“I’m in Ty Senior’s office. Michael, I need help.”
“What’s wrong?” His voice sounded panicked.
“It’s Dirk. I need you to help me get him out of here and to my house. Can you pull my car up to the side of the house? The keys are in there. There’s a door that leads out from this end of the hall on the west side near the kitchen.”
“Yeah, I remember it, is he okay?”
“He’s pretty much finished off an entire bottle of whiskey.”
“Aww, hell. I’ll be as quick as I can. Does anyone else know he’s drunk off his ass?”
“A cousin I’ve never met before, but I doubt she really knows how drunk he is.”
He sighed. “I’m on my way.”
I hit End, then sent a text to Brock.
Me: Are you able to meet me in your dad’s office? Dirk is pretty hammered.
It only took a moment for Brock to reply.
Brock: On my way.
I made my way over to Dirk and stopped in front of him. He looked up at me, and our eyes met as I reached for the bottle.
“You want a drink?”
With a nod, I replied, “Yes, but let’s have it at my house, okay?”
A brilliant smile erupted over his beautiful face, and once again my breath caught in my throat. He really was the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on. That dark brown hair was all a mess, clearly from him raking his fingers through it. At some point he must have ditched his black cowboy hat. His green eyes, so rare in their color, I couldn’t help but think of the meadow down by the creek when I looked at him.
I shook away my wandering thoughts and took the bottle and set it on a side table.
“You’re so beautiful, Merit. The most beautiful…beautifulist woman ever.”
I laughed. “I don’t think that’s a word, Dirk.”
“Where did Sarah go?”
I frowned. “Sarah?”
“My cousin. I haven’t seen her in years.”
“She went to go get a glass of wine,” I replied.
He nodded. “That’s right.”
I was pissed that his cousin would allow him to get so shit-faced.
“Can you stand up?” I asked.
“Of course, I can. I’ve been a hell of a lot drunker before, Bugs.”
With a sigh, I put his arm around my shoulders and guided him up. “Stop calling me Bugs, Dirk.”
“It’s cute! I like it.”
“It was cute when I was little, not now that I’m almost thirty.”
He placed his finger on my chin and lifted my face until our eyes locked again. “I’ve missed you…Bugs!”
I rolled my eyes and then laughed.
“Where are we going?” Dirk asked.
“My house, remember?”
“Oh! That’s right. I need to say goodbye to Kaylee.”
My body stiffened, and I forced myself to be rid of the jealousy I had over their friendship. It was childish, and I hated myself for feeling it in the first place.
“We can’t go looking for her right now, Dirk. We need to get you out of here.”
“Why?”
The door to the office opened and Brock walked in. He took one look at Dirk and then flicked his gaze at me. “Where are you taking him?”
“He doesn’t want to go home, and he can’t stay here. I was going to let him pass out in my guest bedroom.”
Brock nodded.
“Michael should have brought my car around to the side of the house. Can you help me get him to it?”
“Let me take him,” Brock said as he walked up and grabbed his best friend.
“Brock! My man! Your dad has some damn good whiskey. I owe him a bottle.”
Brock laughed. “I’m sure he won’t care, Dirk.”
“Yeah, probably not. Are we going out?”
“Not tonight, buddy,” Brock replied, guiding him out the door and down the hall.
I glanced back over my shoulder to see if anyone was coming. The last thing I wanted anyone to know was that Dirk had gotten smashed at his father’s celebration of life.
“Dude, come on. It’s been forever. Let’s just go out. I need to get laid.”
I stumbled and quickly recovered when I noticed Brock glance back at me. I tried like hell to act like I hadn’t heard Dirk, but I knew Brock could tell it bothered me.
“Not tonight, buddy,” Brock stated once more.
“It’s been so long since I’ve had sex.”
Okay, that caught my attention, and I hurried my steps as I moved around Brock and opened the side door to the house. I prayed that Michael was there. For a moment, I wondered if I should just take him to a hotel. Or maybe suggest he go to Brock’s house.
As if on cue, Michael pulled up and parked. He jumped out of the car and rushed over to help Brock carry Dirk.
“He’s dead fucking weight, the asshole,” Brock said with a grunt.
“Sorry it took me so long. I had to find the person who parked behind your car, Merit.”
“No worries,” I said as I opened the passenger door and Brock guided Dirk in. Dirk sat down, leaned his head back against the headrest, and closed his eyes.