I slid my hand into my shirt and pulled out the dog tags that Grant had given me when we decided to become exclusive. They’d belonged to his dad, and Grant had worn them daily until we started going out.
“I keep you close to my heart. Keep me close to yours,” I whispered.
Grant pulled me into a hug, sinking into me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him as tightly as I could. I knew that I couldn’t keep him together like this, but I would damn well try.
“Ugh,” he groaned, tearing away from me. “I can’t do this right now.”
“Do what?”
“This.” He gestured between us. “I need to get out of here.”
“And do what?”
“Who cares?”
I reached for him, and he pulled away.
“No. Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out. I’m here for you.”
“I can’t talk about this right now, Ari. Go back to your little study session.”
He waved his hands to shoo me away and then took off toward the stairs. I raced after him. I was not going to let him walk out on me in the state he was in. His dad made him insane. He had been all right on the beach when he first found out his dad was getting out of jail because it was some far-off reality. Now that it was here, I didn’t know what he would do.
I jogged to keep up with him through the entranceway and out of the library.
“Would you stop?” I yelled as soon as we were out of the building. “You can’t run away from your problems!”
“I’m not running from my problems. I’m running from you.” He continued walking to the parking lot.
“I must be the only person here who sees that as a problem.”
“Must be.”
He reached for the handle to his blue pickup truck, and I threw myself in front of him.
“I know you’re being an asshole because you’re pissed off. If you missed the old Aribel, well, then she’s back. Don’t act like I mean nothing to you because you got some upsetting news. You can’t run from me. I tried to get away from you, Grant, and I couldn’t. You fought for me tooth and nail. There is no way I’m letting you storm off, get plastered at the League, and do something you’ll regret.”
Grant stared back at me, expressionless, but I could see the dark brooding thoughts underneath the exterior.
“What do you want from me?”
I sighed and took a step toward him. “I want you to be rational about this. Sydney doesn’t know all the facts. You should call your uncle and find out what happened.”
“Next thing I know, you’re going to be pushing me to see my dad.”
“No. I’m not trying to push you into anything! I’m trying to get you to think about this for a second.”
I leaned into my hip and looked up at him. My body was shaking, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the arctic temperatures tonight or the conversation I was having. We’d gotten over a fight this weekend, only to stumble into one that I didn’t even want to happen.
“I thought about it. You want me to talk to my uncle. I want to forget that conversation with Sydney ever happened.” He brushed me over to the side and popped open the door.
“So, what? You’re going to run away like always? Get drunk with Vin the Enabler?” I croaked.
My face was hot, and I could feel the tears springing to my eyes. I was so not this girl. I didn’t get upset about guys. I didn’t continually confront them in parking lots. Grant McDermott was turning me into such a typical girl, and I hated it. I could really use some of that indifference right about now.
Grant laughed hollowly. “Vin the Enabler. He’d probably like that nickname.”
“I don’t give a shit what he likes. He’s a prick who tried to drug me at the beginning of the year!” I ran my hands back through my hair and then brushed the tears from my cheeks. “I’m sorry. This isn’t about Vin. I want what’s best for you.”
“The best thing for me right now is to go blow off some steam.”
I opened my mouth to tell him that I’d go with him, but he held up his hand.
“Alone, Princess. I have to deal with this my own way.”
“Fine. If you want to be alone, we can be alone together.”
I pushed past him and climbed inside the cab of his truck. He wasn’t thinking straight tonight, and there was no way I’d let him drive off without me.
“Ari, all your stuff is still inside.”
“I’ll text the girls, and they’ll bring it home later.”
“What about your test tomorrow?” he asked.
I swallowed. I hadn’t really thought about that. The test tomorrow would be a huge part of my grade, and I couldn’t afford to do poorly. My stomach crawled as I thought about abandoning my studies for the night, but Grant was of more immediate importance. He couldn’t do this by himself. I’d still do well without a few extra hours in the library.
“You’re going to abandon your study session for me?” He looked utterly mystified.
I reached my hand out to him through the open door. “I love you. Not just when it’s easy.”
He sighed heavily. “It’s not going to be easy tonight. Scoot over.”
As soon as I got out of my truck and inside my house, I stormed into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. I didn’t bother with a glass before tipping it up and drinking it straight.
“So, it’s one of those nights?” Miller asked from his position in the living room.
“Yes, it is,” Ari said. She crossed the threshold into my house and slammed the door behind her.
“Fuck yeah!” Vin cheered. “Let’s get fucked up!”
“I’m so thrilled this is happening,” Ari said sarcastically.
Vin hopped up from his seat and made his way to the kitchen. “And we’re fucking thrilled you brought your buzzkill with you, bro.”
I lifted the bottle to my lips again. No way was I in the mindset to get between Ari and Vin. They could get their hatred out of the way while I downed this bottle, and then maybe Ari would be down for some angry fucking. That sounded like a perfect fucking night.
“I don’t want to deal with you tonight, Vin,” Ari said. She slumped onto the couch next to Miller. “Can you text Shelby and tell her to take my stuff home?”
“Weren’t you guys at the library or something?” Miller asked. He had the video game controller in his hand and was staring at the TV.