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I blow out a breath. “Just trying to summon the strength to walk into that house.”

“And face your dad?” He arches a brow.

“More like face my past.”

These might be the truest words I’ve spoken all night. It’s what this entire trip has become. A collision with the person I used to be.

The person who thought she knew exactly where her life was headed.

The person who believed if she worked hard enough, sacrificed enough, loved enough, everything would work out.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Do you want me to take you to Bennett’s?” Joshua offers.

I wrinkle my nose. “I’d rather not walk in on him with the current favor of the month. Or week. I love my brother, but there are things I’d prefer not to know about him.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“I’ll be fine. I have to face the music eventually.” I reach for the handle and slide out of the passenger seat.

But when my feet hit the pavement, I stumble and grab the door to steady myself. Joshua’s out of his truck in a heartbeat, darting toward me and wrapping his arm around my waist.

“Easy there.”

I tip my head back to meet his eyes, a flutter kicking up in my stomach. Why is this happening? Why does my body do this whenever I’m near him? And why does he smell so damn good? Like cedar, leather, and something earthy.

“I’m fine,” I manage to say, but I don’t make any move to push him away.

I like when he holds me like this. Like feeling his arms around me. Like the depth of his dark eyes. They’re so pretty. I wonder if he knows that.

I’m about to ask him when his voice rumbles through my haze. “You almost face-planted on my driveway. Let me at least walk you to your door.”

I glance toward my house, then back at him, the world still spinning.

“Since you already had to patch me up once tonight, and that was when I was sober, you probably should.”

“I didn’t mind.” He steals a glance at my knee before tightening his hold on me and steering me down the sidewalk.

I probably could manage on my own, but I’m not about to tell him. Not when his touch makes me forget how messed up my life currently is.

“I liked patching you up,” he adds as we reach the front porch, and my steps falter.

Not because I’m drunk.

Okay, maybe that has something to do with it.

But it’s mostly because of the way those words leave his mouth, his tone husky. Low.

Sexy.

Something warm unfurls low in my belly, and I turn to face him. “I liked it, too.”

Maybe it’s the alcohol. Or the lack of sleep. Or the fact that my entire life has been turned upside down in less than a week. But for one reckless second, I consider erasing the space between us, rising onto my toes, and touching my lips to his.

Based on the way Joshua’s staring at me, he’s thinking about it, too.

Which is absolutely ludicrous.