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“Huh?” Sloan said distractedly, still ogling Topher as he glanced around the bar before spotting us.
When his gaze connected with mine, I pulled back, not sure how I felt about this. He started toward us, and my guts tightened with dread.
I slid off my chair, wobbled unsteadily, and wondered why I’d worn heels to go drinking, and then straightened and smoothed my skirt.
“Haven?” Manda asked, looking confused. “Where’re you going?”
“Anywhere but here,” I announced. “I didn’t come for this.”
My friends appeared shocked but they didn’t respond because Topher had just reached the table. I didn’t even have to look up to know he was there; I could smell his stupid cologne as he stopped behind me.
“Haven,” he said, his voice modulated to a humble, seeking tone. So very unlike the scathing, bitter one he’d used the night before…when he was calling me a lousy lay. “Can I talk to you?”
“No.” I didn’t even bother to look at him; I just took off walking away.
Until I heard Sloan call after me. “Haven! Wait.”
Pausing, I glanced back at the three still sitting at the table, because I had to know. “Did you know he was going to show up?”
They didn’t answer. Finally, Viv glanced
toward him before cringing at me. “Come on, sweetie. Why don’t you just give him another chance? Or at least let him explain himself.”
Oh, he’d explained himself clearly enough last night.
But then Viv added, “That’s what he wants.”
“What he wants?” I repeated in shock. “And why the fuck should I care what he wants?”
“Haven,” he started, moving toward me. But I held up my palm toward his face and stepped toward the table, glaring at my so-called friends.
“I can’t believe this. You three set me up.” I gaped at each one of them in turn before blurting, “Do you not even care what he did to me?”
“Well, maybe if you weren’t such a frigid lay,” Manda spit back, suddenly sounding snide. “He wouldn’t have had to—”
“Excuse me, what?” I demanded, lifting my eyebrows, unable to believe what I was hearing.
“I’m just saying—”
“You’re saying you listened to his gossip, and you’re siding with him, that’s what you’re saying. He betrayed me. He slept with other women. He—”
“There’s worse things than a straying man, honey.” This came from Viv. “Come on, Haven. Topher is the pick of the litter. How could you not want that? He is standing here, begging to have you back, and you’re turning him down. What the hell is wrong with you?”
My mouth fell open. “What the hell is wrong with me?” I repeated blankly. Then I shook my head. “I guess I actually have standards and self-respect; that’s what the hell is wrong with me. Because he was an awful boyfriend. And I don’t deserve that. If you three are so in love with him maybe you should try him on for size and find out for yourself just how much he sucks. Because I’m done.”
The look in Sloan’s eyes was so odd that I squinted at her, trying to figure out what it meant before a sudden thought occurred to me. “Unless…” I said slowly. “You’ve already tried him on for size.”
When Sloan glanced away and rubbed at her elbow self-consciously, my mouth fell open. “Oh my God. You have.” I glanced at the other two. Manda found the floor to be suddenly interesting, and Viv inspected the ceiling. No one could make eye contact with me. “What the actual fuck?” What backstabbing traitors. They’d all three slept with Topher.
“While I was dating him?” I demanded.
None of them answered.
“Holy shit,” I cried, unable to believe this. I shook my head, confused. “Wait. If all of you worship him so fucking much, then why the hell are you trying to help him get back together with me?”
Manda met my gaze. She seemed to be the least guilty and most malicious about this. “Because Topher gets what Topher wants. And for some unexplainable reason, he wants you.”
What?
