“Okay,” she murmured, not bothering to look up at me, “I’m going to go home with Ty.”
“Fine,” I snapped. “Whatever. You’re really campaigning for friend of the year, aren’t you Lex?” My voice dripped with sarcasm.
She finally looked away from Tyler, startled by my harsh tone.
“What the hell, Brooklyn. Don’t be a bitch to me just because you’re drunk and pissed off. Go home,” she said.
“Are you kidding me, Lexi?I’mthe bitch in this scenario?”
I was livid. How could she evencall herself my friend? She was abandoning me to go hook up with some random guy, after forcing me to come out against my will! I’d opened my mouth to really let her have it when a large hand slipped over my lips, effectively silencing me. Finn slowly dragged me around toward the front passenger seat, only removing his hand when I’d stopped trying to squirm out of his grasp and bite his fingers off.
“What thehell, Finn,” I snapped, glaring up at him. “Who do you think you are?”
“I’m the guy who just saved your drunk-ass from saying something you’d never be able to take back. She’s your best friend, Brooklyn,” he said, as if I needed a reminder. “Yeah, she’s being selfish tonight. But we all get selfish sometimes, solet it go. You have a ride home; you’re not stranded.”
“Fine,” Isighed, still pissed off but unwilling to fight with anyone else tonight. “I just want to go home.” I didn’t exactly feel comfortable going with him, but it was my only option thanks to Lexi’s abandonment.
“Then let’s get you there,” he said, climbing into the passenger seat. Scott was already situated at the wheel, tapping out a rhythm on the dashboard as he waited to leave.
“Come on,” Finn said, reaching down to grab my upper arms and pulling me up into the van with seemingly little effort. Before I could protest, I was firmly settled on his lap and we were rolling out of the alleyway. I glanced in the rearview mirror as we pulled away; Lexi and Tyler were walking toward a beat-up blue sedan, stopping to make-out every few steps.
I snorted at the sight, too drunk to worry about being ladylike, and heardFinn chuckle in response. I was perched on his knees, my back ramrod straight with tension. His hands moved to stroke the sensitive area on the inside of my elbows, and he gently pulled me back to lie against his chest.
“Relax,” he whispered in my ear, “I don’t bite – unless you’re into that kind of thing, that is.”
I elbowed him in the ribs, laughing softly despite myself. Reluctantly, I relaxed into him, letting my head fall back to rest on his shoulder blade. I had to admit, he was comfortable. And warm.
“How did you get to Styx tonight? It’s a pretty far walk from campus,” he noted.
“We took the bus,” I explained sleepily, my eyes closing as my muscles slowly unclenched, releasing a day’s worth of tension.
The tequila, my exhaustion, and his radiating warmth joined forces, dragging me under and lulling me to sleep.
***
“Hey, Brooklyn, wake up,” Finn’s voice whispered, startling me back into consciousness. “We’re at your house.”
Groggily, I lifted my head from the crook of his neck and looked out the passenger window. Sure enough, we were parked outside the yellowing Victorian.
Finn’s arms were wrapped around my torso, holding me to his chest. While asleep, I’d snuggled close to his warmth – which left me in an extremely embarrassing predicament now that I was awake.
“Oh, okay,” I muttered, sure my cheeks were on fire. Hopefully he couldn't tell in the darkness of the van. Awkwardly extracting myself from Finn’s arms, I turned to Scott.
“Thank you for the ride, I really appreciate it.”
He nodded in response.
I threw open the passenger door and scrambled offFinn’s lap as quickly as my heels would allow. To my surprise, he jumped out after me.
“What are you doing?” I asked nervously. “You can’t come in.”
Finn ignored me, turning back to Scott. “Give me five minutes, man. I’ll be right back,” he said, shutting the passenger door. He looked down at me, frowning. “I’m walking you to your door, smartass. I promised I’d get you home, and I’m not leaving you at the curb dressed like that, as drunk as you are.”
“I’m fine! And what isthatsupposed to mean?” I said, indicating my dress.
“Never mind,” he muttered, exasperated. “Just come on.” He grabbed my arm and led me to the side stairway.
“Do you even have your key?” he asked, doubtfully.