I held my hand up for the bartender. “More Patrón shots here.”
Nini shot a look at Viv that said they both had my interest at heart. She may not have known Nini was going to be here, but it was a kick in the ass to see her. I certainly wasn’t listening to the rest of them. But Nini didn’t sugarcoat, and seeing her only made me want Blaire even more.
Too bad all I had was tequila.
I downed another shot and another until I forgot the entire thing had happened.
My head felt like a bomb had detonated inside it.
I clutched it as I opened my bleary eyes and looked around the room. This was not my bed. It was distinctly feminine. Crisp white and soft blush everywhere. My heart pounded as I jerked upward and then immediately regretted it.
“Fuck,” I spat.
Where the fuck was I? It wasn’t a hotel room, but I had no recollection of this space either. Which was a bad, bad thing. I wouldn’t have done anything supremely stupid, like go home with someone else.
All I remembered from last night was bemoaning my loss of Blaire, and then Nini had shown up and…
And then Nini had shown up.
Well, shit.
I threw the covers off me and found I was still in my clothes from last night. That was…a good sign. Even if it left me a lot more rumpled and dirtier than the day prior. I staggered to the door and wrenched it open.
Nini stood there in nothing but a white button-up, holding a glass of water. Her eyes narrowed at my state. “Well, it’s about fucking time.”
I gaped at her. “We didn’t…”
She shot me a licentious smile. “We didn’t.”
I blew out a harsh breath. “Thank God. What am I doing here?”
“I won’t take that as an insult.” She shoved the water in my hand and a pair of Tylenol. “How much do you remember from last night?”
“I remember you showing up.”
“Well, you got obliterated, as you wanted. I brought the band back to my place because it was closest.”
“Did I do anything stupid?”
“You spoke of your deep love for your lost woman all night and bored the shit out of all of us,” she said, crossing her arms. “It’s past noon. You should get up. Your brother keeps calling.”
“Fuck.” I downed the water and took the medicine before following her out into the living room. The rest of the band was lounging in her apartment. I picked up the phone as it rang again and answered the video chat. “Hollin, fuck, sorry.”
Hollin’s face was stone. “I’ve been calling all morning.”
“I just woke up.”
Nini waved her fingers at him. “Hello, Abbey brother.”
Hollin gaped at her and then narrowed his eyes at me. “Tell me you are not as fucking stupid as you look.”
“I am not,” I told him, heading back into the bedroom.
“That was Nini Verona.”
“Yeah. We met up last night, but nothing happened.”
“Jesus, Campbell, I was going to ask what the fuck you were still doing there. Blaire is a wreck. You need to get your ass here and figure it out.”
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “I want to do that, bro, but she said she wanted to go home alone.”
“You are fucking stupid.” Hollin shook his head. “She said that, but she doesn’t mean it, idiot. She misses you. Piper hasn’t said much, but I know that Blaire still loves you. God knows why.”
I laughed and leaned back against the bedroom door. “You think I still have a shot? The situation is so fucked up.”
“You left her once before. If you don’t chase her now, then you’ll never get her back.”
I nodded. “Yeah, yeah. You’re right. I’m coming home. Pick me up?”
“Good,” Hollin said with a nod. “I’ll meet you at the airport.”
39
Blaire
Nate King had known that I was the “I See the Real You” girl.
I’d told him that day that he met Campbell. I’d trusted him.
“Oh God,” I whispered.
“What?” Piper gasped. “Why does he know?”
“I told him,” I said as horror dawned.
“Shit.”
“He’s so into you, Blaire,” Annie said with a sigh.
“No, we were well past over. He was looking out for me, and I told him the truth about me and Campbell.”
Eve looked skeptical. “He’s a guy who is used to getting what he wants. Trust me, they’ll do whatever they can.”
Jennifer nodded sadly. “I think he was more into you than you were into him.”
I looked between them as panic set in. I’d done this. All this time, I’d been freaking out about how it had gotten out. I’d thought it was some kind of fluke where someone had just discovered it even though we’d been so careful. But all along, I was the one who had done it.
If the girls were right, Nate was still into me. And he’d done this to, what? Punish me for choosing Campbell? It was inconceivable. I’d never thought Nate was that kind of person. Had I missed all the red flags?