Beautifully Broken

“What’s the problem, Kitty? It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“You piece of sh—” Gavin says as he charges forward.

I somehow manage to wedge myself between them.

I shove Dylan toward my room. “Dylan, go get your fucking clothes on and don’t come out until I tell you to!” I place my hand on Gavin’s chest. “And you! Go sit down on the couch and we’ll talk!”

“Geez, Kitty. Who knew you could be so bossy?” Dylan asks. “It’s kind of hot.”

“Kat,” Gavin says through a clenched jaw. “I swear to God I’m going to kick the shit out of him if you can’t convince him to shut his mouth.”

“Dylan, one more word and I will kick the shit out of you myself. Starting with your balls. Now go!” I stomp my foot and point toward my room to emphasize my statement.

Dylan goes into my bedroom and slams the door while Gavin stomps over to the couch and sits down. Crossing his arms over his chest, he says, “Would you care to explain to me what happened tonight? Namely, why that asshole is coming out of your bedroom practically naked?”

I sit next to him and sigh. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” he repeats. “I’m going to need you to expand on that, Kat.”

“I can’t,” I say shamefully. “The last thing I remember is drinking on the beach with Bree and Dylan. I have no idea what happened after that.”

“Jesus.” He pulls on his hair and throws his head back, closing his eyes. “You’re telling me that you have no idea what happened? You completely blacked out?”

“Clearly, I drank too much.”

He glares at me. “You think?”

“I don’t need your sarcasm, Gavin. I feel shitty enough as is.”

“Kat, what the hell am I supposed to say here? We made plans to see each other tonight. Instead, you don’t answer my calls or texts and I come here to find Dylan coming out of your room in his underwear? I’m trying not to jump to conclusions but it’s really fucking hard when you tell me you can’t remember anything.”

“I know,” I groan. “I don’t know what to say either, Gavin. I’ve never had to answer to someone before. This is all new to me. You know that.”

“So that makes it okay?” he asks, incredulity in his tone.

“No, it doesn’t make it okay,” I offer. “I’m just trying to explain where I’m coming from.”

He sighs. “How would you feel if the situation were reversed? If you showed up at my house in the middle of the night to find a half-naked woman coming out of my room? And then I can’t tell you anything that happened prior to that?”

“I’d be pissed,” I admit. “And hurt.” I turn toward him. “Gavin, I wish I could give you a better explanation but I can’t. I don’t remember.”

“I don’t know what to say, Kat.”

“Me neither.”

We sit there in silence for a moment before Dylan comes into the room, fully dressed, with his car keys dangling from his hand.

Gavin glares at him. “You’re really pushing it, kid.”

“Kid? Ha! That’s rich, Mr. Cooper. Considering I’m only three weeks younger than your girlfriend here.”

Gavin stands up with his fists clenched. “Get the hell out of here.”

Dylan rolls his eyes. “I’m going, Teach. I overheard your little lover’s spat and just wanted to clear things up before I leave. For Kat’s sake, not yours.”

Gavin sits down. “Then by all means, enlighten us.”

“Nothing fucking happened,” Dylan says. “She drank too much, stumbled home, and I put her to bed. I stayed behind because I couldn’t drive at that point. This piece of shit couch is too small for me. I tried sleeping on it, but eventually gave up. I tried Cybil’s old room but all her furniture is gone, so I went into Kat’s. She slept. I slept. We were both clothed.”