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CHAPTER 15

GHOST

Parker died when you left him.

“Your ride’s here.”

I lift my head off the bar and smile at Meri. Being mad at her took too much effort, so I decided to let it go. Besides, Ember’s picking me up, and that can only mean good things… right?

I’m sure if I were sober, I’d be thinking much differently.

“‘Kay.”

When I try to stand, all I manage is to slide off the stool and land on my ass. I’m sure I’d feel pain, but the alcohol is dulling all my senses.

“I shoulda left you here,” Ember sasses when she gets to me and stands at my side.

“Aw, c’mon,” I whine.

“Don’t,” she snaps. “I had to leave your mom alone to come pick your drunk ass up.”

I screw up my face, trying like hell to remember why she’d be with my mom, but for the life of me, I can’t.

“She’ll be ‘kay.”

“Dammit, Ghost,” Ember huffs.

“Um, I don’t mean to interrupt,” Meri says. “But I really need to get home. I’ve got class in the morning, and I’m beat. Let me help you get him out to the car, and the two of you can fight there.”

The two women manage to get me to my feet, which is no small feat considering I tower over both of them. Each wraps an arm around my back, and heat courses through me, but only on my right side, the side Ember is on.

Huh.

When we step outside, the cool night air does little to sober me up. I stumble along with them as we traipse toward Ember’s car, which she parked a few spaces down from the bar. I almost lose my balance a few times, but they keep me upright.

After they get me settled into the passenger seat, Ember slams the door. I watch as she talks to Meri for a few minutes before sliding into the driver’s seat and glaring at me.

“Put your seatbelt on,” she orders.

“Yes, ma’am.”

My hands don’t cooperate, and after the third failed attempt, Ember grumbles and buckles me in herself. Then she thrusts a bottle of water at me.

“Drink this, and for the love of all that’s holy, don’t puke in my car.”

“Like it when you’re bossy.”

I don’t miss the small smile she tries so hard to squash. “Shut up.”

Twice, she has to pull over so I can vomit without ruining her precious car, and both times, she seems more worried than angry. I haven’t been this drunk in a long time, but I’m not so far gone that she should worry.

But I can’t say it doesn’t feel a little nice that she does.

“Home sweet home,” she chirps after parking her car in the driveway.

I look at the house and narrow my eyes. Ben is sitting on the top porch step looking like he hasn’t a care in the world.

“What’s wrong?” Ember asks, noticing the way I tense at the sight of him.

“What the fuck’s he doin’ here?”

“I couldn’t very well leave your mom alone, could I?”

Instantly, I relax, although it’s not hard to do considering my condition. “Oh, right.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re jealous, Parker West.”

Rather than respond, I climb out of the car, sending up a silent thanks to whatever God is out there that I don’t fall over again.

“You can go,” I say when I reach Ben.

“Okay.” He shrugs and hops off the steps. “Have a good night.” As he passes Ember, he says, “If you need anything else, call, okay?”

“I will, thanks.”

“No problem.”

Ember closes the distance between us and glares at me. “Stop acting like a dog pissing on his territory,” she snaps. “You’re my employer, that’s it.”

The alcohol clouding my judgment is not my friend at the moment. Hell, I don’t know that it ever was, yet here I am.

Without thinking, I reach for her and pull her lips to mine. She tastes like mint, and I revel in it. For a moment, she capitulates and kisses me back, but only for a moment. Then she seems to come to some sort of decision and pushes me away.

“No, Parker. We can’t do this.”

“Why not?” I counter. “We’re both adults, and it doesn’t have to mean anything.”

I swear pain flashes in her blue eyes, but she quickly masks it and squares her shoulder. “That’s exactly why. Because it won’t mean anything, and I’m not that kinda girl.”

“Coulda fooled me.”

The second the words are out of my mouth, I want to call them back. Even hammered, I know they’re wrong. And Ember doesn’t let me off the hook easily. Her palm connects with my cheek, and the sting chases away the booze more than anything else could have.

“You’re a dick, Parker, ya know that?”

She doesn’t give me a chance to answer before stomping onto the porch and unlocking the front door, but my voice stops her in her tracks.

“It’s. Ghost. Parker died when you left him.”