I looked down into the pulsing water, watching the patterns the torch light reflections made. It was almost hypnotic, the way it twisted and rippled over the waves. Mesmerizing. Seductive, even. Begging me to come play. But I knew better. Knew not to accept the invitation and get in over my head, where I couldn’t see the bottom, couldn’t predict what was coming next. That’s when you got hurt. From now on, I was playing it safe.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and tucked chunks of hair behind my ears. My feet felt a little steadier as I retraced my steps. It was time to find Rue and go home.

People were making their way down the dock as I reached it. While this wasn’t the kind of game ended by crowning a winner, I still felt like I had lost – I just wasn’t sure what.

Boone spotted me first and came over. “Hey, I think this is yours,” he said, handing me my tank. I hadn’t even realized I’d forgotten it.

Embarrassed, I nodded my thanks and ducked behind the trunk of a nearby palmetto tree to fix my clothes. As I came back around, West went by with Ponytail clinging to him like a barnacle. His hands were holding her ass, her legs were wrapped around his waist, and it looked like she had watched one too many vampire movies, the way she was attacking his neck. I stood frozen, unable to tear my eyes away.

Boone moved to my side and slipped an arm around my waist. “Want to check out the bonfire?” he whispered, his lips brushing my ear. I looked up at him, with his shaggy hair tangling in the breeze, and his lanky skateboarder’s body. I shivered and let him pull me closer.

“Absolutely.”

* * *

Two hours and four rum drinks later, I’d lost Boone. We’d been sharing a blanket and snuggling by the fire, giggling at each other and getting more drunk. He’d gone to get us refills, but then he never came back. I wrapped the blanket around myself and staggered up the steps to the porch. Boone was sprawled out on a chaise.

Annoyed, I walked over to him and nudged him with my knee. He didn’t stir. I furrowed my brow and nudged him again, harder this time. A loud snore rose from him, and he flopped his arm across his face.

Really? Frowning, I put my hands on my hips and looked around. Grady was studying Boone too. “I think he’s out for the count,” he said with an apologetic shrug. I stared at Grady, trying through my alcohol-induced haze to figure out what to do now. I eyed the rum on the counter next to him and moved toward it, but Grady grabbed my wrist with gentle fingers before I could snatch the bottle. “I think you might want to hold off on that.”

I glared at him. He might be right, but who did he think he was? My boss?

My sluggish brain processed the horrific truth of that thought. I was wasted, beyond wasted, in front of my boss. What was wrong with me? I needed to go home. Now.

I peered around the room, squinting into the bright light of the house. “Where’s Theo?”

“Theo?” Grady asked. “He had to leave about an hour ago. Family emergency. Something about his dad.”

Damn. I twisted my face in confusion, trying to think.

“It’s okay,” Grady said, “You can stay here. I have some extra guest rooms.”

“Um…thanks, no, that’s okay. I really just want to go home.” I concentrated on not slurring my words.

Wyatt turned around. I hadn’t even realized he was there. “I can take you home. I’m DD tonight. You ready?”

Wyatt was my new hero.

“Sure, I just gotta grab Rue.” I swiveled my head in both directions but didn’t see her right away.

“Oh shit, I forgot about her. I’ve only got room for one more in my car. Hold on. West! West!” Wyatt hollered across the room, and I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. “You got room for Sadie and Rue in your truck? Or just one and I can take the other?”

West walked over to stand next to us. Ponytail was nowhere to be seen. “I can take ’em both. You might have to help me load Rue though.”

My eyes shot to his and tried to focus. “What do you mean help load her?”

West sighed and waved his fingers for me to follow him into the living room. Rue was comatose on the couch, a dribble of drool on her cheek. Grady had followed us too and shook her shoulder gently. She didn’t react. Grady and West looked at each other and had some kind of weird unspoken conversation.

Grady glared at West. “Fine, but you owe me.” Grady turned to me. “Look, Sadie, she’s already passed out here on the couch. I’ll get her a blanket and just let her sleep it off here. I can give her a ride home in the morning.”

I protested, knowing that Rue would be furious if I left her here. I wasn’t sure what was going on with her and Grady, but I didn’t think having her wake up to breakfast with him and Marissa was a good idea. I tried to grab her arms and drag her to a sitting position, but couldn’t manage it on my own. Giving in, I pulled out my phone and sent an apologetic text to Rue, knowing she’d find it in the morning.