Chapter 30 (1/2)

It’s a losing battle, and finally after all this time, I am ready to surrender.

Chapter fifteen

HARDIN

James’s voice rings in my ear, and his bare foot is rubbing against my cheek. “Dude! Get up. Carla’s almost here, and you’re hogging the only bathroom.”

“Fuck off,” I groan, closing my eyes again. If I could move, what I would do is break his toes.

“Scott, get the fuck up. You can crash on the couch, but you’re a fucking giant and I need to piss and at least attempt to brush my teeth.” His toes press against my forehead, and I attempt to sit up. My body feels like a fucking bag of bricks, and my eyes and throat burn.

“He’s alive!” James calls.

“Shut the fuck up.” I cover my ears and walk past him into the living room. Empty beer bottles and red cups are being tossed into trash bags by a half-naked Janine and an overenthusiastic Mark.

“So, how was the bathroom floor?” Mark lilts through the cigarette between his lips.

“It was ace.” I roll my eyes and sit down on the couch.

“You were fucking wrecked,” he says quite proudly. ‘When was the last time you drank like that?”

“I don’t know.” I rub my temples, and Janine hands me a cup. I shake my head, but she pushes it closer.

“It’s only water.”

“I’m fine.” I don’t mean to be a dick to her, but, fuck, she’s annoying.

“You were so fucked-up,” Mark says. “I thought that American . . . what was her name, Trisha?” My heart pounds in my chest at the mention of her name, even if he got it wrong. “I thought she was going to tear the place down! She was a feisty little thing.”

Images of Tessa screaming at me, throwing a bottle against the wall, and walking away from me flood my memory. The weight of the pain in her eyes presses me farther into the couch, and I feel like I’m going to get sick again.

It’s for the best.

It is.

Janine rolls her eyes. “Little? I wouldn’t say she was little.”

“I know you’re not insulting her looks,” I say coolly, despite the burning urge to throw the cup of water in Janine’s face. If Janine thinks she’s anywhere near as beautiful as Tessa, she’s been snorting more cocaine than I thought.

“She’s not as skinny as me.”