“Sloan, I didn’t mean to…” she starts, but Nash steps in front of me, blocking her view.
I tremble, feeling overwhelmed. People will think I’m weird again.
Crazy.
I feel the panic attack rising, and if it weren’t for the few customers sitting in the back, I would just walk out of here.
Nash’s voice is soft when he reaches out to cup my face. “Pretty girl, listen to me, that’s not?—”
“No,” I whisper. I can’t listen to him right now, or I’ll break.
“You’re not going to spiral now, do you hear me?” Nash’s voice is desperate. “We are not going to do this. You can be mad at me all you want, you can make your own fucking decisions, you can decide if you want to be with all of us or if you don’t want to do this, but youwill notlisten to anybody else or let anyone’s opinion get in the way of whatyoureally want. Understood?”
I look at the floor, focusing on my breathing.
Unconventional.
Weird.
“Look at me.” I don’t move. “Fucking look at me, Sloan.” I lift my eyes to meet Nash’s gaze. “Do you want this? Me? All ofus?” I’m overwhelmed, and I don’t know how to respond. Nash lets his forehead fall to mine, speaking softly. “Sloan, don’t shut down on me now.”
But I can’t find the words to answer.
Mac chimes in, his voice calm and reasonable. “Why don’t you, I don’t know, sit at a table, order shit and leave her alone, or you just leave because right now all you are doing is making a spectacle out of her and yourself, and if it’s so important to everybody how shit looks to the people in this town, you should not make a scene here. She doesn’t need her overbearing best friend telling her what’s right or not, nor does she need one of the guys who wants to get in her pants telling her that it’s not a big deal.”
“Hey!” Tally and Nash say at the same time, their voices overlapping.
“Give her some space. I don’t know if you know the girl you call best friend or wannabe girlfriend, but if youknew herand looked at her right now, you would know that everything you’re saying is pressuring her more and making her want to bolt. So sit the fuck down orleave.”
Nash searches my eyes, brows furrowed, but I can’t hold his gaze. Instead, I look at the floor while taking a shuddering breath. “You want me to leave, Siren?” he asks softly, and all I can do is nod, even though it hurts.
He pushes away a tear with his thumb before kissing my temple, whispering an “I love you” against my skin before he turns and leaves. When the door closes behind him, I turn and walk quickly toward the bathroom.
“Sloan!” Tally comes rushing after me, just like Tim and Mac, and soon they’re standing behind me while I lean onto the sink, not sure if I need to scream or puke.
“You okay?” Tally asks, putting a hand on my shoulder, but I shrug her off.
No, I’m not.
I know I’m overreacting, but I can’t help it.
“Both of you, out.” Mac’s gruff voice echoes in the bathroom.
“No, I need to apologize. Sloan, I didn’t mean it like that.” Tally’s voice is watery, and I feel guilty for making her feel bad now too.
Just fantastic.
When the chill runs down my back, I don’t even have to turn to feel Shannon’s hostility toward me for upsetting her daughter again.Well, maybe Iamthe problem.
Nothing new there.
“She knows that. She’s not mad, right, Mouse?” Mac gives me an out, so I nod, still not looking at anybody but the sink. “See? Nowout.”
I hear the door open and close, letting out a long breath. And another one. When I’ve taken some more, I can finally stand straight and look at myself in the mirror.
I turn and see Mac leaning against the wall next to the door, arms crossed. Everybody else is gone. “Better?”
I nod.
