The big man rested a massive hand on my shoulder, drawing me against him. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “About your mom.”
“I’m sorry about your daughter,” I replied resting my head on his shoulder. “They say it gets easier.” I shook my head. “They lied.”
We swayed back and forth as I hummed Old Danny Boy under my breath, commiserating together in silence.
Crew slowed as he came toward us, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. “What the hell?” He barked, staring in disbelief
“She drank my whiskey,” the giant said and I waved one hand weakly.
“I was trying to help.”
“This is Noah’s girlfriend,” Hank told Crew confidingly. “He’s been hiding her.” My heart gave a little jolt at his wording, until he continued, “Probably doesn’t want us telling all his secrets.”
“I already know them,” I admitted, sucking in my cheeks until I made fish lips. “The salon girls dished everything.”
Crew blinked, his mouth hanging open as he just stared at us, the coffee forgotten in his hand. Noah jogged up to us, doing a double take when he saw me leaning against the giant.
“Noah,” I cried happily, waving at him vigorously as if I hadn’t just seen him ten minutes ago. “I’m drunk.”
“What the hell?” Noah muttered, shooting an accusing glance at Crew. “I was gone ten minutes.”
“Don’t look at me,” Crew protested, shaking his head. “I went to get coffee. She was sober when I left.”
Hank shook the empty flask at them. “She drank it. All of it,” he added as if that held some kind of meaning. Both of them look stunned as I tried to grab the flask out of his hand, but my arm weaved and he held it out of my reach. “I give her another ten minutes before she’s laid out flat.”
“Don’t drink it,” I told him, patting his arm since I couldn’t reach the flask. “It won’t make the hurt go away,” I confided and he released a deep sigh. I burped, almost gagging on the taste. “That stuff is poison,” I moaned, leaning forward as my stomach rolled. I swallowed my spit as the alcohol threatened to come back up. “Why did I drink that?”
“That’s what I want to know,” Noah demanded, coming up to me and I tried to wave him away.
“No, I don’t feel good,” I protested weakly, but he ignored me, crouching in front of me as he pushed my hair off my face.
“I think she didn’t want me to drink it,” the giant next to me rumbled. “Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t know she’d drink all of it.”
Noah cupped my face, moving my head as I squinted in the bright light. “Let’s get you home,” he murmured, helping me to my feet. I stumbled and he caught me, holding me to his side. “I’m going to take her home.” He motioned to the big guy. “You want me to bring him to Mary?”
Crew shook his head, finally handing the coffee to the giant man. “Nah, I’ll bring him home.” He glanced at the tire still sitting on the pavement. “I’ll drop the tire off after I get it swapped.”
“Appreciate it,” Noah replied, squeezing my shoulder. “You can sleep it off on the couch.” He started to lead me away and I raised my hand, whacking him in the chest as I twisted out of his hold.
“Wait,” I cried and they all froze. I threw my arms around the giant, not able to reach all the way around his waist and hugged him hard. He patted my back, his hand practically covering the entire length. “It will be okay,” I promised him as I let go and he leaned down where only I could hear him.
“You have the same big heart as your Ma.”
I blinked at him, then stepped back, not sure I’d heard him right. I bumped into Noah, who kept me upright as I swayed. The giant didn’t say anything more and his beard hid most of his expression from me.
Noah led me to the car, opening my door, grabbing my arm as I fell into the seat. “You alright?”
I nodded, my head spinning, whether from the whiskey or Hank’s admittance I wasn’t sure. Noah got in on the other side and when he saw I hadn’t moved, he reached around me, tugging the seatbelt across my chest and clicking it into place. He did the same and then started the car. He handed me a crumpled fast food bag. “If you have to throw up, try to get it in the bag.” I took it automatically, my nose wrinkling at the stale smell, and I held it away from my face.
“That’s enough to make me puke,” I muttered, leaning my head back as I stared sightlessly out the car window. “Why do people die?”
He shot me a quick look. “Like, at all or murdered?” He questioned, one hand leaving the steering wheel to take mine.