Shay lives in a third-floor walk-up a couple of blocks from the bar. I know this thanks to Mrs. Jackson, who was pleased to hear that I wanted to swing by and bring Shay some dinner, since she’s been working so hard lately. To make good on my promise, I grabbed pizza and a six-pack of beer on my way over.
But when I get there, no one answers.
A gray-haired lady opens the door across the hall. “She’s not home yet.”
I swallow. “Do you know where she is?”
She shakes her head. “Hardly ever sleeps here, far as I can tell.”
Because she’s with George? Is that where she is now? Jesus. I can’t believe this night. “Here.” I hold out the pizza. “You like pepperoni and jalapenos?”
She takes the box and pulls a piece from inside before backing into her apartment. “Thanks. I’ll tell Shayleigh you came by.”
I stand outside her apartment like an idiot for at least ten more minutes. When she doesn’t come home, I text.
I never chose Scarlett over you. She would lose that matchup every time. I chose my daughter over myself.
Shay
“I slept with Easton,” I blurt when Teagan opens the door.
“I’m sorry—what?” She makes a few fish faces like she’s trying to talk and is failing. “You . . . slept with him.”
I cringe. “Maybe ‘sleeping’ isn’t the right euphemism. There was no sleeping. And no bed.” I thread my fingers through my hair and tug. “Just a wall and some very athletic fucking.”
Her eyes are wide. I’ve been shocking her right and left, it seems. “Okay. Well, that’s not exactly what I had in mind when I told you not to make any decisions.”
“I know.” I rub my head. “I really do. It’s just . . . Oh my God, Tea, my life is a mess. I broke up with George, then Easton threatened to kiss me until I talked about us, and I pulled him into Jake’s office and practically demanded he do me against the wall.”
“I’m sure that was very difficult for him. Should we go down to Hallmark and get him a card?”
I didn’t even mention the worst part. I just realized I’ve been sleeping with a married man. Nausea turns my belly, and I push past her, down the hall, and into the powder room by the garage. I throw my purse on the floor and barely turn in time before I vomit up the little lunch I was able to choke down. I hear Teagan behind me, running water in the sink.
She sweeps my hair to the side and puts a cool, wet cloth on my neck. “Is this always your reaction when you have athletic wall sex?”
I spit and flush before leaning against the wall and closing my eyes. “Don’t know. That was a first for me.”
“Well, you’ve been missing out.” She clears her throat. “I mean, I’m assuming you agree? Was it good?”
I can’t look at her. I’m too afraid I might see what a mess I am reflected in the panic of her expression. “It was great until his ex-wife showed up.”
“Wait. Scarlett Lashenta was at Jackson Brews?”
She’s silent so long that I realize it’s not a rhetorical question and open my eyes. “Teagan, focus. She’s the bad guy in this story.”
“A bad guy with some really catchy tunes,” she says, then ducks her head at my glare. “Okay, okay. So what happened after the evil pop star showed up? Did she catch you in the act? Oh my God, was she pissed? Did you fight?”
I scowl. “You might be enjoying this too much.”
She snorts. “Says the girl who just had great athletic wall sex.”
“Teagan!”
“Your words, not mine.”
“We were in the office and heard Carter and Jake looking for Easton and saying she was in the bar.” My cheeks heat when I remember. I’d just had him inside me, begged for harder into his ear. And then I heard her name. “I did not handle it with grace.”
“Do I want to know what you did?” She grabs another washcloth from the vanity drawer, wets it, and hands it to me.
“Thanks,” I whisper. I leave the first cloth on my neck and dab the second on my sweaty forehead. “I told him we’re only good for getting each other off and stomped away.”
She nods as if this was a perfectly reasonable response.
“You’re the best, Teagan. And I’m not just saying that because you didn’t hide while I puked.”
She sighs. “About that . . . I’m not sure if you’re aware, what with how quickly everything’s been happening, but as your best friend, I’m woefully under-informed here. Would you like to back up to the part where you broke up with George, or go even further than that and explain your history with Easton?”
“George. I guess.”
“Okay. So you told your mom you weren’t going to see each other anymore, but what happened exactly? What was with the ring?”