Willow’s face fell. She turned and saw a young guy stagger toward them, so tall and ripped he could only be another football player. His eyes were wide, his jaw working on nothing. “Willow? Where’veyoubeen, mate?”

Willow pressed a hand to his eyes. “Fuck me dead.”

“Is that your friend?” Eden asked.

“It sure is.”

“Is he gakked off his nut?”

“He sure is.”

Willow moved forward, wrapping an arm around his mate. “Hey Psycho, how are you?”

The guy grinned up at him. “Heyyyyyy, wanna drink?”

“No.” Willow looked around. “Derek’s left, hasn’t he?”

“Yeahhhhh.”

Eden could practically hear the guy’s teeth grinding. She tapped her hips, but she wasn’t carrying gum. She didn’t even have pockets. The motion made the young guy look at her. He flashed a megawatt grin that would have been charming if he wasn’t cross-eyed. “Mate… DJ lady. You’re so talented. You should be so… proooooud.”

Eden laughed. “Thanks man. I appreciate it.”

The guy glanced from her to Cheryl, who was watching with amused concern. He waved his hands in front of his face as though he was going blind.

“What?” Willow snatched his hand away. “What’s wrong?”

“That girl.”

Cheryl pointed at herself. “Me?”

The kid stared at her, his mouth wide open. “You’re fucking stunning. The sexiest woman evahhh.”

Cheryl pressed a hand to her mouth, charmed despite herself. Willow, on the other hand, looked like all his nightmares had come true. He gripped his friend’s chin and tilted his head upward. “Psycho? How’re you feeling? Do you need to go home?”

As though on cue, the guy’s knees buckled.

“Fuck,” Willow muttered, his arms straining to hold him upright.

People around them backed away. The kid, or Psycho or whatever Willow had called him, was a big dude. Falling timber hurt.

“I’m gonna go to the bar,” Cheryl yelled.

“Good idea,” Eden shouted back. “Double vodka?”

“Sure.” Cheryl glanced at Willow. “Want me to get him some water?”

“Nah.” Willow’s mouth was a flat line. “I have to take this fuckwit home.”

Eden felt like someone had punched her in the stomach. “Are you sure?”

“Trust me, I’d park him in an Uber, but he’ll be up all night. He’ll head out the minute my back’s turned.” He hauled his friend up higher on his chest. “I’m really sorry.”

“That’s okay.”

“This is the worst fucking timing.” Willow shifted his friend onto his shoulder, bent down and kissed her cheek. Heat spread from the point his lips touched, and Eden backed away. “Um, your mate’s drooling on your shirt?”

Willow groaned, pulling the wet patch away from his skin. “Okay, pretty girl. It’s time for me to leave.”

“No!” His friend was attempting to stand under his own power, his head swaying to the beat.