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She nodded, then pointed at me. “You’re a gentleman, Wells Calloway.” Her words were slightly slurred.

I huffed a laugh. “That bourbon’s making you soft, Sunshine.”

Before she could respond, Charlie walked in, his ballcap low over his face, looking downright smug. “Well, well, well,” he drawled. “If it isn’t the responsible adult calling for backup.” He clapped me on the shoulder.

I rolled my eyes. “You gonna make fun of me all night?”

“Sure am,” he said cheerfully, leading the way out.

Charlie was already smirking when we stepped outside.

“Look at you two,” he said, shaking his head as we walked toward the truck. “Can’t handle a little bourbon.”

Rose snorted. “Hey, I handled it just fine.”

Charlie gave her a skeptical once-over, then turned to me. “And what about you, Calloway? Still standing?”

“Just drive the damn car,” I muttered, climbing into the passenger seat while Rose slid into the back.

Charlie started the engine and let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “You know, I gotta say,” he looked at Rose in the rearview. “I never thought I’d see the day Wells Calloway called me for a ride home. It’s a proud moment, really. Like watching your kid take his first steps.”

I shot him a glare. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Of course, I am,” he said, pulling onto the road. “And let’s not forget that I’m doing you a favor. I could’ve made you two walk home. It would’ve been real romantic, though. Stumbling down Main Street under the stars—”

“Charlie,” I warned.

“Relax, lover boy, we’re almost there,” he said, turning onto the driveway. “But you gotta admit, you two do make a cute drunk couple.”

“Not a couple,” I muttered.

Rose hummed behind me. “Nope, definitely not a couple. Barely friends.”

Barely friends?

Charlie grinned as he threw the truck into park. “Right. Keep tellin’ yourselves that.”

Blythe was curled up on the couch when we stumbled through the front door. She barely spared us a glance before pressing pause on whatever show she was watching and shaking her head.

“Oh,” she mused, standing up and disappearing into the kitchen. “Look who rolled in.”

Charlie flopped onto the couch, stretching his arms behind his head. “They had a real cute night.”

Rose groaned. “I hate that you were involved in any of this.”

“You’re welcome,” Charlie shot back.

Blythe returned with two bottles of water and a couple of Tylenol, handing them to us with a knowing look. “Because you guys look like you’ll need it.”

Rose accepted hers with a sheepish smile and wrapped her arms drunkenly around Blythe. “You’re an angel. You’re the bestest friend I could’ve ever asked for. I love your face more than anything in this world.”

Blythe laughed, shaking her head. “Love you too.” She carefully peeled Rose’s noodle-like arms off her shoulders. “You need to chug that water and go to sleep, because morning is going to be a nightmare for you. Dare I remind you of the night I got my fake promotion?”

Rose flopped onto the couch, curling into the corner like it was the most comfortable place in the world. “I’ll sleep here.”

Charlie leaned against the armrest, ever the problem-solver. “Rose, you can take the bed with Blythe. Wellsy and I can crash on the couch.”

Rose cracked one eye open.