Sustained(25)

For a moment, the only response on the other end is the soft sound of Chelsea’s breath. Christ—even her breathing is sexy. If I wasn’t still hard, I sure as shit would be now.

“You don’t have to do that, Jake.”

“Yeah, I know I don’t have to, but I am,” I bite out—harsher than I mean to. “So just say thanks and hang up the phone.”

“O-kay. Well . . . thanks. And even though you bit my head off for no reason, I’m gonna let it slide since you’re doing me a humongous favor.”

I chuckle. “It’s been a . . . frustrating evening.”

“Ah—now, that I can relate to.”

I bet she can.

“I’ll see you soon, Chelsea.”

“All right. Drive safe.”

• • •

I arrive at the precinct, sign some quick paperwork, and wait at the front desk for them to bring Riley out. Noblecky’s there—he makes a few stupid comments about my babysitting career, and I don’t really listen. But his jokes do get me thinking. What the hell am I doing here? I don’t do complicated, I avoid distractions, and up until this point, that strategy has served me well.

Chelsea McQuaid is a fine piece of ass—but her nieces and nephews are turning out to be more distraction than she’s worth.

Riley is escorted out from the back room. She’s as white as a ghost and unsteady on her feet. Her hair is stringy—wet—and I vaguely wonder if she got puke in it. Dark bruises of mascara shadow bloodshot eyes. She grips a bottle of Gatorade and a paper upchuck bag like the ones so thoughtfully tucked into the seat backs on airplanes.

“Hi,” she rasps in a scratchy voice. “Thank you for coming to get me.”

The first stirrings of pity echo in my chest. Not only do I remember how it feels to be sick drunk—easily the most miserable experience ever—I also remember what it was like to be fourteen.

It sucked.

“Come on, Smiley, let’s go.”

She doesn’t even have the energy to roll her eyes at me.

I guide her to the car, warning her just before I close the door, “You puke in my car, you’ll be walking home.”

I slide into the driver’s side and the engine roars. Riley squeezes her eyes closed, like the car’s vibrations are making her queasy.

“Why didn’t you give them your aunt’s number?” I ask to distract her.

“Aunt Chelsea already has so much to deal with. I didn’t want to bother her.”

But it was just peachy to bother the shit out of me.

I pull out of the parking lot. “What were you drinking?”

“Jägermeister.” She groans, bringing the bag closer.

And I laugh out loud. “Hope you enjoyed it—chances are you’ll never drink it again.”

When it comes to mild alcohol poisoning, the body may forgive but the stomach never, ever forgets.

She holds her own against the urge to vomit, breathing slow and deep. “Is this when you lecture me about the dangers of underage drinking?”

I roll to a stop at a red light. “Nope. You already know you were stupid—you don’t need me to tell you that. I am curious though—what brought on the sudden binge?”

Her words are slow and careful, like she’s afraid if she talks too loud it will offset the delicate balance that’s keeping her from retching. “Matthew Applegate threw the party. He told me about it in school today. He’s a senior. He’s gorgeous and perfect and he seemed interested in me.”

Anger sparks, like the flick of a match—because I have no doubt the little prick was interested in some part of her.

“But when I got to the party,” she whispers, “he was all over Samantha Frey.”

“I’m gonna take a wild guess and say Samantha has a reputation for putting out? Big boobs, nice face—probably a cheerleader?”

Riley nods. “She was the homecoming queen.”

Oh man.

“And that’s when you made friends with the Jäger?”

She wipes at her cheeks. “It made me feel happy. I didn’t care about Matthew or my . . . I didn’t care about anything.”

I blow out a long breath and decide to hand out some advice. “Riley, boys your age . . . are really not worth your time. They’re selfish and stupid. It’s not their fault; they’re just programmed that way—but they’re still a lost cause. I think you should stay away from all of them until you’re at least . . . twenty-five. Or . . . have you considered being a lesbian?”

She looks at me blankly. “That is so offensive.”

I raise one hand. “Just trying to be helpful.”

Riley turns to stare out the window. After a few minutes her chin quivers and her shoulders tremble.