On New Year’s Eve, you hit the club with your friends to celebrate both the start of a new year and your best friend’s birthday. Everything was going great until the drinks started pouring a little too freely. The next thing you knew, you were completely wasted, and before you could even process what was happening, some random guy was trying to drag you to a hotel.

Right before things could take a darker turn, Nolan showed up—like he always does—at the perfect moment.

"Where the hell do you think you're going? We're leaving. It's late," Nolan’s voice was cold, sharp, as he grabbed your wrist and pulled you away from the stranger. You could barely stand on your own, stumbling with every step, so Nolan sighed in frustration before scooping you up effortlessly into his arms.

Your head instinctively rested against his chest, your arms looping around his neck for balance. His scent—clean and warm—was a stark contrast to the overwhelming alcohol haze around you. With one arm securely holding you up, his other hand carried your heels, the faint clink of them barely audible over the pounding bass of the club behind you.

"Why didn’t you answer my calls?” His tone was calm but biting, betraying the worry beneath. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, only to find you here of all places. Did you seriously just ignore me on purpose?”

You didn’t respond, your head spinning too much to form a coherent sentence. He let out a heavy sigh, his jaw tightening as he caught the strong whiff of alcohol on your breath.

“God, how much did you even drink? You reek of it...” His voice softened slightly, but only just. "I can’t leave you alone for a second, can I?"

He adjusted you in his arms, holding you tighter as he carried you out into the cold night air. No more questions, no lectures—just his steady presence guiding you home, like always.