Alpha Hero - Hope Ford Page 0,80

I seal it with a kiss.

4

Baker

Nothing. Absolutely nothing could ruin the day that I just had. I pull into my driveway and start walking to the door. I just dropped Heather off at her car and after a few stolen kisses, I let her drive away, but only after getting her phone number and address of where to pick her up tomorrow night.

My phone dings. Pulling it out of my pocket, I look at it. Shit. I forgot about the guys throwing Zach a surprise bachelor party. I still can’t believe he’s getting married.

I reply that I’m on my way and get back in the truck. I would rather have gone home and just sit on the couch, think of Heather, and plan our date for tomorrow. But I know I need to go tonight. I’m still trying to repair my friendship with Zach.

As soon as I walk in, the first thing I notice is a few girls standing around my buddies. I walk around them to the other side and pat Zach on the back. “Congratulations.”

He nods at me and before he turns his head around, dismissing me, I stick my hand out, leaning in to talk to him so he can hear me over the music. “Look, I’m sorry about everything with Shannon. I didn’t get it then, but I do now. I promise I’ll never disrespect her again.” He looks at my hand. I know he’s thinking back to when I almost went out on a date with his girl and how I talked about her. I don’t blame him if he doesn’t forgive me, but I have to try.

When I think he’s going to turn away, he finally sticks his hand out. “Sure, okay, thanks, man.”

We shake hands and I even tug him in for a one-arm hug. The rest of the night goes good. I’m with my brothers and I’ve already texted Heather, letting her know I’m thinking about her. She sent me back a blushing face with heart eyes, and I figure that I must have done something right.

“Hey, you, hey how about you and I get outta here!” a woman breathes into my ear as she stumbles toward me.

I catch her before she falls and try to stand her up on her feet. “Whoa! I think you had a little too much to drink. How about we call you a cab? Where’re your friends at?”

She’s leaning on me heavily. The guys are all starting to leave and clapping me on the back, like I’ve just found my conquest for the night. I’m a little disgusted that they think that about me. I may take women home, but I don’t take ones home that don’t even know who they are.

Shaking my head, I’m still struggling to talk to the woman and hold her upright. “Hey! Do you have any friends here?”

She shakes her head and leans in, trying to kiss me. “No, but you can be my friend.”

I pull back from her. “I have a girlfriend.” I know Heather might not think so, but I do. She’s going to be mine.

Her lips pout and she leans her head on my shoulder. “All the good ones are taken.”

I try to set her on the stool, but she just topples over. “Okay, do you have someone that I can call to come get you?”

She shakes her head and jumps away from me. “No, I’m just going to go home.”

I stand there, watching her walk away, barely able to put one foot in front of the other with her keys dangling from her hand. I almost let her go. Almost. But I know I can’t. I’ve worked more than my fair share of drunk driving accidents and they are horrific. If not for her, I have to protect others.

I run up behind her grabbing her keys. “Look, just tell me who to call and I’ll call them.”

She says there’s no one and finally, I offer to take her. “Fine, you can’t drive. Just let me take you home.”

She nods her head and follows me to my truck. I have to help her in and then I try to find out where she lives. She just giggles and asks me where I live.

I ask her every way I know how. “Do you live downtown?”

She says no.

“Do you live uptown?”

She shakes her head.

We do this for what seems like hours. Finally, after she’s figured out that no matter what, I’m not taking her home with me, she gives me