"Landon, I told Jensen I'd get you into a cab at bar close. It's two. Time to go back to Austin's and sleep this off."
"Heidi, Heidi, Heidi," he crowed, his words slurred. He slung an arm around my waist, ignoring the looks from the remaining football players in his crowd. "Don't listen to Jensen. He doesn't know shit."
I easily slipped out of his grip. "Time to go, Landon."
He placed the pitcher down on the table and stood up to look at me. But his balance was total shit. He stumbled forward into me, and I had to lean him up against the booth for him to stand straight.
"God, you're fucked up."
"Heidi," he said again.
"What?"
"You heading out with McCain?"
I gritted my teeth. "What if I am?"
"Have at it, Martin," Landon said, swinging his arm. "He only fucks anything that walks. Go for it, if you're into that."
"Even if I were into that," I said in irritation, "it would be none of your goddamn business."
"None of my business?" he said with a sharp laugh. "Right."
His buddies patted him on the back and nudged his shoulder as they passed.
"See you at the after-party, Landon!" one guy called.
Landon yelled and held his hands up, "Yeah, man!"
The other guys cheered him on and then disappeared out of the now-empty room.
There was no way I was going to let him go to some party; that was for damn sure. He was too drunk to go anywhere.
"Landon, you're drunk. Can you let me get you home, so I can fulfill my promise to Jensen?"
"Fuck Jensen!" Landon announced.
"I think Em has that covered," I growled in frustration.
"Awesome. Another thing we have in common. Shitty wives, a penchant for whiskey, and my ex."
"Would you cut it out?"
"I'd normally say blondes, too," Landon said. He ran his hand through my long blonde locks and grinned at me.
I slapped his hand away from me and tried to remain calm. "Time to go. Let's go. Right now."
"Fine," he grumbled as I shoved him toward the door.
We made it halfway across the room, veering awkwardly in his drunken stupor, before Peter came over to help me walk him outside. Only one more cab was waiting, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I could get him home. Then, this crazy night would be over.
Peter and I finally maneuvered Landon into the back of the cab.
"Thanks, Peter. I appreciate it."
"Be careful, Heidi," he said with a knowing look. "Wrights aren't always right." Then, he winked at me.
I felt my face flame at his words. From anyone else, I probably would have blown it off, but Peter didn't say much. He watched and observed. If he had noticed something, then it was because it was blatantly obvious with just a look.
"Thanks for the advice, but you don't have to worry about me."
"I know," he said with a nod. "You're a fighter, just like your old man."
I winced slightly at the comment. Perhaps that was supposed to be a compliment, but about my father … I could hardly take it as one.
"Thanks," I muttered, trying for a smile. "You're the best."
I hopped into the cab behind Landon and coaxed Austin's address out of him for the driver. I nearly kicked him when I found out it was only three blocks away. Not that I could have walked him down those three blocks, but I felt ridiculous, having a cab take him a walkable distance.
Getting him out of the cab was about as difficult as getting him into it, and I got the cab driver's number, so I could call him when I needed a ride home. I didn't think getting him inside was going to be any easier.
Eventually, we made it into Austin's home and to the first-floor bedroom. I thanked the Lord that he wasn't on the second floor. I wasn't sure what I would have done about getting him up the stairs. I probably would have had to leave him on the couch.
I pushed him down onto the bed, and he tumbled backward.
"God, I'm drunk," he muttered.
"Welcome to my world."
"I never expected that you'd be the one taking the initiative," he slurred. "You like it on top?"
"Don't mess with me right now, Landon."
"Hey, you pushed me back onto the bed."
"Because you're wasted, and I wanted to get you somewhere safe. Now, I'm going to go home, so I can get some sleep."
He sloppily reached out for my hand. "Stay with me."
I slipped my hand out of his with a shake of my head. "Not happening."
Then, I went about finding water, Tylenol, and a small trash can to put beside the bed. He might get sick, and I didn't want him to throw up all over Austin's room.