“You’re drunk, B,” he says pointedly. “And that’s not like you.”
“It’s not?” I grate as my insides coil, the tension that’s been lingering fast approaching breaking point. “How the hell do you know? Youleft.” A rage simmers inside me as it all becomes too much. The pain. The uncertainty. The memories I’ve been trying to outrun since Zane first drove away. “Maybe I became a drinker,” I lie. “Maybe this is an average Sunday night for me.”
In my periphery, I see Jenna shake her head no and I stamp my foot like a child. “Jenna? Whose side are you on?”
“Right now? This guy.” She points to Zane and her betrayal cuts me like a knife. “Until such a time as I meet Nathan. I’m good at reading people, and Zane gives off a good vibe.”
“Thanks.” He smiles and I want to slap it off his face.
“I’m going to go.” I spin on my heel. I can’t be here anymore.
“Wait.” Zane rushes forward, grabbing my wrist, but when I shoot him a glare, he releases me. “Not yet, please,” he begs. “Stay here until you sober up.”
“Oh, I’m plenty sobernow. I think it’s best I leave. It’ll give you two a better chance to talk about me when I’m gone.” I wince at the venom in my voice, but right now, I’m too worked up to care. I need to sleep it off.
Jumping up from her seat, Jenna’s eyes alight with panic. “I’m sorry. God, what am I—”
“Don’t worry, Jen. I’ll call you in the morning.” I’m angry now but she’s drunk. Zane, on the other hand…
“No, babe.” She interrupts my spiral. “I’m coming. I’m sorry.” My shoulders drop, some of my fight dissipating.
“It’s okay, I promise. I just can’t be here right now.”
“I understand.” She runs to catch up with me, her heels clacking on the polished floors. “It was nice meeting you, Zane,” she calls over her shoulder, linking her arm through mine, and I think he mumbles “you too” but I refuse to look back.
I refuse to doanythinguntil we’re in a taxi on our way home. It’s only then that I finally speak. After I’ve calmed down.
“I’m sorry I snapped,” I say, releasing a slow breath. “It’s just that was a lot and—”
“Why are you sorry? I saidwaymore than I should have.”
“Yeah, well… Zane’s the kind of guy you want to talk to. He’s alluring like that.”
“He is, but it’s no excuse. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“At the risk of pissing you off again, I have to say, he doesn’t seem like the asshole you described him to be.”
I let my head fall back as I sigh dramatically. “That’s because he’s not. It’s easier for me to think of him that way.”
“He hurt you?”
“We hurt each other. But that was years ago. It’s time to move on.”
“He doesn’t look like he’s willing to do that.”
“He will. He’ll go back to San Francisco and all will be forgotten. It’s only because he’s here. You know…out of sight, out of mind.” I shrug and when I open my eyes, Jenna frowns, wanting to challenge me or say more, but thankfully she doesn’t.
“Want to stay at my place?” she asks instead, as we pull up in front of her building, the wrought iron lights giving the art deco building a fairytale glow.
I smile, considering it for a second before shaking my head. “Thank you, but I should go home. I don’t want Nathan to worry.”
“Of course. I really need to meet this man. ASAP.”
“You do. How about you come over for dinner this week? He’s around most nights.”
“Sounds perfect. See you then.” She presses a kiss to my cheek before thanking our driver. “Talk tomorrow.” She waves as she gets out, closing the door behind her.
