"You've never seen her drink?" Adalyn asks and then says, "Oh, I'm Adalyn by the way."
"Ugh, I'm the worst," I reply. "Tucker, this is Adalyn and Logan. Sorry."
He nods at them and then says, "I've seen Emma drink, but I've never seen her get drunk." He smiles down at me. "She always took care of us." The sentiment is sweet. I know my friends from back home appreciate me, but it's always nice to hear on occasion.
"You've never seen Emma drunk?" Adalyn asks. "Wow, that's surprising since I feel like I see drunk Emma more than sober Emma."
"Seriously?" Tucker's eyes shoot up to his hairline.
"No." I playfully swat at Adalyn. "She's lying. I don't drink that much. But when I have time off and need to relax, I might throw back a few Old Fashioneds."
"And shots of whiskey," Logan adds, tipping his drink back into his mouth.
"Well, fuck, I've never seen this side of Emma." Tucker rubs the back of his neck, his gaze fixed on me. "Next party, you're getting your ass wasted. No excuses."
"That's if you show up." I'm joking, but there is a layer of darkness that blankets his expression, and it makes me sad. Tucker is different to most guys. He masks his demons and always tries to put on a good show for everyone around him, which he's doing right now.
My question is, why is he drinking tonight? Alone. Does he do this often? I've been so consumed with my life that I've neglected catching up with my friends. How long has he been going to bars by himself? Is this something I need to be concerned about? My need to know-to care-kicks in, but not here. He's not an open book when it comes to his life, especially in front of people he doesn't know very well.
Two fingers push against the wrinkle in my brow. I look up to Tucker who pulls away. "What's with the worried face?"
"She has no place to live," Adalyn answers before I can even formulate a response. "We got evicted from our place a few days ago and have to be out in two days."
"Adalyn," I chastise, not wanting Tucker to know about my woes. I'm the girl who always has everything together, the friend who can see ten steps ahead.
"You don't have a place to live?" Tucker asks, concern in his voice.
Squeezing my eyes together for a brief second, I turn to him and say, "Eh, I've got it handled. Just waiting to hear back from a few places, that's all."
"They all said no." Come on, Adalyn! What is she drinking over there, truth serum?
"It's all right, she has a place to stay," Logan says, nudging me with his shoulder.
Leaning over the bar to see me, Adalyn says, "There is no way you're going to share a three-bedroom apartment with six men."
"Six men?" Tucker raises an eyebrow at me. "I could see five, but six?" His teasing lightens the irritated mood moving through me.
"It's temporary until we can figure something out." Logan grips my hand to let me know he's serious. "You can have my bunk and I'll take the couch. It's better than having no place to go."
"Are you sure?" I ask. "It seems like a lot of people for a small place. I don't think I can do that to you . . . or me."
"It's not a big deal. Tyler and Travis are never home and if they are, you don't see them very often and the other guys, well, they think you're cool."
"They'll make you do their laundry and cook them food," Adalyn points out.
"Not true. We know how to cook dinner and do laundry. Just the other night we made a five-gallon pot of Kraft Mac and Cheese. We even fried some of it."
"And the kitchen almost caught on fire." Adalyn snickers to herself.
"Last fucking time I tell you anything." Logan's scowl is washed away when he turns back toward me. "Seriously, we can make it work, Em."
"You can stay with me." We all turn to look at Tucker who is leaning back in his chair, his glass dangling in his hand and his head tilted toward the ground, his eyes the only thing pointed in our direction.
"What?" The bewilderment in my voice doesn't go unnoticed. "I . . . do you . . . where do you even live?" Caught off guard, yup, that would be the perfect way to describe how I'm feeling.
"I have a house in Hillcrest. Probably a ten-minute drive to campus."
"You have a house?" When did this happen? How did I not know? Am I a bad friend for not knowing? Does everyone else know?
"Yeah." He shifts in his chair, drawing back just slightly. He clears his throat and adds, "There are some things I need to fix in it, but it has a spare bedroom."