Chapter 78

Blindly, she pushed through the crowd, heading for the door. On her way there, someone snagged her arm and she spun to find Mike’s concerned face frowning down at her. “Jenny? You okay?”

“Fine,” she said, a little shaky. “I just need some air.”

When she tried to pull away, she stumbled, so he kept a firm grip under her elbow and helped her to the hallway. Within minutes they were on the porch, but there were still too many people around, the music still beating her down. “Can we walk a little?” she asked. “I think I drank too much.”

“Sure.” Easing a strong arm around her shoulders, Mike led her down the porch steps to the gravel driveway. The kids had gone inside now, leaving the burnt out sparklers and the dying glow sticks scattered about like detritus after a rock concert. Mike steered Jenny around the side of the house, away from the lights and the noise, into the backyard