But then she doesn't answer.
"What's wrong about being here?" I ask.
"I shouldn't be out. Having fun." Tears are pouring down her face.
"Why not?"
"Because it's wrong. I shouldn't be here."
I'm trying to figure this out. Why shouldn't she be here? Is she a recovering alcoholic? Or did something happen at this bar that brings back bad memories?
"Why can't you be here?" I ask. "Is it just this bar or any bar?"
"It's not just the bar. I shouldn't be here. Or anywhere. I'm not supposed to be here." She breaks down sobbing again so I just hold her and let her cry.
She's scaring me with those comments. She's not supposed to be here? Or anywhere? What does that mean? It's almost like she's saying she wishes she weren't alive. God, I hope that's not what she means. Maybe this is all just drunk rambling, although I've found that the truth often comes out when people are drunk.
When her crying slows, I lift her face to mine to get her attention. "Callie. Tell me what you meant just now. Why aren't you supposed to be here?"
She lays her head on my chest. "Can we please just go home?"
"Yeah. Let's go find Austin."
"You go. I don't want to go in there again."
"I'm not leaving you out here alone. I'll just call him." I get my phone out. It takes a few rings before he picks up. "Austin, meet me outside."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I need to get Callie home. Can you drop us off?"
"Sure. I'll be right out."
"Come on," I say to Callie, helping her up to standing. We walk around to the front of the building. Austin is already there waiting. I give him a look not to ask questions. We drive in silence all the way to the house. Austin parks in my driveway and I help Callie out.
As she waits off to the side, I go up to the driver's side window and Austin rolls it down. "Yeah?"
I hand him my house keys and lower my voice. "I'm going to stay with her tonight. You can have my bed if you want. It's a lot better than the couch."
He glances at Callie. "Is she gonna be okay?"
"I don't know yet. But I don't want to leave her alone."
"What happened?"
"Some girl at the bar said all this bad shit about her. But I don't think that's why she's upset. I think it's something else. I'll talk to you in the morning."
"Yeah. Okay."
"Remind Jake he needs to be here at eight."
"I will."
We both know Jake won't be coming home tonight. He'll be going home with the blonde.
"Let's go." I take Callie's hand and walk her back to her house. "Got your key?"
She finds it in her purse and hands it to me. I open her door and we step inside.
"Thanks for taking me home," she says. "But you didn't need to leave the bar. You should've stayed."
"I went there with you. So if you leave, I leave."
"Okay, well, goodnight." Her head drops and she wipes her face, which is covered in dried tears.
"I'm not leaving. I don't want you to be alone tonight."
She looks up at me. "Why?"
"Because I'm worried about you. I don't think you should be alone. I'll sleep on the couch. If you need me, just come get me."
"You don't need to stay. I'm fine now. I just..." She squeezes her eyes shut and takes a deep breath. "It's just the alcohol. It was too much."
That's not it. I know it's not.
"Let's get you to bed." I help her down to her room and when we get there, she starts undressing like I'm not even there. She's definitely drunk. She wouldn't be doing this if she was sober. She lifts her dress up and over her head, leaving her in a black bra and matching panties. She has soft, beautiful curves and gorgeous smooth skin. Fuck, she's hot. I need to get out of here.
"I'm just gonna go." I step back toward the door.
"Wait." She comes up to me. "Would you stay here until I fall asleep?"
"Yeah." I glance away from her body. "Where are your pajamas?"
"In the second drawer."
She takes her bra off as I go to the dresser. Don't look, I tell myself, but of course I look. I'm a guy. I can't help but look at a gorgeous woman wearing nothing but a pair of lacy black panties.
"Will this work?" I hold up a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.
"No pants. It's too hot. Just give me the shirt."
I toss it to her and she puts it on. There. At least now, half of her is covered. I put the pants back in the drawer and pull out some shorts.
"Here." I offer them to her.
"The shirt's enough." She yanks back the covers on her bed and gets inside, scooting over to make room for me.
"I'll just lie on top," I tell her.
She nods and closes her eyes. I cover her up, then turn the light off and lie beside her, holding her in my arms.
"Nash?" she whispers.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"One night." She pulls the covers up higher and scoots farther back into my arms.
I don't know what she's talking about or why she's thanking me. There's still so much I need to know about this girl. Tonight just made me even more confused.
Chapter Seventeen