Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) by Kathryn Andrews Page B

matter, not any more. I slowly back out of the bathroom. His eyes never leave mine. As I’m closing the door, I hear Lisa call me a freak.
    My sudden need to go to the bathroom has left me and I wander back out to the party. I need Chase to take me home but I can’t find him. Wandering over to the bar, I pick up two more drinks and take them down to the end of the dock.
    There are people everywhere but I just don’t care. Before I moved, Beau was my only real friend. I spent all of my time with him, and since I’ve been back, it’s been hard to make new ones.
    I wanted to move back here so badly to see him, be near him, just anything that had to do with him, but seeing him tonight I wish I never had. Throughout this entire year, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake him. He’s ignored me, laughed at me, and once again, he’s hurt me. And what upsets me the most is he just doesn’t care.
    Finishing the first drink, I set the cup down and press the heels of my hand to my eyes. Everything has started to feel numb and I’m glad. I just want to go home.
    “Leila.”
    I freeze at the sound of his voice. He’s behind me. I can feel my heart rate as it picks up. Saying nothing, I bring the second drink to my lips and then throw my head back to swallow every last drop.
    “Leila, why don’t you let me take you home?” he says quietly.
    Is he joking? Why on earth is he offering this? And, I’m pretty certain that what I saw a few minutes ago meant he is too busy to have to deal with me. Or maybe they’ve finished; the thought sickens me and breaks me further.
    “What makes you think I would go anywhere with you?” I don’t look at him. I just continue to stare out across the water wishing my cup was still full.
    “Chase left,” he says.
    What? My head whips around and my eyes dart up to his. “What do you mean he left?!” Beau’s eyes travel over my face and I feel heat spread through my cheeks. His gaze switches to one of pity. He doesn’t get to feel that way about me.
    “He couldn’t find you and told Grant so you would know to get a ride home.”
    Fury burns in my veins. I’m going to kill Chase. I didn’t even want to come to this stupid party in the first place. Mixtures of emotions flip through me: anger, humiliation, sadness, loneliness.
    All of the fight that I have left in me vanishes. I don’t know who to ask, and I really don’t want to walk home. “Fine, but I want to go now.”
    “Okay.”
    Very ungracefully I stand up. Now that I’m moving, I realize these drinks have affected me more than I initially thought. Walking towards Beau, I stumble, and he reaches out to catch me. For a split second, his hands on me calm me, but then I smell Lisa’s perfume.
    “Don’t touch me,” I say in a low tone.
    He pulls his hands back like I have stung him, and has the audacity to look upset.
    Together we walk back up the dock and through the party. The music is too loud and the lights are now too bright. My head hurts. My stomach aches. My heart is broken. I can’t get home fast enough.
    We are silent for most of the ride. I look over at him discreetly and try to memorize every detail of him: his profile, his hand on the steering wheel, the way his jeans fit his thighs. I’ve never been in a car with him before, where he is driving. How I wish this spot in the passenger seat was mine, but I know it’s not and never will be. The thought of Lisa sitting here causes my stomach to clinch. I roll down the window so the fresh air can hit my face.
    Beau pulls up in front of my little house and puts the car in park. I don’t even know how he knows where I live I’ve certainly never told him.
    He turns and focuses on me. My entire body blushes, and the space in the Tahoe suddenly feels like it’s shrinking. I continue to look out the window at my tiny home.
    “I’m sorry if what you saw tonight hurt you,” he says into the quiet space between us.
    Hurt me? He has no idea how much he has hurt