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Tenise showed up one afternoon with baked goods she had made for the guys. I let her in, but she wasn’t who I wanted to see. I called Gigi for what felt like the thousandth time only to get her voicemail. I kept calling just to get that greeting so I could hear her voice.
“What’s going on? Rory said you couldn’t get ahold of Jenny.”
My back stiffened, my head whipping around. “Her name is Gigi.” She knew that. It wasn’t like I had been quiet in my feelings for my girl.
“Right.” Tenise giggled, slapping her forehead. “Silly me. But here, I brought you some yummy treats.”
I had been spoiled by Meadow’s baking over the years so nothing could ever compare, but I was polite and took the plastic container from Tenise anyway. “Thank you,” I mumbled, placing it on the kitchen island.
“You’re welcome.” Tenise went to the couch and turned on the TV, making herself right at home.
I stared after her, wondering what the hell was going on? It wasn’t like I was up for company. I needed to figure out what I had done and why Gigi was suddenly ignoring me.
Had I said something wrong? We had talked a little more about our feelings. Was that it? Did I scare her away? Did I push too hard? Was she upset that I hadn’t told her I loved her yet? There was no reason why I was waiting but it hadn’t felt like the right time.
“Come.” Tenise patted the empty spot beside her. “You need to get your mind off whatever is going on anyway. Rory is working and Mason went out of town to see his parents. So it looks like it’s just you and me.”
I didn’t want to be rude and kick her out. It wasn’t like I could get ahold of Gigi anyway and everyone I called and asked, told me shit all.
Heading to the living room, I sat on the chaise beside the couch Tenise was sitting on.
“Why are you so far away? I don’t bite.” Something flashed behind Tenise’s dark eyes. Something I didn’t like but couldn’t quite figure out what it was.
Tenise stood and came toward me. “You know, I’ve always wished I would have met you first.”
“Alright.” I jumped to my feet and put some distance between us. “That’s it. I’m not interested.”
“What are you talking about?” Tenise laughed. “It’s not like there’s anything stopping us.”
“Are you kidding me right now? You’re dating my best friend and I have a girlfriend.” Even though we had never put a label on what we had, Gigi and I both knew that we belonged to each other. And whatever was going on right at the moment was a roadblock in our path to be together. We would get through this. I would make sure of it.
“Come on, Vin.” Tenise came toward me but I took a step back.
“I can’t do this. You need to leave.” I grabbed my wallet and keys off the table by the entrance to my apartment and shoved them in my pockets.
“Do what? We haven’t done anything.” Tenise closed the final few steps between us, blocking me from getting to the door. “But I want to. We could be good together.”
“No.” I gently pushed passed her and opened the door. “Out. Now.” I thrust my arm out. “Now!”
Tenise started laughing. “Alright, alright. Geeze, Vin. Take a joke. Rory put me up to it. He said you would be all weird if I came on to you.” She shook her head. “Take care and I’ll see you soon I’m sure. I hope Jenny is okay.” And just like that, she left the apartment.
Slamming the door shut behind her, I leaned against it and let out a slow breath. I wasn’t sure how I would tell Rory about what just happened, but I couldn’t dwell on that at the moment. I needed to see Gigi. I needed to figure out what was going on and how to fix it.
Leaving my apartment, I locked up and decided to take the stairs so I wouldn’t see Tenise again. I wasn’t even aware of getting to my car or driving to Gigi’s. I was stuck in my head. I needed to make things right. I thought back over the past couple of months, but I couldn’t figure out what I had done. We had talked about the misunderstanding when Rory’s mom died, and how I never went to see her. She was good after that. She felt it was stupid that she had been upset but I understood. I would have reacted the same way if it had been the other way around. I finally got her talking and then all of a sudden, something happened where she was ignoring me again.
When I pulled up in front of Gigi’s place, I let out a sigh of relief at seeing her vehicle in the driveway. I parked the car and bounded up the steps. Once I reached the door, I slowly pushed it open before I stepped inside only to find Meadow and Shade in the living room.
“Vince.” Meadow stood, coming toward me. “You can’t be here.”
“Why the hell not?” I was thrown off by her words, knowing she had always been rooting for Gigi and I. “Where is she?”
Meadow looked away.
Shade stepped between me and Meadow. He was bigger than me. Much bigger. And older. But it didn’t stop me. I refused to back down where Gigi was concerned.
“Tell me where she is. Please. I’ve called her, texted her. I don’t know what I did wrong. It’s been three days. I need to know what happened.” I didn’t give a shit how desperate I sounded. Something happened and Gigi was pushing me away again, but I knew that she needed me just the same. Did I say something wrong? Did I do something? I tried thinking back over the weeks we had been together, but nothing came to mind. It had been perfect. Or so I thought.
“Vince,” Meadow said gently. “She doesn’t want to see you.”
