’t need rescuing.”

I’m relieved at Bo’s lack of protest at my guiding him out of the bar; a struggle would have tossed me to the floor for sure. I

fold him into the passenger seat of my Outback and put down the window. I beg him to ask me to stop the car if he has to throw up,

but stop my speech when I hear him snoring. I pray, for the first time in my life, that I can get him safely into my apartment and

that he doesn’t have alcohol poisoning.

When we pull in front of my apartment, I throw the car in park and slam my head against the headrest. He didn’t throw up on the

drive, but I glance at my second floor window and wonder how I’ll get him to my apartment with the same success. I exit and walk

over to his door; his head is resting on the window. As soon as I pull the handle, the door flies open under his weight, and I have

to steady him from falling to the road.

“Ugh. Ember?” He struggles to find his footing as I, once again, wrap his arm around my shoulders.

“Yeah, just take it easy so we can get up the stairs, OK?”

“Isn’t this your apartment?” He squints despite the post-midnight darkness.

“It is.” I grit my teeth as I try to take a step forward but trip a little. He’s probably got 70 pounds on me, and I begin to

wonder if we’re going to spend the night on the sidewalk, when I hear someone run up from my left.

“Ember!” Regan dashes behind me, scoops up Bo’s other arm, and leads us forward.

“Where’d you come from?” I breathe a sigh of relief as we start up the stairs.

“Yeah, where’s my sister?” Bo asks, eyes barely open.

Regan answers Bo, looking at me, “She’s at home asleep. I don’t stay there.” He gives a proud smile and I understand. He’s

falling for her.

“You didn’t have to come to get me, Ember,” Bo mumbles as we trudge up the narrow staircase.

I’m slightly out of breath. “Don’t worry about it.”

“No, no, I mean it ...” He stops and tries to turn and address me, but it throws me off balance.”

“Shit!” I yell, afraid I’m about to fall down the stairs. I catch myself on the railing, but Bo doesn’t even notice I was

falling. “Just...shut up until we get you up the stairs.”

Regan gives me a concerned look. I shake my head and tilt my chin toward the apartment, where I’d like to get going.

As we reach the top of my stairs, Bo seems to gather a second wind and is able to stand without much assistance. He leans against

the wall opposite my door— just in case, I suppose.

“Where’s Adrian?” Bo asks as he stuffs his hands in his pockets.

I shrug. “Out.”

“But, you’re all with him.” He knocks his head back into the wall.

“Yeah, and you’re all with Ainsley. What’s your point?” I say with my back to him as I unlock the door.

Regan and I flank Bo and guide him into the apartment, onto my couch.

“Yeah,” he slurs, “but I don’t love her the way you love him.” Regan winces a little at Bo’s words. My sigh carries me to the

kitchen, and I return with water for Bo.

I sit on the coffee table across from Bo and hand him the water. “You shouldn’t drink so much. A lot of people depend on you.”

We lock eyes, staring into each other as Regan shifts uncomfortably to my side. Bo’s eyes toss like waves back and forth across my

face, drowning me in their darkness.

With a deep breath I continue, “Judging by your closing song this evening, I’d say you don’t really believe I love Adrian.” I’

m human, I can’t help it.

Bo chuckles gruffly and runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t know why you believe you are.”

“Who the hell said I believed that?” Absentmindedly, I take off his shoes and put them by the door.

“So you don’t love him?” Bo asks, sounding almost sober. Regan’s eyebrows shoot up in apparent amusement at my banter with a

drunken fool.

I shake my head and ask Regan to help me get Bo to my bed. It’s closer to the bathroom, and he’s too big to pass out on my couch.

Bo’s able to get there without much physical assistance, and lays face-down on my bed.

“At least take your shirt off, for god’s sake. If you puke, I’d rather you didn’t have to drive home half-naked tomorrow.” I