“Shit. All right, let’s get you out of here.”
She holds me steady as we walk through the crowd, my eyes staying focused on the floor beneath me and just the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other. Once we get outside and I feel the cool breeze waft across my skin, I take in a shuddering breath. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I am. I shouldn’t have left you.”
“Where did you go?”
“I thought the guy I was with could help me relieve some tension, if you catch my drift, but he ended up getting into a fight because some other man was hitting on his ex.” Shaking her head, she continues, “I don’t need the drama.”
“Yeah.”
Rubbing my arm as we walk to her car, she asks, “What happened in there? You looked like you were about to have a panic attack.”
“I was.”
When we get settled in her car, she turns to face me. “Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” I can feel my entire body shaking, but the last thing I want to do is relive what that man’s words just reminded me of—one of the biggest reasons I left LA.
“Okay.” Dilynne seems unaffected by my unwillingness to open up, and in this moment, I’m relieved.
“Thanks for not pushing me.”
“Girl, you’re talking to someone who understands not wanting to rehash shit. Trust me. Just know I’m here to talk if you need me.”
We ride in silence the entire drive back to town as I fight with my mind bringing up all of the events that have led me here. By the time we pull into Henley’s driveway, I feel drained, like I just ran a marathon. Fairly certain the surge of adrenaline I just had is the culprit, I slowly exit Dilynne’s car as she speaks.
“You want me to walk you in?”
“No. I’m good. Thanks, though.”
“You sure?”
I glance at her over my shoulder, flashing her the best smile I can muster. “Yeah, I’m good. Thanks again for a fun night…until it wasn’t.”
“Get some rest.” She waits until I’m inside before pulling away. It’s after one in the morning, so I’m surprised to find Henley on the couch scrolling on his phone.
“Hey,” I say, pulling my purse off my shoulder and setting it on the table by the door.
The icy glare he gives me makes my shoulders tense. “Glad to see you’re alive.”
I twist my head around the room before landing back on him. “Did I miss something?”
Grunting, he stands from the couch. “I just didn’t realize you planned on being out so late.”
Growing instantly defensive, I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I had a curfew. You knew I was going out, so where is this coming from?”
“It’s after one in the morning,” he replies.
“And?”
“I didn’t realize you could be so irresponsible.”
My blood starts to boil. I’ve witnessed snarky Henley before, but in this moment, he’s just being an ass. With shaky hands, I inhale deeplybefore giving him a piece of my mind. “You think I’m irresponsible? You trusted me with your daughter—without even knowing me. So, if we’re comparing responsibility, let’s start there. Not to mention, I’m old enough to drink, smoke, and stay out until any hour of the night that I want. So if this is you being worried about my ability to do my job…”
He holds up a hand, stopping me. “Look, it’s late.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
