Do I continue as normal or figure out some kind of plan?
A plan to do what? I’ve already decided I’m not going to run from him. I’ve got more to lose than I’ve ever had before, which is why I’ll stand and fight.
So, will it even make any difference, other than to make Denham’s life harder and add to his worry, if I tell him about today?
One thing’s for sure, commando’s life wouldn’t be worth living. Granted, he stopped the delivery guy from getting through. But that just pushed the rat out of his hole.
The walk through the foyer and the ride up to the penthouse goes by in a mind-spinning blur and before I know it, I’m at the door with my key card hovering above the slot. Commando one, hands over to commando two, or it could be commando three, I can’t even tell them apart and I don’t even care. But whatever they are saying, I don’t hear them. The flash of the green light indicating the door is unlocked jars a decision from me that I’m not going to tell Denham. The deep worry he is already dealing with regarding Tara is enough for him to think about. Add to that, running The Kingdom, and I really don’t think he needs extra problems to fret over. Besides, I’m handling it. Aren’t I?
“Hello,” I call out.
“We’re in here,” Denham calls back from the spare room. I dump my purse and kick off my heels before crossing the room. The door is only just ajar and I hover in the doorway before I push it open.
“For the last fucking time, Tara, tell me what you took…”
“I already told you, D. I didn’t take anything. I didn’t even have much to drink. Two bottles of beer. Max.”
“Do you think I was always thirty-four years old, T? Do you not think I was young and stupid, and made up excuses for poor decisions? I can see through your bullshit lies. Two bottles of beer does not put you in the state you were in this morning.”
Denham’s voice gets louder and more strained and Tara sounds exasperated trying to say her piece. Both of them are going around and around in circles but neither of them are getting anywhere.
I push the door open and step in. “Hi,” I say quietly. Hoping a little calm serenity will ease the tension between these two. Denham stands by the window, his back to the room, running his hands through his hair the way he does when he feels like something is out of his control.
When he turns around he tries to smile at me but fails miserably. “Hi,” he puffs out.
“How are you feeling?” I ask Tara.
“Like shit,” she snaps.
“Hey. Don’t even think about being obnoxious to Arianna.” Denham spins in her direction and snaps at her, she looks down at her fingers that are twined in her lap.
“Sorry,” she whispers. “I feel like shit, thanks for asking. My head fucking hurts and it doesn’t help that my big brother keeps yelling at me.”
“Well, you look better than you did this morning.”
“You saw me this morning?”
“Ari was the one who saw you fall out of some asshole’s car, with your fucking skirt around your waist, looking like a tramp who did too much coke last night, and can’t even remember what or who she did.”
“Denham,” I scold, surprised at his tone. “That doesn’t help anyone. Why don’t you go and get everyone a drink? Coffee or something…”
He sighs but doesn’t argue, and makes his way across the room with his shoulders dropped and his face set in tight lines. He kisses the top of my head as he walks past and when he’s out of the room, I get up and close the door quietly.
I come and sit next to Tara on the bed, placing my hand on her knee. “You’re really feeling better?”
“Yeah. I feel a bit queasy, and my head really fucking hurts. But I feel better than I did.”
“You wanna tell me what happened?”
“You gonna chew my ass out whatever I say?” she retorts like a belligerent teenager.
“No.” I smile. “He’s only like that because he cares.”
“I know.”
“So, what happened?”
“Ari, I don’t know. I remember having a couple of beers in the tequila lounge after work. Then I end up here, in my brother’s spare room being yelled at for getting trashed, when I don’t even remember anything else. I wouldn’t even mind if I had a fucking good time and remembered it all. That’s worth feeling like shit for!”
