Chapter 40 (1/2)

I look straight at him. “Well, I won’t argue with that.”

He takes another drink, and when I reach for the bottle, he pulls it away.

“So you’re the only one who can get drunk?” I ask, and a wry smile appears on his face. The patio light shines off his eyebrow ring as he hands me the bottle.

“I thought you were going to toss it again.”

I should, but instead I put the bottle to my lips. The liquor is warm and tastes like burnt licorice dipped in rubbing alcohol. I gag and Hardin chuckles.

“How often do you drink? You implied before it was never,” I say. I need to get back to being angry with him after he answers.

“Before tonight it has been about six months.” His eyes fall to the floor like he is ashamed.

“Well, you shouldn’t drink at all. It makes you an even worse person than usual.”

Still staring at the ground, his face is serious. “You think I am a bad person?”

What, is he that drunk that he would ever consider himself good?

“Yes.”

“I’m not. Well, maybe I am. I want you to . . .” he starts, but then stops, straightens up, and leans back on the chair.

“You want me to what?” I have to know what he was going to say. I hand him back the bottle, but he sets it on the table. I don’t want to drink; the one was bad enough, given the terrible judgment I have around Hardin as it is.

“Nothing,” he says, lying.

Why am I even here? Noah is back in my room waiting for me, and here I am wasting even more time on Hardin. “I should go.” I stand up and head for the back door.

“Don’t go,” his voice says softly. And my feet stop in their tracks at the pleading tone. I turn around to find Hardin less than a foot from me.

“Why not? Do you have more insults to throw in my face?” I shout and turn away. His hand wraps around my arm and jerks me back.

“Don’t turn your back on me!” he shouts even louder than I did.