Henry sucked in a sharp breath. Was the alcohol hitting already? Why was she singing such an ancient song? Eliza belted it out at the top of her lungs, and the others joined in with cheers and whistles. Nolan rubbed his temples. If he’d acted a second sooner, maybe he could’ve stopped her. Eliza didn’t have much of a tolerance. She could handle red wine, but whiskey was another story. And sure enough, it didn’t take long before that one glass hit her full force. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and halfway through the song, she threw up. Henry immediately grabbed a trash can and held it up to her. “This is on you guys. Who in their right mind gets a girl drunk on whiskey?” he snapped.The other classmates looked wronged. It was just one drink—how could they have known it’d hit her so hard? Still, Eliza’s alcohol tolerance was abysmal. Nolan stood up, glanced at the dazed Eliza, and said, “I’ll take her back.” He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Eliza felt herself fall into a warm chest. She looked up and saw Nolan’s near-perfect jawline. She couldn’t help but reach up to touch it. But the next second, Nolan grabbed her hand. Their palms touched, and Eliza felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her. Crap. She really was drunk. “Nolan, you sure you’ve got this?” Henry asked, looking worried. “Want me to go with you? She’s totally out of it—can’t even walk straight.” “Then she won’t walk.”Nolan scooped her up into a bridal carry. The room fell dead silent. Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Wasn’t their class president supposed to be a germaphobe? Didn’t he avoid girls like the plague? Wasn’t he… gay? … A dozen unanswered questions swirled around the room. Even Henry was stunned. He’d never seen Nolan treat any girl this way. … Outside the club. Nolan carried Eliza out the door. Whether it was the alcohol or sheer exhaustion, Eliza curled up against his chest and fell asleep almost instantly. The club manager recognized Nolan immediately and rushed over with a smile. “Mr. Tyson! We didn’t expect you here tonight!” “Get me a car.” “Right away! I’ll have one ready immediately!” Nolan glanced down at the sleeping Eliza. She was light, barely noticeable in his arms. He could’ve just walked her back—it wasn’t far. But the night air was chilly, and she was clearly in no state for it. Soon, a car was brought around. Nolan placed Eliza in the passenger seat, carefully buckled her in, then turned on the heat and tucked a blanket over her. “Mr. Tyson, should I send someone to drive for you?” He smelled faintly of alcohol—not much, but if they ran into a DUI checkpoint, it could be trouble. “No need.” Nolan backed the car out with one hand and drove off smoothly.The hotel wasn’t far. He took a shortcut. … By the time they arrived, the hotel manager had already entered full reception mode. Rain drizzled outside. Nolan got out and carried Eliza again. The manager rushed to hold an umbrella, letting himself get soaked rather than letting their VIP customer feel a single drop. “Mr. Nolan, shall we move the car to the garage?” “Send it back to the club.” Nolan tossed the keys over. The manager immediately had someone handle it. When Nolan got back to the room with Eliza, everything inside had already been cleaned up. The moment she drank, she got drowsy. Now her cheeks were glowing red, and her whole body felt warm to the touch. Nolan laid her gently on the bed and reached out to touch her forehead. Satisfied that she hadn’t spiked a fever, he let out a small sigh of relief. “Nolan… I’m cold…” Eliza murmured with her eyes still closed, calling his name instinctively. After over two months of living together, they had grown used to relying on each other. Without saying a word, Nolan pulled the covers up around her. But just as he was tucking her in, his eyes landed on her soft, rosy lips. Maybe it was the alcohol, but they looked even more enticing than usual. He tried to look away—but Eliza suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck. For a second, Nolan’s heart skipped a beat. “Teddy…” Eliza muttered softly in her sleep. The moment that name left her lips, Nolan’s expression darkened.