Page 16 of Stranger to Love

“Are you fucking joking?” Mia blurted out, fury spiking in her voice.

“Seriously, mate, we just want to make sure she’s safe,” I shook my head. “We’ll be five minutes, tops.”

He shook his head firmly. “No. And if she can’t walk, I’ll help her.”

I instantly tightened my grip on Holly. “Abso-fucking-lutely not.” No way in hell was I leaving that girl with him. Even if he were as decent as Steve, I wasn't leaving her with some random security guy at 1:00 a.m.

He crossed his arms, signalling that he’d shut down the conversation. Mia started to truly lose her patience. “Stop being a fucking creep and let us in! She’s clearly drunk, and we’re not going to leave her with you!”

A sharp clack-clack-clack of heeled shoes suddenly cut through the night air, catching all of our attention. Familiar, somehow. I spun around, facing the last person I expected to see at that time of night.

Dr. Carter.

She didn’t say anything at first as she stopped beside me, effortlessly taking in the volatile situation. Fuck me, she looked immaculate. Who looked that put together in the middle of the night? She was wearing a dark trench coat that must have cost more than I made in a year, cinched tightly around her frame. Her hair was up in a neat ponytail, her makeup flawless—not a brushstroke out of place.

“Alex.” She said my name in her crisp voice, and whoop, there went my stomach.

Her head tilted toward Holly, who was practically clinging to me like a koala. “Holly,” she identified the drunk girl, then looked to Mia. “And you are?”

Mia tilted her head right back, an obvious challenge. “Mia. And who are you?” Mia looked to me, and I shook my head violently. Nope. I had only known that woman for a few days, but I knew that was not the tone to use with her.

Dr. Carter pursed her lips, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features, and looked back at me. “Do you live here?” She hadn’t even glanced at the security guard, who had been standing a little straighter since she arrived.

I sighed. “No, I don’t. Holly has had too much to drink, and we were trying to take her home, but this guy,” I pointed at the security guard, “won’t let us in and said she either has to sort herself out or he will help her instead.” I looked pointedly at Dr. Carter, hoping she read between the lines of why we were arguing. Her eyes flickered to Mia again, and I explained quickly, before she could ask, "We work at the club. Mia doesn’t go to the uni.”

Dr. Carter didn’t nod or give any indication she had heard the details. She turned her laser focus on the security guard. “Andy, open the gate.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then quickly took out his keys and unlocked the disabled access gate, which swung open.

Mia scoffed. “Are you fucking with me?” she said incredulously. "You couldn’t have done that five minutes ago?”

“You should leave,” Dr. Carter said, looking directly at Mia, her voice brooking no argument.

“Hang on,” Mia said, ready to start a fresh argument, but I shot her the most pleading look I could muster. Don’t.

“You are not a student at this university, which makes you an unauthorised adult,” Dr. Carter stated, unmoving. “I am not permitting you to step onto the property.”

Mia chewed her cheek, clearly wanting to argue, but she stopped only because of the desperate look in my eyes. She huffed. “Text me.” She softened her face as she looked at Holly, who was still taking in the scene around her. “Get some sleep, Hol.”

Holly smiled dazedly. “Bye, Goddess.”

Mia snorted, and I bit back a laugh. She kissed the top of my head, hooked my bag over my shoulder, and walked down the street. I watched her for a moment; I didn't like anyone walking home alone, but thankfully, I knew she was only about five minutes away from her flat from here.

I looked back to Dr. Carter, who appeared to be wondering how we were going to physically manage Holly. I chuckled and tried to get Holly to stand straighter. When she did, she noticed Dr. Carter, and her eyes went wide.

“Um, Hi,” she said, a little dizzy.

Dr. Carter’s jaw twitched—like she wanted to smile but refused to let it. “Hello.”

I, however, smiled happily at the sheer insanity of the situation. “Holly, we’re going to get you to your room now. Which building is it?”

She looked around, stumbling slightly and pointed to the tallest building in Liberty. Of course.

“Right, let’s go.” I wrapped my arm around her again, walking in through the gate right past the security guy, throwing him an aggressive eye-roll for good measure. Dr. Carter followed, silent other than the sharp clack of her heels behind me.

“Holly.” I said her name sharply as she started to go limp, exhaustion and alcohol finally taking their toll. She stumbled enough for Dr. Carter to reach out and brace her on the other side.

“Thanks,” I said to her, and she just nodded, her arm wrapped firmly around Holly as we kept moving.