I started to argue but thought better of it. I’d been drinking and I was pissed, not a good combination for getting behind the wheel. “Fine. I’ll run.”
“I can take you,” Chris offered.
“How are you in better form than me?” Chris was usually the first to tie one on.
“He’s had two beers all night. Jamie will vouch,” Lisa replied.
“Sarah said she was coming. I didn’t want to get hammered and do something stupid,” he said with an apologetic shrug.
“I wish I’d been smart enough to do that.” I tossed my keys to Chris. “I’m not getting on the crotch rocket.”
He snatched them out of the air. “It’s not a crotch rocket.”
Before I could follow him out of the house, Lisa threw her arms around me. “I’m really sorry, Hayden. I didn’t invite Sienna. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“I know.” I gave her a swift peck on the cheek and took off after Chris.
He was already in my car, gunning the engine. I dropped into the passenger seat and he pulled away from the curb.
“I’m sorry, man. This whole thing is my fault,” he said, downshifting as he turned the corner.
“No, it’s not. I made my own decision to go to The Dollhouse. You didn’t hold a gun to my head.” I tapped my fingers on the dash, anxious to get to Tenley.
“I don’t mean that. I invited Sarah to the party the last time I was there. Damen overheard and asked about it.”
That explained a lot. I couldn’t be mad at Chris, though. It would have gotten back to Sienna somehow.
Both the Tercel and the Prius were parked behind Serendipity, which meant they’d made it home okay. I just hoped Tenley would speak to me. Chris followed me up, prepared to act as a distraction if necessary.
Sarah answered the door. Her eyes widened a fraction when she saw Chris standing behind me, but she remained impassive otherwise. “You’re really not all that attached to your balls, are you?”
I lowered a hand protectively, uncertain about her intentions and the safety of said balls. “I can explain.”
“Oh, really? You can explain why you were in a bathroom fucking around with two women?” The calm fa?ade dropped. “I’d love to hear the story, but I’m busy keeping my friend from going off the deep end because her boyfriend is a cheating fuckwad!”
None of what she said shocked me, except the “boyfriend” part. Was that what I was? Sarah started to slam the door in my face, but I put out a hand to stop her. “Listen. I get that you’re upset with me right now—”
“?‘Upset’ doesn’t even begin to touch how I feel about you—”
“—and I appreciate that as Tenley’s friend, you want to protect her. But you have no idea what happened, and neither does she. Tenley’s spinning worst-case scenarios in her head and I can’t have that. I need to explain so she can understand, and you’re preventing me from doing that. Do you see how that’s a problem for me?” I asked, struggling to remain calm.
“I’m having difficulty understanding why I should give a shit.”
“Because you, like me, care about Tenley. I wouldn’t be here negotiating with you if I didn’t.”
“You have one minute to explain.”
I briefly considered moving her out of the way to get to Tenley, but if I wanted to make things better, it wouldn’t go over well to manhandle Tenley’s friend.
“I was searching for Tenley. I knew she was pissed at me for being a dick earlier.” I motioned to my neck, like I needed to point out the obvious.
“Excuse me,” Chris said from over my shoulder.
Both Sarah and I turned to look at him with disbelief. I wasn’t sure if I should be more shocked by his polite address or the fact that he was interrupting my time-limited explanation.
“I know you don’t want ?Tee to get hurt, Sarah, but in this case, it would be better for H to talk to her. Why don’t we give them a few minutes to sort things out? If Tee wants him to leave, I’ll take him home and make sure he stays there.”
Sarah stared at him, clearly contemplating the request. “Fine. But I’m leaving the door to my apartment open.” She gave me a hateful glare and stormed past.
As soon as she cleared the door I went into the apartment. Tenley was sitting on one of the bar stools, her hands clasped in front of her, a pile of shredded tissue on the counter. I could still hear Sarah in the hall, followed by Chris’s gentle coaxing. I ignored them, my focus on the veil of dark hair obscuring Tenley’s face. She lifted her head when I closed the door. Her eyes were red, puffy, her cheeks blotchy from crying. And I was to blame.
Tenley eyed me as I crossed the room. When I rounded the counter, she put her hand up and shook her head.
“That’s close enough.” It came out a gravelly whisper.
I raised my hands in supplication. “I’m sorry, kitten.”
“Don’t call me that.” Her hand shook as she touched the angry mark on her neck. Mine was worse. “What was the purpose of this? Were you looking to mark your territory in case you decided you might want to finish up with me when you were done with your exes?”