Perfect Tenn

“No, come on. Come out with me and the guys tonight. You can invite Holly and Jennifer. Don’t let Joey ruin your night.”

I check the time and smile. “I guess.”

**

“Regan, come dance with us,” Jennifer pleads.

“Nah. I’m going to finish this drink, but you get back out there.”

We are all pretty drunk, and I know better than to get my ass out on the dance floor. I don’t have good rhythm sober, when I’m drunk I look like a newborn deer trying to stand up for the first time. Not sexy at all.

“Do you ever get jealous that Tenn brings home all these women?” Holly asks, splashing her drink down the front of her red shirt.

“You know you should let Tenn hook you up with his friend Joey. I think you guys would get along well,” I say, watching her brown hair stick to her face.

She bobs her head liking the idea, and I can’t help but laugh. What a fucking idiot. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good friend but a sloppy drunk who wants in Tenn’s pants. She’s always asking about him and wondering what it’s like to live with him. Often I wonder if she’s friends with me to get with him.

“Hey, gorgeous, wanna dance?” Tenn whispers in my ear.

I turn in my chair, and I’m greeted by his smiling face. “Either you feel really guilty about Joey or you’ve been turned down by every blonde here.”

He stands up straight and finishes off his beer, putting it on the table before holding his hand out to me. “Neither. Come on.”

Reluctantly, I get up and follow him to the dance floor. He turns around and pulls me against him, and we slowly move to the beat. It’s always so comfortable, so familiar when we are together. I can’t even count the number of times we’ve danced together over the years.

The more we start to move, the more I feel the alcohol sloshing in stomach. “I’m pretty drunk, Tenn. Maybe I should head home.”

He pulls me closer and searches my blue eyes. “Not yet.”

At one time I thought he was falling for me, and when he acts like this it brings me back. Unfortunately, he’s just a flirt, and I’ve learned that over the years. Besides, blondes are his thing. He’s never once brought home a redhead.

The song ends, and he kisses my cheek. “Thanks for the dance, Regan. Come on I’ll take you home.”

I shake my head, pieces of hair falling around me. “No, you stay and have fun. I’m going to crash before I puke.”

He lets out a sigh and nods. “Fine, but I’m putting you in the cab.”

Once I’m home, I strip out of my dress and fall onto bed. I haven’t been this drunk in a long time, but it was fun to get out and let loose. The longer I lay there, the worse I start to feel. My head is pounding, I begin sweating, and my stomach is fighting against the alcohol swimming in it. Opening my eyes, the room begins to spin and I run to the bathroom, making it to the toilet just in time. Maybe I should let Tenn set me up again. Hell, it’d be nice to have someone hold my hair.

My eyes flutter open and I slowly sit up, immediately regretting my decision to drink like that last night. My head throbs as I take in my surroundings. My pale lavender walls seem to be glowing with the sun bouncing off of them. God, it’s so damn bright. Pulling my cream, down comforter over my head, I slide back down onto my much too soft of a bed. I close my eyes, hoping it will help the pounding pain. How the hell did I get to my bed? Last I remember I was pressed against the bathroom floor in my bra and panties, loving the feel of the cold tile against my blazing hot flesh. I squint my eyes looking at the clock and decide I should try to move around since it’s late morning.

Pulling the covers off, I notice that I have my night shirt on. Huh, I just don’t remember shit. Climbing out of bed, I make my way to the bathroom to get some ibuprofen. I down the pills and beg them to hurry up and work. Deciding to get back into bed isn’t a good idea. I need something more comfortable, so I trudge through the house and crawl up on the couch.

Keeping my eyes closed, I lay on my side. My face is buried into the back of the couch as I wait for the ibuprofen to kick in. About a half hour later I feel the couch dip by my feet. “Please, no loud noises,” I plead.

“I promise. Did you take anything yet?” Tenn asks, squeezing my foot.

“Yes.” My eyes are still closed, and I’m just hoping when I need to open them that the pain will have eased. “I’m never drinking like that again,” I whine.

“You said that last time,” he says with humor in his voice.

“I didn’t puke last time. I don’t even remember going back to bed. That’s bad, Tenn.”

I hear him let out a breath as he adjusts his position. “I found you on the bathroom floor and sat with you until you were done. I cleaned you up, carried you to bed, and put your PJs on.”

I roll onto my back, propping my head on the arm of the couch and stare at him. “You did?” It’s not that I’m surprised he’d take care of me, alright well that is part of it. What really shocks me is that he came home alone.

He shrugs like it’s no big deal and grins. “Someone had to help you. You were a damn mess.”