Page 26 of Detour

“Are you sure?”

“Maybe? Come on, let’s go upstairs so you can see the three decorations I put up since the last time you were here.”

At the top of the stairs, the boys’ door flies open with Beckett all but stumbling out with a girl glued to his front. He’s so tall that it’s all kinds of awkward.

“Hey, neighbor girl. Want to come in for a drink?” He’s late to notice Drew standing close behind me. He must be feeling his poorly mixed drinks.

“Ah, no thanks. I’ve got an early morning tomorrow like every other weekend I’ve lived here,” I say with more snark than necessary but I want to make sure it penetrates his buzz field.

Drew looks between us with confusion. I may have left the knuckleheads next door out of tonight’s conversation, too. I didn’t want him to worry. I have to take care of myself without a backup plan. He’s been mine for too long.

“Indestructible” by Welshly Arms blasts through the open door while the girl hanging on Beckett whines about wanting to dance.

“We’ll leave you to it then.”

I grab Drew’s hand so we can squeeze by the sloppy couple but Beckett steps forward severing our connection. Swinging my head back, I see Coty on the couch with a girl dancing in front of him. It’s not exactly a lap dance but she’s working every angle to get him to notice her. Unfortunately, for her, it’s still not enough. We hold each other’s eyes before his move to Beckett. His entire face hardens until I expect it to crack wide open.

Marc is suddenly there, moving between us as he approaches the door.

As I try to side-step Beckett, Marc grabs my elbow and pulls me backward. It’s gentle but jarring nonetheless. I spin, shoving him in the chest but he doesn’t release me.

“Get the hell off me.”

“Chill the fuck out. He’s out of his fucking mind right now.” He nods his chin at Drew and Beckett still frozen in a wordless stare off. “You don’t need to get caught in the middle of that.”

Beckett glares down, like really far down, at Drew, not letting up for even a second. Drew looks to me, concern lining his amber eyes until he zeros in on Marc still grasping my elbow, the concern quickly replaced by something more sinister.

I rush forward to calm the situation that’s gone off the rails somehow and, luckily, Marc lets me.

“I’m fine. I’m okay,” I say to Drew, then look to Beckett, gripping his taut forearm. “What the hell? We’re just passing through. Go back to your party and we’ll all forget this even happened. Deal?”

He seems to relax slightly, dropping his gaze to mine. It’s cloudy but Beckett’s still in there.

“I wonder if the windows will be open or closed tonight.” Coty muses as he fills their doorway. There isn’t a trace of humor in his words but Beckett barks out a laugh anyway. Idiot. There’s the Beckett I know and love.

No.

Marc guides Beckett away but when his arm brushes my flowy shirt, Drew surges forward, placing himself between me and my neighbors. Marc levels Drew with a glare and I swear a menacing growl rumbles from the guy’s chest. I’m not sure why but my eyes fly to Coty. He takes in the chaotic scene, his eyes tightening on Drew’s protective stance. There’s so much testosterone, I’m nearly choking on it.

“I guess we’ll see soon, huh?” I grab Drew’s shirt, turning to unlock my door at the same time. Hand on the knob, I hear Coty speak again.

“Why don’t you introduce us to your friend?”

Lips pursed, I look over at him. “Guys, this is Drew. Drew, these are my neighbors. They’re like stray cats, always multiplying and sniffing around where they don’t belong.” Someone clears their throat. “It’s better if you just ignore them though, otherwise they’ll never leave you alone. Now if you don’t mind, I have to get to bed.”

“Angela, you can’t be serious,” Drew pipes up. “You’re staying?”

“Angela lives here. Where would you prefer her to go?” Coty grips the doorframe and I’m pretty sure I hear a crack.

Enough already.

I shove Drew through my door before throwing an exasperated look over my shoulder to the terrible trio. Coty steps aside to let the others by. Beckett is full out leaning on Marc at this point. His female companion ditched him as soon as he turned into the Inaudible Hulk. Cheers ring out from their apartment, the party still going strong even with the hosts preoccupied.

Coty yells out, “I’m hungry,” while meeting my eyes. Laced with more heat than I thought possible in that ice-cold apartment, his declaration reminds me of our earlier discussion. The door slamming shut tells me I won’t be the one to extinguish it though.

“Don’t even start. It’s late and I’m tired,” I tell Drew, walking to the bathroom with a change of clothes.

“Fine. But I’m staying the night.”