Part 13 (1/2)
”It's all right. You're fine.”
She looks at the bed and at me. ”Did I ask you here? What's happening?” she slurs. When she checks her clothes, my stomach turns over. That's not me. I don't do that.
”Don't you remember what happened?”
She rubs a hand across her face and sinks back again. ”No. Really tired, Jax.”
What do I do? I pull my phone out and try several people - Nate, Will, random numbers of tour management that I have. No answer.
Ruby? No, it's midnight. She'd be p.i.s.sed off with me; and if Jem smells the drugs from the party, I'm f.u.c.ked.
Can I leave Tegan and find somebody to help? I grip my hair. Think. s.h.i.+t, I wish I was sober; my brain won't work. I've been around stoned chicks before, some taking similar s.h.i.+t to what I think Tegan's been given, and they were okay. How did this happen to her? She's not a nave kid. Tegan's travelled and kept herself safe. I stand, ready to leave and find Bryn, until Tegan sits again.
”Jax. What's going on?”
f.u.c.k, she has no idea. What if I leave Tegan and she stumbles off somewhere?
She attempts to stand and slumps again.
”I'm not sure. I'm going to find somebody to help, Tegan. I don't know how to help you.”
”No. Don't go. I don't know what's happening.” To my alarm, tears well in her eyes.
”I think your drink was spiked.”
Tegan stares past me then sinks back down and turns to her side, curling up on the sheets, saying nothing. Her breathing deepens as I perch on the edge of the bed and wait for her response.
I want to lie next to Tegan, to hold her and make sure she's okay. Be there when she wakes up again and look after her. I half-laugh at myself; the idea of Tegan and me in bed wasn't like this. I stroke Tegan's long, dark hair from her pale face and kiss her cheek. Suddenly, I understand Bryn's overwhelming need to protect Tegan. The idea of anything or anybody hurting this girl sickens me.
”I'm going to sort this out,” I whisper. ”I'll be right back.”
I don't know how I can, but there has to be somebody nearby who's sober enough to help. I fold the bedding from the other half of the large bed across Tegan and with one final glance, head to the hotel door.
Who else can I call? I uselessly scroll through contacts on my phone as I open Tegan's door and step out.
A tall figure heads along the hallway from the direction of the elevator and I freeze as he sees me. Bryn stops too and, as if to confirm my guilt, the door to Tegan's room closes loudly behind me.
Bryn strides closer, his face hard. ”What the f.u.c.k are you doing coming out of my sister's room?”
12.
JAX.
Oh, s.h.i.+t.
The shock at seeing Bryn hits me as hard as I expect his fist to at any moment. Within seconds, Bryn is in my face and I back toward Tegan's door, bracing myself for his attack.
”Explain,” he growls, closing the s.p.a.ce between us. His breath on my face smells strongly of alcohol, which isn't going to help the situation.
I hold both palms out in an attempt to stop us touching. ”Bryn, listen -”
”Did you just come out of Tegan's room?”
”Yes, but -”
Air rushes from my lungs as my back slams against Tegan's door, Bryn's large hands on my shoulders. ”You. Will. Regret. This.”
”Bryn, I -”
”Did you not hear me when I told you my sister was off limits?” he interrupts loudly, his face darkening as he continues to grasp the wrong conclusion.
”Yes, I understand that. Bryn, listen -”
”No! You f.u.c.king listen!” His aggression silences my attempt to communicate, subdued by his bulk and anger. ”I am so f.u.c.king close to punching you right now so you'd better give me the right answer here. Have you fuc...” He tightens his grip. ”Have you had s.e.x with my sister?”
”What? No!”
Bryn's grip remains on my shoulders. ”Then why are you sneaking out of her room? And where is she? Have you left her in tears because you couldn't get what you wanted?”
”No! I haven't! We haven't! That's not what happened!”
”So something happened?”
”What the f.u.c.k is going on out here?” yells another voice.
I look past Bryn along the hallway where a s.h.i.+rtless Jem stands in the doorway of a nearby suite. Bryn twists his head around too; I take advantage of Bryn's distraction and pull away from his hands.
Or try to. Without looking at me, Bryn curls his hands around my s.h.i.+rt, holding me in place against the door.
Jem storms across, barefoot. ”What the h.e.l.l, guys?” He looks between us. ”Bryn?”
”Caught this d.i.c.khead sneaking out of Tegan's room,” he growls. ”n.o.body treats my sister like that!”
”Jem, listen to me! Bryn won't!” I say, grabbing Bryn's hand before his grip on my s.h.i.+rt tightens the material around my throat any further. ”I haven't done anything with Tegan, apart from help her into bed.”
Bryn yanks me forward, nose centimetres away from mine. ”You did what?”
”No, not like that!” This would be much easier if I was sober.
”What then?” snarls Bryn ”I swear, I'm going to rearrange your pretty boy face if you've so much as touched her.”
Jem puts a hand on Bryn's arm. ”Bryn. Let him explain. Smacking him won't solve anything, f.u.c.k knows you've told me that enough times.”