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I shake my head. “No thanks. I’ve definitely had enough.” My cheeks are warm, and my vision is spotty. I can’t believe how quickly a bit of tequila knocked me over.

“Just one more?” he pleads.

“She said she’s had enough.” The words split my skin open; my veins pulsate. Anthony is standing mere feet away, watching us with furious eyes.

17

ANTHONY

I knewthere was something off about this guy.

He’s standing too close to Kali, her hands grasped around his arms. He’s getting pushy about getting her more liquored up and I can tell by the glazed look on her face that she’s had a few.

“She’s a grown woman who can make her own decisions,” Nathan snaps.

“And you’re a grown man who should know better than to take advantage of an intoxicated woman,” I spit.

Nathan glares at me. “That’s not what’s happening here.”

“Sure, looks like it.” I glance at Kali, whose eyes lock with mine. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she mutters. “I can take care of myself.”

“Sure, you can.” I stifle an eye roll and turn to Nathan. “Time to call it a night.”

“Time for you to mind your own business,” he spits.

I step closer to them and Nathan releases Kali to meet me. Two seconds later, she’s sliding against the car again, heading for the ground.

I leap forward, shoving Nathan out of the way and catching Kali before she collapses on the gravel. She groans under her breath, tilting her head up to look at me. “Something feels wrong,” she grumbles.

My blood simmers with rage as I take in her pained expression. I know exactly what she means. She can’t stand up. She’s dazed and confused. I want to drag this asshole around the back of the building and pummel him until I’ve got no skin left on my knuckles.

I gently lower Kali to the ground, making sure she’s leaning against the car, before standing up to face Nathan. “How many drinks did she have tonight?”

Nathan shrugs. “A lot. We were having a good time.”

Kali groans. “I had three.”

My fists reach out and grab Nathan by the shirt, pulling him close to me. Panic flitters across his eyes. “You slipped her something.”

Nathan scoffs. “Calm it down with the dramatics, mate. She’s just drunk.”

“Do you always liquor women up to the point of incoherence? Can’t get it up unless they’re incapacitated?”

Nathan grabs my fists and yanks himself free. “Fuck off.”

I step closer to Nathan and smirk as he flinches backwards. “Get the fuck out of here before Imakeyou get out of here.”

Before my anger gets the better of me, I lean down and scoop Kali off the ground, her arms reaching up around my neck as we head back towards her studio. A few seconds later, I hear Nathan’s car leave the lot.

“You had to get all macho, didn’t you?” Kali mumbles from under me.

I walk us back inside and gently lower her into a camping chair. “You’re welcome.”

She peers up at me, her eyes narrowed. “What’s your problem?”

“Have you forgotten the last few minutes? Kali, you’re incapacitated. You had three drinks, and you can’t even walk. There’s no way he didn’t have a hand in that.”