Charles stumbled toward her, his eyes glazed over. “I still can’t find my keys,” he slurred drunkenly.

Great.

Instead of watching for Brett for the past few hours, she should’ve been keeping an eye on her date, who apparently drank like a fish. After having a few too many, he was now in no condition to drive. Which really didn’t matter since he couldn’t find the car keys that he’d lost somewhere in the bar anyway.

Sidney caught sight of Valerie passing by and flagged her down. “Hey, Valerie. Did anyone turn in a set of car keys? We seem to have lost some.”

“Hmm, I can double-check with my head bartender, but I haven’t heard about anyone finding any car keys. I’ll let you know if I do though.”

“Okay, thanks. But if they turn up, can you just hang on to them until tomorrow? It’s getting late, and I think we’re about to leave.”

“No problem. But how are you getting home? Do you need me to call you a cab? We have the taxi company on speed dial.”

She nodded. “Sure, that would be great. Thanks.”

Charles placed a hand on his stomach and hunched over a little. “I don’t feel so good.”

Sidney glanced at Valerie. “Uh, maybe we should step outside and get some fresh air while we wait on that cab.”

“I’ll go call them right now and tell them to look for you two out front.”

“Thanks, Val.”

Sidney grasped Charles’s arm and led him out the exit. It was still sprinkling a little so they stayed under the covered area and sat on a wooden bench. He immediately leaned forward with his elbows propped on his knees and hung his head. Guess those four Irish Car Bombs he’d chugged had hit him all at once. Idiot.

She was seriously annoyed. Not only had Charles drunk himself to intoxication like a frat boy at a kegger, but he hadn’t seemed at all concerned about how she was going to get home since he’d picked her up. And what really frustrated her and had her stewing in silence was the one thought that replayed over and over in her mind.

Brett would never have done this.

A few minutes later, Valerie stepped outside. “Just checking on you two. I would’ve came out sooner, but I went around asking all the bartenders and waitresses if anyone turned in a set of keys. No luck yet.”

“That’s okay. I’m sure they’ll turn up at some point.” She’d barely finished the sentence when a pair of headlights turned into the parking lot. “Oh, good. There’s our ride.”