Kaelan's POV
"Amarra, stop drinking now. You've had too much," I urged, trying to take the glass from her hand, but she was persistent, her stubbornness shining through. Despite my efforts, she kept drinking, so I quietly signaled the waiter to discard the remaining drinks. He nodded understandingly and quickly removed the bottles from the table.
"Hey, that's my drink you're taking!" Amarra protested, grabbing onto the few bottles left as if her life depended on it. Her eyes were glassy, and her movements were unsteady.
"Amarra, stop it now," I said, keeping my tone calm as I gently tried to pry the bottles from her grip. I knew her tolerance for alcohol was low, which was why I had only ordered cocktails earlier. But she had insisted on ordering hard drinks and had downed them relentlessly, ignoring my attempts to stop her. She could be incredibly stubborn, and I knew from experience that she could become unpredictable when she was this intoxicated.
"No, I still want to drink. I want to forget everything," she slurred, her voice thick with emotion and the effects of the alcohol.
I sighed, realizing that she was far past her limit. "Come on, I'll take you home," I said, wrapping my arm around her waist and holding her right arm to steady her. She could barely stand, her legs wobbling beneath her as she leaned heavily on me.
As I began guiding her out of the private room and down the stairs, she suddenly looked up at me, her eyes searching mine with an expression I couldn't quite decipher. "Wayne, do you really love my sister?" she asked, her voice soft and laced with vulnerability.
The question hit me like a ton of bricks, and I bit my lower lip, unsure of how to respond. My mind raced, trying to find the right words, but nothing seemed adequate. All I could do was continue guiding her down the stairs, the weight of her question hanging heavily in the air between us.
As we made our way down to the counter, I spotted Raze standing there, giving orders to the staff. He hadn't been around earlier when we first arrived, probably just showed up. It was typical of him—Raze was a bit of a lazy owner, relying heavily on his manager to handle the day-to-day operations. He usually just came by to check on things, never really getting too involved unless absolutely necessary.
"Hey, bro," Raze greeted me, but his casual demeanor quickly shifted when he noticed Amarra clinging to my side. He froze for a moment, his eyes widening in surprise as he took in the sight of her. He'd never met her before, and the look on his face made it clear he was trying to piece things together. He pointed at Amarra with a puzzled expression, the question practically written on his face. "Who's she?"
"Just prepare the car for me, please," I said, handing him the keys without offering any further explanation. Raze hesitated, clearly doubtful, but he followed my instructions and headed outside. I knew he was probably wondering what the hell was going on—after all, he knew who my girlfriend was, and seeing me with another woman, especially in this state, would raise questions. But I didn't have time to explain; Amarra was wasted, and getting her home was my priority.
When I stepped outside the bar, the car was already parked in front, just as I had asked. Raze was standing by the driver's side, holding out the keys. "You owe me an explanation for this," he said, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and concern.
I nodded absentmindedly, taking the keys from him. There was no point in trying to explain right now—Amarra needed to get home, and the conversation could wait.
As I guided Amarra to the car, she muttered, "Ugh, my head is spinning," her voice thick with discomfort. I carefully helped her into the passenger seat, making sure she was settled before reaching over to buckle her seatbelt. She was massaging her temples, clearly struggling with the effects of the alcohol.
Closing the passenger door gently, I walked around to the driver's side, got in, and fastened my seatbelt. The night air was cool, but the tension in the car was palpable. I started the engine, the hum of the motor a steady contrast to the chaotic thoughts running through my mind. As I pulled away from the bar, I couldn't help but glance over at Amarra, her face illuminated by the passing streetlights. She looked so vulnerable, and I felt a mix of emotions—concern, confusion, and something else I couldn't quite place.
"Ugh, it's so hot in here," Amarra complained, fanning herself with both hands despite the air conditioning being on. I noticed her discomfort, so I turned the AC up to full blast, hoping to make her feel more at ease.
"Do you have water?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation. I glanced over at her, one hand still on the steering wheel, and used my free hand to open the glove compartment in front of her. Thankfully, there was a bottle of water inside—the same one I had bought earlier from work. I hesitated for a second, knowing I'd already taken a sip from it, but she didn't seem to care. She immediately grabbed it, unscrewed the cap, and started drinking.
As I drove, I couldn't help but steal glances at her. Watching her drink, still visibly tipsy and flushed, stirred up a mix of emotions inside me—tension, concern, and something more complicated that I couldn't quite shake. I swallowed hard, trying to focus on the road, but the sight of her so vulnerable was doing things to me.
When we finally arrived at her apartment, I parked the car carefully and helped her out, locking the car behind us. She clung to my arm as we walked, her steps unsteady. By the time we reached the elevator, she was practically leaning on me, her arm draped over my shoulder for support. It was almost as if she was hugging me, and the closeness made my heart race.
I pressed the button for her floor, and we started our ascent. The elevator stopped at a few floors along the way, and each time, people would enter and give us curious looks. Amarra struggled to keep her balance, so I tightened my hold around her waist, pulling her closer. Her warm breath against my neck sent electric tingles down my spine, making it hard to keep my composure.
The other passengers glanced at us briefly before minding their own business, but the tension between us was palpable. The elevator continued to rise, each floor bringing us closer to her apartment and deeper into a moment that felt like it could spiral into something neither of us was ready to face.
When we arrived at her floor, we stepped out of the elevator and walked towards her unit. Amarra fumbled with the keypad, her fingers unsteady as she punched in the password. After a few tries, the door finally clicked open, and we stepped inside. The apartment was dark, the only light coming from the dim glow of the city outside.
I removed my shoes and then bent down to take off hers, gently slipping them off her feet. She was barely able to stand, so I supported her as we made our way towards her bedroom. The room was also dark, but I didn't bother turning on the lights, figuring the soft illumination from the city would be enough. My priority was getting her to bed as quickly as possible.
I carefully placed her on the bed, her body sinking into the mattress as she lay there, looking utterly exhausted and defeated. As I leaned over her, I noticed the glimmer of tears in her eyes, even though they were closed. My chest tightened at the sight, and I gently wiped the tears away with the back of my hand, trying not to wake her. She looked so vulnerable, so fragile in that moment, and it broke my heart to see her like this.
I pulled the comforter over her, tucking it around her body to keep her warm. Just as I was about to leave the room, she suddenly grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong despite her condition.
"Don't leave me, Wayne," she murmured, her eyes still closed but tears continuing to stream down her face. Panic surged through me as I saw her distress. It was as if she was trapped in a bad dream, and the sight of her so broken tore at me.
I held her hand tightly, my thumb brushing over her knuckles as I tried to soothe her. "Shhh, I'm not going anywhere," I whispered, my voice soft and reassuring. I reached out with my free hand and gently stroked her hair, trying to calm her down.
She responded by hugging my arm, clutching it like it was a lifeline, and gradually her breathing slowed as she slipped into a deeper, more peaceful sleep. I stayed by her side, not daring to move, my heart heavy with the weight of everything unsaid between us. The room was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city outside, and I found myself unable to leave, even as she finally drifted off into a gentle slumber.