Good Girl Gone Plaid by Shelli Stevens Page A

question. He would never be good enough for Sarah. Not in his eyes, and certainly not in hers.
    Closing his eyes, he remembered how everything had gone from so perfect, to so completely fucked up.
     
     
    “Have another whisky, Ian. You brought it.”
    He shook his head, even as his glass was topped off by some guy he recognized from gym. Shite, when Da discovered he’d snatched the bottle from the pub, he was going to have kittens.
    The music at the party blared, and nobody seemed to worry since the kid throwing the party lived out in the middle of the woods with no neighbors for miles. His parents, both doctors, were in Seattle for a medical conference.
    “Are you having fun?” Hailey appeared at his side, a shot glass in her hand.
    “Aye, it’s a good party.”
    “Hell yeah it is.” She bumped her glass into his. “Cheers.”
    “Cheers.”
    They drank their shots together.
    She set her glass down and hiccupped. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were glassy.
    “You’re completely pissed, aren’t ya?”
    Hailey frowned, pushing back a wayward strand of chestnut hair. “What? No, I’m not mad.”
    He grinned. “Not mad. Drunk.”
    She gave a wide grin that flashed a dazzling smile, and propped a hand on her hip. “Oh. Yeah, I think I’m a little drunk.”
    And a bit adorable too. Big brown eyes that seemed almost doe-like. She wasn’t much taller than Sarah, but quite pale and a little on the scrawny side. Her dress wasn’t as fashionable as some of the other girls’ at the party, but she looked pretty in the short blue lace dress.
    He knew her family struggled with money. Actually, rumor had it her parents were crackheads and she was just trying to graduate and get off the island.
    And Sarah had told him she was able to stay on the cheerleading squad from a scholarship. Sarah had befriended her early on—taken her under her wing, so to speak. There weren’t many weekends where Kenzie, Sarah and Hailey weren’t sleeping over at Sarah’s house. Sometimes Kenzie had them over, though, and he loved those nights. He’d always manage to sneak Sarah away for a few stolen kisses.
    But they were tight knit friends, the three of them.
    “So is Steve the designated tonight?” He glanced around the crowded room, trying to pinpoint Hailey’s boyfriend.
    “No. Steve went to some party in Anacortes.” She hesitated. “Actually, we broke up a couple days ago.”
    “Shite, really? I’m sorry. Sarah didn’t say anything about it.”
    “I didn’t tell her. I’m still in shock.” Hailey’s cheeks, already red from alcohol, flushed further. “He dumped me for some college chick at Western.”
    Christ, his gender could suck.
    “But enough about me and my shitty love life,” Hailey went on overly brightly. “Want another drink?”
    He mentally calculated how many he’d had. Three? Or four? “I’m actually good.”
    “Just one more. Then you can tell me where you’re going to school next year.”
    He didn’t have the heart to turn her down when she returned with a beer.
    An hour later, when Hailey ran off to use the bathroom, he took the time to call Sarah and tell her how much he loved her. Asked her if she’d pick him up in the morning, since Colin had needed to borrow his car.
    He knew the call likely fell into the drunken dialing category, and he’d tried to keep his voice from slurring. Because one beer had turned into two. Or was it three? Hailey had just kept bringing them to him—and those were on top of the shots.
    They’d ended up on the deck outside, talking about colleges. About Sarah and how perfect she and Ian were together. The music had been good, the crowd positive.
    He lost count of drinks she’d given him, but he must’ve had more than he’d thought, because he was starting to feel pretty tired. Dizzy.
    Shite, he hoped he didn’t make an arse of himself and throw up on anyone.
    He excused himself and stumbled to the bathroom, but when he spotted an open bedroom door, the