God, I really wish Sawyer wasn’t out tonight.
Even with a broken leg, I’m sure he’d fight better than me.
I silently pray it’s just a cow that’s gotten loose—maybe Kentucky wants to play fetch or something. Though that would mean it’s learnt to talk, which is almost as terrifying.
But by the time I’ve tiptoed to the top of the stairs, the creak and swing of the front door opening has echoed through the house, and the glow of lights flickers in from the kitchen, which calms me somewhat because I don’t think burglars usually have a key to the front door and put lights on.
Which means it must be Sawyer.
Oh God. What if all that banging about was because he’s brought Tara back?
I should go back to sleep, but for some reason I carry on down the stairs, clearly desperate to upset myself more. My steps are tentative, my arms wrapped tightly around the oversized T-shirt I was wearing to bed.
‘Wait, Sawyer, no—’ It’s Wolfman’s voice that rings through the archway, followed by a loud crash and subsequent groan. That has me hurrying down the last steps and into the kitchen.
My shoulders drop when I find Wolfman just about managing to haul Sawyer up from the floor, one of Sawyer’s arms loosely around his friend’s shoulders. Wolfman’s mop of chocolate curls flops about as his gaze snaps up to me.
‘Oh, hey, Honey.’ His smile is practically a wince as he tries to hold up what I can now see is averydrunk Sawyer—his head hangs like a rag doll, his eyes are closed, and a tipsy smile spreads through his flushed cheeks. Wolfman grimaces as he struggles to hold Sawyer in place. ‘Sorry for waking you up.Iwas trying to be quiet. Can’t speak for both of us, though.’
It’s then that Sawyer flips his head up and beams at me, eyes brightening comically as he shouts, ‘There she is!’
He attempts to walk to me on shaky legs, but Wolfmankeeps a tight hold on him, assumedly pre-empting another fall. Sawyer merely pouts at his friend, reminding me too much of Noah when he’s upset.
Oh my, he is absolutely wasted.
I’ve never seen him like this.
After everything with his dad, I didn’t think he ever let himself get this drunk …
‘I was gonna take him back to mine, but he wouldn’t quit whining, saying he wanted to be home with you.’ Wolfman rolls his eyes when Sawyer gasps at the accusation, though it melts into a hiccup about halfway through.
Giggling—yes,giggling—at the hiccup, Sawyer then brings a finger to his lips as he turns to his friend and hushes him. ‘Shh! She’ll hear you.’
Holding back my own laughter is a fight I cannot win, and I barely manage to stifle it with a hand over my mouth. But seeing the cocky champion bull rider reduced to a giggling, hiccuping, child-like drunken nature is too entertaining. Especially since I’m still mad at him for tonight.
Sawyer’s glassy eyes flick back to me, darkening until I stop laughing, though he struggles to keep them open.
‘Okay,’ I chuckle out, running to Wolfman’s aid to wrap Sawyer’s other arm around my shoulders.
He immediately lets some of his weight lean on me, which I’d forgotten would be a lot considering he’s practically made of nothing but solid, tan muscle. Muscle that’s right under my fingers as I wrap my arms around his waist. It’s then that I realise his clothes are muddy—likely from falling over—and soiled from what smells like strong, cheap beer. They’re going to need throwing in the wash tomorrow morning.
‘Let’s get you to bed,’ I say.
‘Thanks,’ Wolfman grunts, hefting Sawyer forward to get him to start walking—though it’s more us dragging him given he’s only using one leg, his booted leg obsolete currently.
‘Mmm.’ Using far too much strength, Sawyer squeezes me tightly into him and rests his cheek against my head. ‘Missed you.’
Wolfman snorts as we stumble through the archway, guiding Sawyer towards his bedroom. Thank the Lord he’s sleeping down here because there’s no way we’d get him up the stairs in this state. It’d be the couch or the cold wooden floor.
‘Missed you too,’ I joke back.
‘Yeah, sure.’ Sawyer grumbles just as we reach the door to his bedroom. ‘Bet you didn’t miss me when you were on your stupid date.’
So he was jealous …
I shouldn’t be smiling at that.
‘Uh …’ Wolfman hesitates, eyes flicking between me and Sawyer.