Keeping You Away - Kennedy Fox Page 0,25

laughing. My head feels woozy, and I wish I would’ve passed on that last one. Or maybe stopped three drinks ago.

We say goodbye to Katie as she gets up and makes her way out. Everleigh finishes her drink and slaps some cash on the table.

“I should probably get going too.” Everleigh slurs her words as she shoves her phone in her bag. She turns to Tyler. “Before you ask, I’ll be fine to walk. This isn’t Vegas.”

Then he glances at me. “You’re in no shape to drive.”

I can’t even argue with that. I look for my keys in my purse and can’t seem to find them.

“Why don’t you drive her home, Tyler?” Everleigh suggests, and I could kill her.

“I think I should,” he confirms with a nod. I can’t stop staring at his bottom lip, and the way his tongue swipes across it. I swallow hard and try to look away, but he’s so damn mesmerizing.

“Okay,” I tell him. It’s better than calling my dad this late or waking Robert. This would be the least inconvenient solution. Also, it might be nice to get Tyler alone without eyes on us.

He stands and lets Everleigh out of the booth. “My car is at the boutique,” I remind her. “Guess we’re walking some of the way with you after all.”

Just as we’re moving past the bar, a guy turns around with a beer in his hand. He’s not paying attention, and seconds later, he bumps into me. The liquid runs down my dress, and I yelp at the coldness.

“Are you serious?” My dress soaks it in, and he apologizes, but I groan and keep walking.

Everleigh leans in, looping my arm with hers. “Surprised Tyler didn’t kick that guy’s ass for doing that.”

“Shut up,” I say playfully as she nudges me. She’s aware of how I felt about Tyler and what happened between us by the end of it. While I don’t know what she’s shared with him about me over the years, I’m sure it’s enough to keep him informed.

Though it’s late, it’s still humid as hell, which doesn’t help how sticky I already feel from the beer I’m wearing. I walk beside Everleigh as she chats about posting our photos early next week. Tyler walks behind us, and I swear I can feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.

“Good night, you two,” Everleigh sing-songs when the storefront comes into view. She waves her fingers with a teasing smirk. “I’ll text you tomorrow!”

I chuckle at her obnoxiousness. Her house isn’t too far so she’ll make it home fine. “Goodbye!”

Once I find my keys, I hand them to Tyler with a shaky hand. The nervous tension returns when Everleigh is out of sight, and it’s just the two of us. Guess there’s no amount of whiskey or tequila that can hide it.

“Here, let me help you before you break an ankle.” Tyler unlocks, then opens the door for me. It’s the first time we’ve been this close, and I can smell the faint hint of his cologne and soap. Memories flood in from years ago, but I push them away and climb inside. He cranks the car and grins when it rumbles to life.

“What?”

“I’ve always wanted to drive one of these.” When I graduated from college, my dad fully restored a 1967 Ford Mustang for me and painted it jet black.

I lean my head against the seat. “Just be careful, she wants to go ninety all the time.”

“Noted. So am I taking you to your fiancé’s house or…”

“No, you’re taking me home.”

“Tell me where that is.” His voice is velvety smooth like chocolate.

“It’s where it’s always been.” I chuckle. “The house behind my dad’s.”

The same place he took my virginity and where we spent endless nights having sex.

“The Snow White cottage?” he asks, pulling out onto the road.

“Yep. Remember when we used to hang out there after I graduated?”

I immediately clamp my mouth shut, but it’s too late. The alcohol makes me blurt out those words. Bringing up our past has been on the tip of my tongue all night. The summer I spent with Tyler often feels like a lifetime away, but also seems like it was yesterday.

“How could I forget? It was the best summer I’ve ever had here.” He finally glances over at me, and I’m thankful it’s dark so he can’t see the heat rising to my cheeks.

We stay silent, listening to the radio until Tyler pulls into the driveway. After getting out of