My Soul to Keep
Page 4
Damn it. Nash was off the couch in an instant and I followed, whispering a thank-you to Tod as I passed him. But hed already blinked out of the office.
I trailed Nash down the hall and through the packed living room, accidentally bumping a beer from a cheerleaders hand on the way. We ran out the front door and I wished Id stopped to find my jacket when the frigid air raised goose bumps all over my skin.
We paused at the end of the walkway, and I spotted Emma near the mouth of the cul-de-sac, a brief glimpse of long blond hair. There. I pointed and we took off again. We got there just as Doug pulled his passengers side door open. He had Em pressed against the side of the car, his tongue in her mouth, his free hand up her shirt.
Emma was totally into it, and though I didnt think shed have gone so far in public if not for the beer, that was her business. But getting in the car with a drunk crossed the line from stupid into dangerous.
Em, I said as Nash slapped one hand on Dougs shoulder and pulled him backward.
What the hell, man! Doug slurred as his hand pulled free from Emmas bra hard enough that the elastic slapped her skin.
Kaylee! Emma smiled and fell against me, and I glared at Doug. She didnt know what she was doing, and he was being a complete asshole.
Em, you know how it goes. I wrapped one arm around her waist when she stumbled. Come together, stay together
leave together, she finished with a wide-eyed, pseudo-serious expression. But we didnt come together, Kay
I know, but the last part still applies.
Fuller, shes drunk. Nash angled him so that Doug fell into his own passengers seat. And so are you.
Noooo Emma giggled, blowing beer breath at me.
Hes not drinking, so he gets to drive.
Em, hes wasted, Nash insisted, then glanced at me and tossed his head toward the house. Take her back in.
I started walking Emma up the sidewalk, trying to keep her quiet as she told me how nice Doug was. She wasnt just drunk, she was gone. I should have watched her more closely.
A minute later, Nash caught up to us as I was lowering Emma onto the porch. Did you get his keys? I asked, and Nash frowned. Then, as he turned to head back toward Dougs car, an engine growled to life and a sick feeling settled into the pit of my stomach. Nash took off running and I leaned Emma against the top step. Tod? I called, glancing around the dark yard, grateful there was no one around to see me talking to myself.
What? the reaper said at my back, and I whirled around, wondering why he always appeared behind me.
Can you sit with her for a minute?
Hescowled and glanced at Emma, who stared up at us, blinking her big blue eyes in intoxicated innocence. You told me to stay away from her.
Hey, I remember you, Emma slurred, loud enough to make me wince. Youre dead.
We both ignored Em. I know. Just watch her for a minute, and dont let her get into any cars. Please. Then I raced after Nash past the entrance to the cul-de-sac, confident Tod would watch Emma. That hed probably been doing it all night, though hed catch hell for missing work.
Ahead, streetlights shone on the glossy surface of Dougs car, gliding past like a slice of the night itself. Then, as I caught up to Nash, Doug leaned suddenly to one side, and his car lurched forward and to the right.
There was a loud pop, followed by the crunch of metal. Then the crash of something more substantial.
Shit! Nash took off running again and I followed as that sick feeling in my stomach enveloped the rest of me. Oh, no, Kaylee
I knew before I even saw it. The street was lined with expensive, highly insured cars belonging to people who could easily afford to replace them. But the drunk jock had hit mine. When I got closer, I saw that hed not only hit it, hed rammed it up onto the sidewalk and through a neighbors brick mailbox.
My car was crunched. The drivers side door was buckled. Bricks and chunks of mortar lay everywhere.
Behind us, Scotts front door squealed opened and voices erupted into the dark behind me. I glanced back to find Todnow fully corporealushering Emma away from the crowd pouring into the yard. When I was sure she was okay, I turned to my poor, dead car.
Until I noticed that Doug Fuller had yet to emerge from his.
Crap.
Help me with him, Nash called, and I rounded the car as he pulled open the completely unscathed drivers side door of the Mustang. Dougs head lolled on his shoulders, and he was mumbling drunk nonsense under his breath. with me. Somebody else in my car, dude
Nash leaned inside to unlatch the seat beltwhat kind of drunk remembers to buckle up?but he couldnt fit between his friend and the steering wheel, which had been shoved way too close to Dougs chest. Kay, could you get the belt?
I sighed and crawled across his lap, wedging my torso between the wheel and his chest as I felt around for the button. Scared the shit out of me he mumbled into the hair that had fallen over my ear. He was just there, outta nowhere!
Shut up, Doug, I snapped, seriously considering leaving him in the car until the cops arrived. Youre drunk. When I had the belt unlatched, I backed out of the linebackers lap and he exhaled right into my face.
I trailed Nash down the hall and through the packed living room, accidentally bumping a beer from a cheerleaders hand on the way. We ran out the front door and I wished Id stopped to find my jacket when the frigid air raised goose bumps all over my skin.
We paused at the end of the walkway, and I spotted Emma near the mouth of the cul-de-sac, a brief glimpse of long blond hair. There. I pointed and we took off again. We got there just as Doug pulled his passengers side door open. He had Em pressed against the side of the car, his tongue in her mouth, his free hand up her shirt.
Emma was totally into it, and though I didnt think shed have gone so far in public if not for the beer, that was her business. But getting in the car with a drunk crossed the line from stupid into dangerous.
Em, I said as Nash slapped one hand on Dougs shoulder and pulled him backward.
What the hell, man! Doug slurred as his hand pulled free from Emmas bra hard enough that the elastic slapped her skin.
Kaylee! Emma smiled and fell against me, and I glared at Doug. She didnt know what she was doing, and he was being a complete asshole.
Em, you know how it goes. I wrapped one arm around her waist when she stumbled. Come together, stay together
leave together, she finished with a wide-eyed, pseudo-serious expression. But we didnt come together, Kay
I know, but the last part still applies.
Fuller, shes drunk. Nash angled him so that Doug fell into his own passengers seat. And so are you.
Noooo Emma giggled, blowing beer breath at me.
Hes not drinking, so he gets to drive.
Em, hes wasted, Nash insisted, then glanced at me and tossed his head toward the house. Take her back in.
I started walking Emma up the sidewalk, trying to keep her quiet as she told me how nice Doug was. She wasnt just drunk, she was gone. I should have watched her more closely.
A minute later, Nash caught up to us as I was lowering Emma onto the porch. Did you get his keys? I asked, and Nash frowned. Then, as he turned to head back toward Dougs car, an engine growled to life and a sick feeling settled into the pit of my stomach. Nash took off running and I leaned Emma against the top step. Tod? I called, glancing around the dark yard, grateful there was no one around to see me talking to myself.
What? the reaper said at my back, and I whirled around, wondering why he always appeared behind me.
Can you sit with her for a minute?
Hescowled and glanced at Emma, who stared up at us, blinking her big blue eyes in intoxicated innocence. You told me to stay away from her.
Hey, I remember you, Emma slurred, loud enough to make me wince. Youre dead.
We both ignored Em. I know. Just watch her for a minute, and dont let her get into any cars. Please. Then I raced after Nash past the entrance to the cul-de-sac, confident Tod would watch Emma. That hed probably been doing it all night, though hed catch hell for missing work.
Ahead, streetlights shone on the glossy surface of Dougs car, gliding past like a slice of the night itself. Then, as I caught up to Nash, Doug leaned suddenly to one side, and his car lurched forward and to the right.
There was a loud pop, followed by the crunch of metal. Then the crash of something more substantial.
Shit! Nash took off running again and I followed as that sick feeling in my stomach enveloped the rest of me. Oh, no, Kaylee
I knew before I even saw it. The street was lined with expensive, highly insured cars belonging to people who could easily afford to replace them. But the drunk jock had hit mine. When I got closer, I saw that hed not only hit it, hed rammed it up onto the sidewalk and through a neighbors brick mailbox.
My car was crunched. The drivers side door was buckled. Bricks and chunks of mortar lay everywhere.
Behind us, Scotts front door squealed opened and voices erupted into the dark behind me. I glanced back to find Todnow fully corporealushering Emma away from the crowd pouring into the yard. When I was sure she was okay, I turned to my poor, dead car.
Until I noticed that Doug Fuller had yet to emerge from his.
Crap.
Help me with him, Nash called, and I rounded the car as he pulled open the completely unscathed drivers side door of the Mustang. Dougs head lolled on his shoulders, and he was mumbling drunk nonsense under his breath. with me. Somebody else in my car, dude
Nash leaned inside to unlatch the seat beltwhat kind of drunk remembers to buckle up?but he couldnt fit between his friend and the steering wheel, which had been shoved way too close to Dougs chest. Kay, could you get the belt?
I sighed and crawled across his lap, wedging my torso between the wheel and his chest as I felt around for the button. Scared the shit out of me he mumbled into the hair that had fallen over my ear. He was just there, outta nowhere!
Shut up, Doug, I snapped, seriously considering leaving him in the car until the cops arrived. Youre drunk. When I had the belt unlatched, I backed out of the linebackers lap and he exhaled right into my face.
