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Shelly took off bounding into the next room.
“What were you, on the Hollywood diet?” Tina asked, eying my body.
“More like the liquid diet.”
Kenzie looked around. “Where’s Chase?”
I ignored the stabbing pain in my chest. “He’s in California still.”
“Okay. Enough with the cryptic bullshit.” Tina put her hands on her hips. “What the hell is going on?”
“Cliff’s Notes version: My mom showed up at my door asking for forgiveness, Chase asked me to move to California with him, we were there for about five days before I decided to take up alcoholism. Now I’m back, and he’s still there. The end.”
Both of their jaws dropped open.
“Oh, good,” said Shelly, returning with Brody. “You told them.”
“What did your mother want?” Tina asked.
“I don’t know.”
Kenzie’s eyebrows were still pushed together. “Did you guys break up?”
“I didn’t think so, but he hasn’t answered my texts in five days, so that’s been a good time.”
“Brody!” Jack, one of Brody’s frat brothers, called from the staircase. “Game’s starting. Let’s go!”
“Let’s go, babe.” Brody took Shelly’s hand.
I raised an eyebrow at her.
“We’re playing against Jack and Melanie,” she said apologetically. “Brody bet them that we were better at pool then they were. Want to come watch us take their money?”
“No,” Tina said, linking her arm with mine. “She doesn’t want to watch. She’s staying down here with me.”
“Rob and I are playing the winners,” said Kenzie. “I’ll see you guys a little later.”
As soon as they disappeared up the stairs, Tina dragged me into the kitchen. “We’re doing shots.”
I shook my head. “No, Tee. I can’t do shots. I need to stay away from alcohol.”
“No one needs to stay away from alcohol. What you need is to learn how to remain in control.” She spun the cap from the bottle of tequila and poured two shot glasses filled to the brim. “And I’m the professional at that.”
I hesitated.
“Who drove tonight?” she asked impatiently.
“Shelly.”
Tina handed the glass to me. “Then you’re good.” She clinked her glass with mine, and downed her shot.
Tanner appeared in the doorway, searching the room until his eyes settled on me. He looked down at the glass in my hand. “I came by your apartment before, but you had already left.”
“Why, what’s wrong? Is Chase okay?”
“He’s fine. I just spoke to him an hour ago.”
It felt as if someone poured lighter fluid on the fire in my stomach. “Well, at least he’s talking to somebody.”
