Free A Hockey Tutor by Mary Smith Page B

alcohol.”
    “Perfect.” I took it from him and chugged it. He wasn't kidding about the alcohol. It burned my throat, and down my chest, but I didn’t care.
    “Katie, are you okay?” Andrew asked, his voice full of concern.
    I nodded, and went to the bar to make another drink. Wes’ “I love you” kept replaying my head, and I didn’t want it to. I saw a bottle of unopened tequila. I silently said thank you to the God of Alcohol for having that waiting for me, and popped the seal. I filled my glass with a double shot and chugged it.
    Andrew came up behind me, and whispered in my ear. “Katie, come with me.” I held onto the bottle tightly and followed him up the stairs.
    He always kept his bedroom door locked during parties, because he didn’t want anyone up there. He unlocked it and we walked in.
    “Okay, tell me, what is going on? Did Wes hurt you?” He crossed his arms. I noticed that his biceps were tight, and about to rip through the shirt he was wearing.
    “I’m sure you don’t want to hear this, and besides,” I took another drink, “Wes is your teammate. I don’t think he would appreciate me talking to you about this.”
    “Wes is my teammate —I can’t change that—but you are my friend, and if he hurt you, I will kill him.”
    “Why is that?” I inquired. “I mean, every time I mention his name, everyone gets this horrid look on their faces.”
    Andrew stared at me. For a moment, I thought that he was going to tell me, but instead he shook his head. “I just don’t like him.”
    I sighed, “Fine.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay?” He placed his hand on my leg.
    “I promise. Let’s go get our drink on.” I winked at him and got up. Even though Wes’ words were still lingering, I needed to drink, dance, and forget about it.

Chapter 8 – Andrew
     
    For the next hour, I watched as Katie and Lindsay danced to every song, and drank heavily. I had never seen her drunk before. At one point, Lindsay was holding her upright because she couldn’t stand.
    “Hey, I’m ready for this party to be over,” I told Franks, who nodded back to me. I had to leave early, actually in a few hours, and I wanted some rest. He went over to the deejay and announced that everyone had to go home.
    Lindsay was sitting with Katie on the living room couch as the crowd dispersed, and they were talking and giggling. After the deejay left, I shut and locked the door.
    Franks went through, room by room, to make sure that there weren’t any stragglers. “House is empty,” Franks announced.
    “I don’t think I’ll be able to get her home and up the stairs in this condition,” Lindsay said. At this point, Katie was practically snoring on Lindsay shoulder.
    “Give her to me,” I reached behind her knees, gripped her waist, and picked her up, fireman style.
    “What are you doing with her?” She jumped to her feet, blocking my path.
    “I’m going to take her to my room.”
    Lindsay looked at me skeptically.
    “Hey, you’ll be right across the hall in Franks’ room. I give you my word, she’ll be fine.” I tried to step around her, but she wouldn’t let me past.
    “Let me tell you something, Andrew Moore, if anything happens to her while she’s in your bed, I will cut off every appendage that you have, and I’ll start with the one between your legs.” Lindsay’s jaw was set tight, and her eyes narrowed. I knew she meant business.
    “I promise nothing will happen to her.” I meant it too. I didn’t want anything to happen to Katie.
    “Okay, then.” She stepped aside, and I carried Katie up the stairs to my room. The door was still unlocked from earlier, so I was able back in and push open the door.
    I pulled the comforter and sheets back, removed her boots, and set her gently on the bed. I covered her up and then went into my bathroom to change. I put on a pair of flannel pants, and quickly washed my face, before getting into bed.
    Katie was lying on her back, her thick, full lips slightly