Dances with Monsters(108)

"My parents don't play that late shit," she said. "Especially not today. Were you listening? This is like, the biggest day of the month."

"I was listening," Heath replied, a hint of a laugh in his voice. Drew whirled to face him and saw him quickly fold his lips inward to hide his smile.

"It's not funny!" she exclaimed as he sped along. "They are going to be—they are—so pissed right now."

To his credit, Heath was a good driver and got to Bloomfield in record time. Suddenly, the full horror of her situation hit her like a brick and she couldn't believe she'd overlooked it.

"You have to drop me off at the corner!" she gasped. "They can't see you dropping me off. Oh, my God. My father will kill you. And I'm in the same clothes as I was yesterday? Oh, my God. You have to drop me off a block away."

"Drew," Heath said disapprovingly. "I'm not gonna hide the fact that I dropped you off. Come on, now. We're all adults."

"My father doesn't give a shit that the law 'technically' recognizes me as an adult," she said mournfully.

Heath shot her a look. "You're bein' dramatic." He parked the car right in front of the café. "Besides, he and I need to have a talk anyway. Come on. Get out."

The café, not open until eight, was still locked although the lights were on. She knocked hesitantly and Bunz appeared instantly. Drew had sent her a text letting her know she was on her way. Bunz's expression held a mixture of annoyance and entertainment as she noted in one sweeping glance that Drew and Heath were together at this early hour and that Drew was wearing her clothes from the day before.

"How bad?" Drew asked breathlessly when Bunz opened the door.

"Bad," Bunz replied. She nodded her head at Heath. "So bad, I'm going to leave and get some tea."

"Uh…" Drew gestured to the barista counter where containers of tea were lined up neatly in a row.

"Key word being leave," Bunz said, slipping into her jacket. She looked between the two of them and shook her head sadly. "It was nice knowing you, Heath. May the force be with you guys." She slipped out and let the door shut behind her.

"Drusilla, get your ass back here!" her father's voice called from the back. "Let's get to work!"

She trudged back toward the kitchen, Heath following close behind her. She peered around the corner and saw both of her parents holding clipboards peering at shelves. On the stainless steel island were boxes and bottles and packages.

"You mind tellin' me why the hell you're almost ninety minutes late?" her father asked absently. He glanced over at her and did a double-take when he saw Heath standing next to her.

"Good morning, sir," Heath said calmly. "Mom'am."

"Good morning, Heath," Mrs. Carnevale replied automatically, but there was surprise and curiosity in her voice. "What, uh –" Her question hesitated on her lips.

"I drove Drew to work this morning, ma'am," Heath replied.

"You dropped my daughter off," Mr. Carnevale said, and it wasn't a question.

"Yes, sir."

"You dropped my daughter off when she lives three blocks from here," Mr. Carnevale added.

"Yes, sir."

Mr. Carnevale's eyes shifted to Drew, and he noted that she was in the same clothes he'd seen her in yesterday. He lifted his eyebrows. Drew sighed.

"What, John?" she asked, exasperated. "I went to Heath's last night. We watched a movie, and I fell asleep."

"Then, that would be the time for you to wake her up and take her home," Mr. Carnevale said to Heath, blinking.

"I would have, sir," Heath replied, "except I fell asleep myself. I take responsibility for Drew not arriving on time this morning."

Drew looked up at him and opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with a discreet touch to her back.

Mr. Carnevale was openly sizing him up. "And you better never let that happen again," he said, and it was a veiled threat. To his credit, Heath looked completely unfazed as he nodded.

"Yes, sir," he replied.

Mr. Carnevale shifted his eyes back to Drew, who felt her insides shudder. "All right, then," he said, and Drew braced herself for his next point of attack. "What's this I hear about you wantin' to take my daughter out of town?"

Drew noticed that Heath was standing with almost military-like rigidity, the force of habit from years in the Corps still strong upon him. "Yes, sir. I intended to speak to you about that today. I did ask Drew if she would be interested in coming to Buffalo for the tournament with me. I'd like to ask your permission for her attendance, as well, provided she wants to join me."