Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 986

“I know you’re sad,” she sobbed, holding him tight. “It’s okay to cry. I’m here with you, and I won’t tell anyone!”

Larry’s mind went blank. He never would have expected this from her. The soft press of her body and the faint, sweet scent of her skin sent a hot blush creeping up his neck. “Y-You need to calm down. I’m not going to cry…” All he wanted was to push her away. Even if she was drunk and wouldn’t remember this tomorrow, it wasn't an excuse for him, a grown man, to take advantage of the situation.

But a drunk Sarah was surprisingly strong. Instead of letting go, she hugged him even tighter. “You don’t have to pretend to be strong with me,” she slurred. “Just let it out. I’ll be right here. Men are allowed to be vulnerable sometimes… Don’t be embarrassed. I promise I won’t laugh at you!”

Any lingering sadness Larry had felt was completely gone, replaced by sheer bewilderment. “Can you just let go? We can talk this out…” Heat continued to flood his face; he’d never been this close to a woman before.

Sarah, however, was lost in her own wave of sympathetic sorrow, convinced he was bottling up his pain. She just held on, crying until she started to hiccup. The alcohol finally hit her full force, and her head began to spin. “Ugh… I feel… I feel sick…”

She finally released him. Larry gasped for fresh air, then scrambled to help her up. “Hang on, I’ll get you to the bathroom!”

The warm water had already soaked her clothes and hair. When she saw him, she grinned foolishly and waved. “Larry, it’s raining! And the rain is warm!”

Larry felt a headache coming on. He quickly pulled her out from under the spray. “My God, Sarah, what are you doing?!” He grabbed a bath towel from a nearby cabinet and wrapped it around her, using another towel to dry her hair. But the little drunk in his arms wouldn’t stay still, wriggling and squirming until most of the water on her had transferred to him, making him shiver.

“Let me go! Let me go! Being in the rain feels gross. I want to take a shower!” Sarah protested, ripping off the towel and throwing it to the floor.