LITTLE GIRL LOST by SARAH BETH LEE (best books to read for knowledge TXT) 📕

“I am going to order a round of drinks be back in a minute.”

Across the room Carter watched Hannah as she continued to drink one drink after another. He hoped the alcohol was doing the trick of making her forget but he knew from experience that all the booze in the world would not erase the name that was in her heart.

In the corner booth Maddie watched as Hannah seemed to be sampling every drink on the menu, fuzzy navel, Amaretto sour, gin and juice, peach schnapps and then it was beer on tap. Maddie watched as she drank herself into oblivion.

“Ok Hannah it’s time we called it a night.”

Hannah was too far gone to argue but Maddie could see that she was looking more and more green by the minute. She looked at Martin apologetically. ”I’m so sorry but I need to get her home.”

Martin stood and helped get Hannah on her feet. He was afraid Maddie would never be able to get her to the car.

“Do you want me to help you get her to the car?”

“No I can manage.”

Martin walked with her to the front of the bar. “Ok I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Maddie smiled. “Yes you will.”

Martin dropped a kiss to her surprised lips. “Until tomorrow sleep tight.”

Maddie felt as if her face might crack from smiling so hard. She watched as he walked away to join Carter and their friends. She patted Hannah on the cheeks to revive her. “Come on Hannah it’s time to move.”

“Oh Maddie I can’t feel my feet. Can’t we just stay here?”

Maddie managed to get Hannah on her feet and walking toward the door.”No honey we have to get you home before you get sick.”

“Mad, everything is foggy and my mouth feels like sandpaper.”

“I’m sure it does honey just put one foot in front of the other and keep walking.”

Maddie and Hannah finally made it the short distance to the door when Hannah bent over and grabbed her stomach.

“Maddie I’m going to be sick.” Hannah walked hunched over holding her stomach through the door and bumped into someone on her way to empty out the contents of her stomach. Maddie looked up to apologize “So sorry…” Maddie stopped dead in her tracks as she looked at the amused face of none other than Nicolas O’Brien.

“Sorry Mr. O’Brien my friend is a little drunk I have to get her home.”

Nick looked at Maddie and smiled, “No problem tell your friend I hope she feels better.”

Maddie nodded her head and rushed out the door to find Hannah who was leaning against the building. She had thrown everything up and was now struggling to catch her breath. Maddie pushed her hair out of her eyes and wiped her face with a Kleenex.

“Hannah honey it’s okay let’s get you home.”

Maddie walked Hannah to the car and buckled her in. She climbed in the driver’s seat and started the car. She watched as the defrost began clearing the snow and frost off the window. She wondered if Hannah had any idea that she had almost thrown up on her Nick. Maddie heard Hannah’s soft voice cutting into her thoughts.

“Mad you still here?”

“Yeah Hannah what is it?”

Maddie could hear the muffled sobs coming from Hannah’s direction. She could see the tears glistening in the overhead light of the street lamp. She ached for her friend.

“Was he nice?”

Maddie wasn’t sure what she meant. “Who?”

“Nick was he nice?”

“Yes he was very nice.”

Hannah seemed to calm down a little bit at the knowledge. “Thanks Mad, I know he’s gorgeous and physically perfect but I always had this fear that if I ever met him he wouldn’t be nice.”

Maddie patted Hannah’s leg, “No worries H, he’s nice.”

Hannah slurred her words “I knew he would be.”

Maddie could hear her strangled words dying as the snores took over. Maddie drove the short distance to Hannah’s apartment and wondered what on earth would happen now.

Chapter Eight The Last To Know

CHAPTER EIGHT
THE LAST TO KNOW

Carter sat brooding at the end of the long table and wondered if he should ask Hannah out. He had really liked her she had been funny and sweet in an almost naïve way. He had seen her come in the shop with Maddie and he had wondered why he had never seen her before; he would’ve sworn he knew everybody in town but he knew he would’ve remembered that face. He threw back the remainder of his jack and coke and wondered what her story was. He wasn’t really drunk yet but he was starting to feel the buzz running through his body and he felt himself relaxing. As he sat there watching Maddie helping a very intoxicated Hannah to the door he almost jumped up to help her but of course Martin put a hand on his shoulder and sat down beside him.

“Hey little brother how’s it going?”

Carter looked at Martin trying to hide his frustration. “I’m good and in a minute after a few more drinks I’ll be even better.”

Carter never took his eyes off of Maddie and Hannah. He watched as Hannah slumped out the door and he was sure she was about to be paying for her indiscretions. As he watched he saw Nick come through the door at the same time Hannah slunk out crouched over holding her stomach. It was at that very moment he saw something that made him wonder if Nick was the guy Zach had been talking about earlier. It made sense they were best friends and closer than brothers. He couldn’t put his finger on it but it was almost like he could feel the sparks from across the room as they had briefly touched.

“So I see Maddie took Hannah home; I hope she’s okay.”

Martin nodded his head, “I’m sure she’ll be fine. You know Carter she’s led a very sheltered life so don’t go chasing after her and scaring her okay?”

Carter knew he was right but it offended him that his own brother felt the need to warn him against seeing her again. “Look she was nice and I got the feeling she could use some friends. I resent the fact that everybody assumes I just want to jump her bones.”

Martin could hear the truth ringing in Carter’s words and lifted his hands in surrender. “Sorry I just don’t want to see her hurt.”

Carter tilted his head and smiled at his brother. “Then that makes two of us.” With that Carter shoved his chair away from the table and walked to the bar. Martin watched him stalk away and knew he had handled that badly. He raked his hand through his hair and hoped Carter would be okay, he was still trying to get over his own broken heart. His concern for Hannah had been real but he was just as worried about Carter.

“Martin is that you?”
Martin looked up to see Nick standing behind Carter’s empty chair. “Nick how are you? What’s it been a year at least?”

“Something like that but I’m good how about you?”

Martin smiled thinking about Maddie, “I am doing great at least for the moment but we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Nick laughed at the old joke and shook his head, “What’s this one’s name?”
Martin had been known for dating every pretty girl he met in college but things had changed over the last couple of years. He had finally realized he had to grow up and stop acting like a kid. “Times have changed my friend I no longer feel the need to date a different girl each week. Besides the girl I have my eye on now could be the one.”

Nick had never thought he would hear those words not from Martin and he wondered who had gotten under his skin. “Good for you, so again I ask what’s her name?”

Martin was still thinking of Maddie and that mane of long brown hair and those enchanting eyes that danced with wonder. “Maddie, well Madeline Jacobs.”

Nick was a little shell shocked to say the least not only did Martin know his shrink but he was dating her? How bizarre was that but her office was just around the corner from his shop so he could see it.

“Small world I happen to know her she seems nice.”

Martin looked a little surprised that Nick knew Maddie. “So how do you know Maddie?”

“Work you know the government they want to cover all their bases. The project I am currently on is kind of overwhelming to say the least and they ordered me to get a psyche eval.”

“Small world huh?”

Nick shook his head, “You have no idea my friend.”

Carter arrived at the table with a pitcher of beer and glasses. He looked at Nick and he wondered yet again if he was the guy Hannah was waiting for.

“Hey Nick want a drink?”

“Hey Carter so what’s up how are things going? And a beer would be great thanks.”

Nick chose his words carefully censoring what he really wanted to know. Carter unlike his brother had never been a player he had always been a one woman man. The thing with Carter he always thought that every girl he dated was going to be the one. He had been with Chloe for a little over two years and had been blindsided when she told him she was moving across the country to start a new life with someone else.

“Good so what’s up with you?”

“Not much work and more work?”

Nick wondered why Carter was staring at him so intently as if he had something on his mind. Nick took a drink of his beer and watched Carter’s brooding expression over the rim of his glass. Martin stood to his feet.

“Carter I’m going to step outside and call Maddie make sure they made it home.”

Carter had his opportunity to find out if Nick knew Hannah. He nodded at his brother. “Ok ask her how Hannah’s doing I feel bad for buying her that first drink. “ He laughed at the