His laugh has gotten louder and his movements sloppier, until his eyes have a glassy, unfocused look that means he’s way past tipsy.
He’s hanging on Kevin now, arm slung over his shoulder, saying something that’s making Kevin crack up.
And I’m trying to stay close, to keep an eye on him without being obvious about it, but it’s like trying to herd cats.
“Harper!” Marie appears at my elbow, breathless and glowing. “This is so much fun! Thank you for bringing me!”
“Having a good time?” I ask, scanning her pupils automatically. Sober. Good.
“The best time! Sara wants to do a TikTok. Is that okay? Should I do a TikTok? I’ve never done one at a party before?—”
“Just don’t post anything with alcohol in the frame,” I hear myself say, and Jesus, when did I become someone’s mom?
Marie nods seriously, like I’ve imparted great wisdom, and bounces back to the dance floor.
“Having fun, charity case?”
I turn to find McKenzie behind me, red cup in hand, smile sharp as a knife. She’s wearing something designer and too tight, her makeup perfect despite the heat and humidity of too many bodies in one space.
“Loads,” I say flatly.
“I’ll pass along the compliment,” she says, taking a sip of her drink. Her eyes are scanning the room like a predator looking for prey. “Where’s your brother? Haven’t seen him glued to your hip for once.”
“He’s around.”
“Mm.” Her eyes land on something across the room, and her smile gets sharper. Dangerous. “Oh, this should be good.”
I follow her gaze, and my stomach drops.
Caleb has Marie cornered near the stairs. From here, it looks intense—his hands moving in big gestures, his face too close to hers, his voice carrying even over the music. Marie’s backed up against the railing, eyes wide.
Shit.
I start moving before I can think about it, shoving through the crowd. Someone’s drink spills, and they swear at me, but I don’t care.
But McKenzie gets there first, because of course, she does.
“Well, well,” she says, voice dripping with false sweetness as she positions herself between Caleb and Marie. “Trouble in paradise? Did the golden boy finally realize he could do better than?—”
“Back off, McKenzie,” Marie says, and there’s steel in her voice I haven’t heard before. Her chin lifts, defiant. She’s gained so much confidence since I met her cowering in the courtyard at the start of the semester. “We’re just talking.”
“Oh, sweetie.” McKenzie laughs, and it’s not a nice sound. “I’m just trying to help. Someone needs to tell you that you’re punching way above your weight class with Graham here. I mean, look at you?—”
“Can you not?” Caleb’s words are slurred but clear enough. He’s swaying slightly, eyes struggling to focus on McKenzie. “Can you just not be like this for five minutes?”
“Like what?” McKenzie’s smile is poisonous. “Honest?”
“No. Mean.” He says it simply, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
He’s swaying. Can’t stand still. His hands are moving in gestures that are too big, too loose. Nothing like his usual careful precision.
“You’re just... you’re so mean all the time. Why?”
He’s not counting words. Not measuring his response. Not calculating the social cost of what he’s saying.
Just... saying it.
This is Caleb with no systems or filters. No patterns.