“Well, Ash, I’m doin’ exactly what it looks like I’m doin’,” Sawyer replied.
“You were all over Lana!”
“Yeah, baby, I was. Your cousin is a sweet little thing. And she wasn’t fighting me. I’m pretty damn sure she was enjoying herself too.”
Hoots and whistles came from somewhere around us. I couldn’t seem to do anything but stare at Sawyer in shock.
“She’s off limits. Do you hear me? Don’t you dare use her--”
“Use her? Really, Ash? You think that’s what this was about? Because baby, it ain’t. I can be attracted to other girls. It is possible,” the pleased tone in his voice was unmistakable. Why was he so pleased?
“That’s not what I meant,” Ashton all but yelled.
Sawyer raised his eyebrows in disbelief, “Really? Cause that’s sure what it sounds and looks like from here, sweetheart.”
“That’s enough, Sawyer,” Beau’s voice startled me and I turned to see him walking into the room. Oh, good Lord, he was mad.
“It ain’t me this time bro. She started it,” Sawyer didn’t sound worried at all about the fact Beau looked ready to hurt someone.
“And if you don’t shut your drunk ass mouth I’m going to end it,” Beau’s voice was cold and even.
Sawyer wasn’t drunk, was he? I stared at him and he just looked relaxed. When my dad had come home drunk he’d been loud and mean. Sawyer was sweet and gentle or he had been before we’d been interrupted.
“Lana just come on, we need to go,” Ashton demanded from her spot beside Beau.
Sawyer’s hand reached over and grabbed mine, “Don’t leave,” he said in a pleading whisper. That was all I needed. I’d come here for one reason, to get Sawyer Vincent to notice me. I wasn’t about to leave now that I had his attention.
“I want to stay here awhile longer, if that’s okay,” I replied, hoping Ashton didn’t get angry. Not that she really had a reason to be.
“But he’s—”
“Not your business,” Sawyer said, interrupting Ashton.
Anger flared in Ashton’s green eyes and Beau pulled her up tight against his side and whispered something to her. She seemed to relax a little then nodded.
“Okay, fine. Stay. But do not let Sawyer drive you home. Beau and I’ll come back and get you when you’re ready. Just call.”
I nodded. Sawyer hadn’t promised to take me home anyway. That sounded like a good plan.
“Glad you two are leaving. Lana and I needed a room,” Sawyer announced, standing up rather unsteadily then tugging me up beside him. Laughter from the audience we’d gathered was the wake-up call I needed.
Jerking my hand out of his grasp, I mentally cursed my fair skin and the blush I knew was covering my face and neck. Maybe Sawyer was drunk. I hoped he was because insinuating to everyone around us that we were going to go do something in a bedroom was not something the Sawyer I knew would do.
“You know, I think I will leave with Ash and Beau,” I replied, hoping I’d masked the humiliation in my voice.
“Wait. No. What’d I do?” Sawyer’s hurt little boy voice almost stopped me. But his words insinuating we were going to go up to a bedroom and do -God knows what- while a room full of people listened kept me moving toward Ashton.
“Come on,” Ashton whispered, pulling me to her side and leading me out the door.
“Someone sober drive him home or call me to come get him,” Beau said in parting before he turned and followed us outside.
“I’m not drunk!” Sawyer declared loudly.
Then the door closed and I had to fight back the tears.
Chapter Six
Sawyer