“Like stuff, stuff?” Sawyer mocked him.
“God, you are a prick. I wouldn’t make you squirm like this if you were in my shoes, just so you know.”
“Holy shit. That is the biggest lie you’ve ever told.” Sawyer shook his head. “Fine. Let’s go out tonight. The rest of the team will be packing up and heading out. They’re having a retirement party for Jessi tonight.”
“Really? There’s a retirement party? Why weren’t we invited?”
“Well, I was invited to the party. Jessi’s parents are putting it together, and they love me. You weren’t invited because you broke their daughter’s heart and then left the country without saying goodbye to her. Nice move, by the way.”
God, Sawyer was such a dick. “Are you going?” If he was going, Dalton was sure as hell attending as his plus one.
“No. I declined,” Sawyer said with annoying austerity. “I said that I wanted to get together later with just her and her parents to celebrate. What I really intended to do was keep you away from her before you could make an ass of yourself. I don’t know what your plan to get her back is, but it sucks.”
Dalton started singing a song in his head about how Sawyer was a fucker. He was using the technique to keep from punching the asshole in the face. “What makes you think I want her back?”
“Well, you just had your ‘I’m going to hit Sawyer in the face’ look, and you’ve been doing nothing but working since you got back. You’re clearly not over her, so my guess is, you’re trying to get her back. Since you can’t think of anything smart to say to achieve that end, I’m taking you to the bar tonight. We’ll drink a little, or at least I will. You’re going to drink a lot. I’m going to take your cell phone to keep you from drunk dialing. We are going to do one of two things: Find a way for you to win Jessi Pruitt’s sweet, little golden heart,” Sawyer said sarcastically, “or we are going to drink her out of your system.”
“You know that isn’t going to work, right?”
“Sure do. But at least I’m being proactive.”
Three hours later, Dalton was trying to stay on his chair. Sawyer wasn’t kidding. He’d kept the drinks coming...and he’d taken Dalton’s phone. This had to be a terrible idea, Dalton was sure.
“Why did you make me to this?” He glared at Sawyer.
“I didn’t make you do anything. You’re the one who wanted shots.”
“I’m also the one who drove myself into a tree. Clearly, I don’t make good decisions when I’m drunk. I’m blaming you.”
Sawyer laughed. “Just stay put, okay? I need to take a piss.”
“Hmm...” Dalton watched Sawyer leave for the men’s room. Like any good drunk, he was pretty sure he had a brilliant idea forming in his head. If Jessi didn’t want to talk to him, he was going to have to force the issue. Since she was currently having a party—one that he wasn’t invited to—he was going to have to get creative. The timing of Sawyer’s squirrel bladder was perfect. Dalton decided to make a break for it.
“Hey there, where are you off to?”
Their pretty waitress grabbed his arm. He appreciated the come on but wasn’t interested.
“No offense, but I’m in love with someone else.” Dalton smiled sympathetically at her.
“Ah, okay. Well, actually, your friend told me not to let you out of my sight while he went to the bathroom.”
God, the jerk thought of everything.
“Well darlin’,” Dalton slurred, “It looks pretty busy, and I’d be pissed if some ass asked you to watch his drunk friend when you have all these tables to serve. If you could just give me a little head start, I promise I’ll tell him you did your best.”
“Just don’t drive, okay?”
Dalton patted his pockets. “No keys, no phone.”
“Be safe.”
He gave her a salute and headed out the door.
Colorado Springs was a big place, but Jessi’s house wasn’t far from the facility, and the bar was located conveniently in between the two. Dalton made the turn to Jessi’s house, dead set on waiting the woman out.
On his way, he realized that stakeouts could be pretty boring. Thankfully, a liquor store was on the way. There was something in the admittedly small section of his brain that was still sober that told him this wasn’t a good idea. He firmly ignored whatever it was saying and bought a case of beer. Sawyer was going to find him sooner or later, so he might as well have a peace offering when he did.
It actually hadn’t taken Sawyer as long as Dalton had thought.
“Dalton, get your ass up.”
“How did you find me?”
“Where the hell else were you going to be?”
“Am I that predictable?”
“Yes. You’re an idiot. It wasn’t hard to figure out where you went to.”
“No, I’m not an idiot. I’m in love,” Dalton said with great dignity.
“Great. That’s wonderful. Now please, get up. I’ll take you home.
“No.”
“You can’t do this, man. You have to get it together.”
“You’re the one who insisted on getting me drunk.”
“I see the error of my ways, okay? Now please, this isn’t going to end like you think it will. Jessi is not going to be impressed.”
“What else is new?”
“Oh, fucking A! If you loved her, you should have told her. You were too stupid. Now figure something else out, or give up!”
“Untrue!” Dalton stuck his index finger in the air as if proving a point. “I was not, in fact, too stupid,” he slurred. “I didn’t know I loved her. Completely different situation.”
“Yeah....buddy,” Sawyer said in resignation, “I really think we oughtta go...”
“No.”
“Look, you can talk to her in a few weeks. Let things settle down and give her a call. Ask her out to dinner or something that normal people do when they date. Just...dude...don’t get caught puking on her front lawn. It’s not going to be as attractive as you’re planning it out to be in your head.”
“No means no, Sawyer. I don’t care how cute you are.”
“Shit. You’re cracking jokes, now?”
“Yep. And I’m damn funny. Besides, you might be able to beat me in the water, but dude, you’re mine on land. Drunk or not, you can’t drag me out of here. Might as well have a seat and grab a beer. You and I are in for the long haul.” Dalton cracked open a beer and handed it to Sawyer.
“Well, I am thirsty, and I can’t leave you here alone.” Sawyer looked longingly at the beer.
“Very true, my friend. Leave no man behind.”
“She is going to be so pissed.”
“Shh. Just drink, little buddy. Let it all go.”
Sawyer laughed at him. “You’re an idiot, but you’re damn fun, you know that?”
“If you’re awake when Jessi gets here, tell her that, okay?”
“Will do, buddy. Will do.”
Content that his best friend had his back, Dalton laid back and looked at the stars. Unfortunately, stars were boring and, at the moment, were making him dizzy. “Let’s do something.”
“I thought you wanted to stakeout Jessi’s house.”
“I do, but let’s have more fun while we do it.” Dalton looked around. Spotting an empty flower pot, he announced, “I have an idea.” He dragged the flower pot into the middle of the yard and then stepped back. Grabbing a bottle top from the ground, he aimed, shot...and missed.
“You shoot like a little girl.”
“Fuck you! You try it.” Dalton handed Sawyer another cap.
Sawyer aimed, shot...and missed.
“Ha! And I’m twice as drunk as you are!”
The game lasted far longer than either intended. Dalton was starting to get sleepy when headlights flashed in his eyes. “Shit.” All of a sudden, the decision to come to Jessi’s soured like the stale beer in his gut.
“Yeah...” Sawyer didn’t look any better than Dalton felt.
“
What in the name of God are you two doing?” Jessi could not believe the sight before her eyes. Two drunk, grown men standing in her front yard...playing drinking games?
“You broke my heart.” Dalton was belligerent and clearly pouting because he crossed his arms over his chest and refused to answer any more questions.
“No, I didn’t. Sawyer, do you know your headlights are on?”
“Um...yes.”
“Okay, why are you burning your truck battery in my driveway?”
“Well, Jess, it got dark.”
“Yes,” she interrupted. “That’s when you quit stalking people and go home.”
“Well,” Sawyer began reasonably. “I have to disagree. I would totally stalk someone after dark.”
“Sawyer,” Jessi said. “Fine.” If Jessi wasn’t mistaken, now Sawyer was pouting, too. Oh man, these two were a trip when they were drunk. She was not going to let them live this down.
“We had to turn on the headlights because we couldn’t see the house anymore. We needed lights if we were going to call our shots.”
“Call your shots?” Jessi had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn’t going to like Sawyer’s answer.
“Yeah. We’ve been playing shooters and other stuff. It got kind of messy.
“Why are you playing drinking games on my front lawn? Did I do something wrong to you two?”
“No! We aren’t mad at you, we were bored. Well, I’m not mad at you. Dalton might be.”
“Why on earth would Dalton be mad at me? And why aren’t you talking?” She glared at Dalton.
Dalton looked like he was confused. “At first, I wasn’t really sure what to say to you. Now though, Sawyer might be right. I think I’m mad at you.”
Sawyer started laughing.
“Stop it, Sawyer,” Jessi reprimanded. “This isn’t funny.”
Sawyer just laughed harder. “Oh, Jessi, you are so wrong. You can’t imagine how funny this is.”
Looking at the drunken state of the two most important men in her life, she supposed she couldn’t.
“You two get in the back of Sawyer’s truck. I’m not getting puked on while I drive your lame asses home.”
The boys did as they were told. Jessi started the truck and headed out of her driveway. Dalton and Sawyer took turns opening the back window to tell her important things. Well, Sawyer did. Dalton would just yell about her breaking his heart and then shut the window. She didn’t know what to do with that. Should she be hurt because he was drunk and lying? Or should she be hurt that he needed liquid courage to say these things? Were they true? Was he really hurting over her? Did that equal love or just good old Dalton wreaking havoc on her heart?
She pulled into Sawyer’s driveway and cut the lights. Before she could get out of the truck, Dalton was at the door, pulling her out. “You are going to talk to me,” he said. “Not now, because I need to puke. You drive like a crazy woman, by the way. Tomorrow though. Tomorrow you are going to talk to me.”
“Sure, Dalton. Whatever you say. Just go inside.”
He gave her a defiant look but left it at that and went inside. Sawyer apologized but kept laughing through it, so she doubted his sincerity.
“I cannot believe you helped him do this, Sawyer.”
“Well, I’m on his side, so...”
“What?” Jessi couldn’t believe this betrayal. Especially coming from Sawyer.
“You two belong together. Give him some time to get his shit together. He’ll figure it out.” Sawyer turned and walked inside.
Jessi got into Sawyer’s truck. They gave each other a look, and Jessi shook her head. She was going home and going straight to sleep.
Dalton woke up to the worst headache he’d ever had. That was saying a lot, since he used to party pretty damn hard. He did a quick assessment of his surroundings and decided he was in Sawyer’s house. The picture of Sawyer’s mom on the dresser gave it away.
He stayed in bed for a little longer and then looked at the clock. What the fuck? It was six o’clock in the goddamned morning. Why was he awake? Music pumped through Sawyer’s surround sound. It was really loud and really...One Direction. Amelia had listened to that shit nonstop in between practices, so he recognized something about making someone beautiful.
Oh, shit. This was bad. This sounded distinctly like revenge. Things were fuzzy, but Dalton never slept well when he drank, so he’d woken up several times, cringing at memories of trashing Jessi’s front lawn. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Then he smelled the eggs. She was cooking eggs when she knew the two people sleeping in this house were hungover. That was just cruel. Dalton’s stomach turned. He refused to get up. He was willing to put up with a lot of crap, but not this.
Suddenly the door opened. The music was even louder in the hallway, and he cringed. He opened one eye and saw his beautiful, sweet girl looking down at him with one eyebrow raised. He was never getting her back.
“Get up.”
“Please don’t do this, Jessi.” Dalton wasn’t above begging for clemency right now. He’d do whatever she wanted later, which certainly would involve picking up beer cans in the hot sun while nursing a hangover, but he would do it if she’d just go away at this particular moment in time.
“Get up.” Her hands were on her hips. “Sawyer’s sorry ass is getting trash bags ready to go, and you need to help him. You two have a lot of work to do.”
“There weren’t that many bottles, Jessi.” There were twenty-four to be exact, but surely that didn’t require more than one bag.
“There are enough. And when you’re done picking them up, you’re going to wash stale beer off the hardwood floors on my porch. Then, just to show how sorry you are—because, let’s face it, picking up the bottles is a given—you are going to trim the bushes and weed the flower beds. I’ve been away for a long time, and the yard’s a mess.”
The yard was fine. He was sure that Jessi had hired someone to take care of things while she was away, but he didn’t argue. He was truly terrified of her right now for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was that he was sure she’d never talk to him again. Not after last night. But she was here right now, so he could start the triage.
“Jessi, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Just get up. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Dalton watched as Jessi left the room. His head was still pounding, but it was nothing compared to his heart. She was here. In this house. She had actually talked to him. Dalton had known he would see her again when he’d left Canada. But he’d assumed they would causally wave to each other, maybe have cordial chats. They were adults, and at least Jessi was a professional. Dalton had serious doubts about himself, especially after last night. But damn it, she’d ripped a hole in him.
Infused with a new bout of righteous indignation, Dalton rose from the bed and grabbed his jeans. He had to stop and bend over when he swayed a bit, but as soon as he manned up, he squared his shoulders and walked out into the hallway. Jessi was not going to see him on his knees again. She had a tendency to cut him off at them.
Walking into the kitchen, Dalton saw Sawyer bracing himself over the island with his head hanging. Trash bags were in his hand, but it didn’t look like he was moving any time soon. “Morning, lightweight.”
“Fuck. You.”
“Yep.”
That signaled the end of their conversation. They seriously needed to boost up their tolerance to alcohol if they were going to do something so amazingly stupid ever again. In their defense, they’d been too busy to drink lately. Finally, after drinking a glass of orange juice that tasted vile on his tongue but was probably necessary if he was going to survive the next few hours, Dalton felt capable of more industrious movement.
He went to the stove where an entire heaping untouched pan of scrambled eggs sat. What a little brat. She’d made the damn eggs just to make them sick. Dalton picked up the pan, held his breath, and started shoveling the cooked eggs into the garbage disposal.
<
br /> “When did she become so bitter?” he more or less muttered to himself, but while Sawyer had moved away from the painful noise of the garbage disposal, he apparently could still hear him.
“Right about the time we trashed her front yard, I think.”
“Fuck. This is going to suck.” He looked at Sawyer who was now sitting on a bar stool and looking like he needed to grab a kitchen chair instead. The dude was going to fall off. Help was clearly not coming from that quarter.
“Listen, I’ll go talk to her. I’ll tell her we’ll be by later today to clean up. We’ll get some sleep and head over. That way she can be out of the house so she doesn’t have to see me.” Dalton just assumed that was what would be best for both of them.
“Too late. She already left with instructions to get over to her house in thirty minutes or she’s calling the police. She has security cameras that take video, so...yeah. We’re pretty much screwed.”
“Fine. Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
“Can you? I think I’m still drunk.”
“That’s because you’re a pussy. My liver has been conditioned to handle this shit. In fact, given how much we drank last night, I’d have to say it’s pretty damn efficient.”
“Oh, God. I’ll do anything you want if you will just stop talking.”
Dalton and Sawyer walked to the truck and got in. Dalton fired up the engine while Sawyer adjusted his sunglasses and hunched down in the seat. They drove over to Jessi’s house. It looked empty. No one was waiting for them, and no noise came from the house. They got out of the truck, grabbed their trash bags, and went to work. There were buckets of water and wood cleaner along with rags on the front porch. No mops...that would be too easy.
The work was hard at first, and more than once Dalton thought he would puke. But something about sweating out a hangover worked, and by the time lunch rolled around, he was feeling a lot better. The sun had come out in full force, so Dalton took off his shirt and wiped his brow. He looked over at Sawyer, who had taken a seat on the porch step. He looked better too.
“Do you think we get a lunch break?” Dalton asked Sawyer.
In the Fast Lane (Fast Series Book 1) Page 17