Page 77 of Before We Were Us

I hold up two fingers, just as Taylor drags me inside and he nods.

I pause at the mirror, checking over my makeup as she relieves herself.

Grabbing my makeup pack from my bag I do a quick touchup and run my fingers through my hair.

The door to the restroom opens and I glance in that direction feeling like I’ve seen a ghost. Chrissy smiles, walking toward me with purpose. “Well, if it isn’t the bitch that was sleeping with my husband.”

“Are you still playing that card?” I laugh. Maybe if I wasn’t tipsy I’d care a little more and do a better job to avoid conflict. Right now, I don’t seem to have any control left. “You were the one running around Chicago spreading your legs for any willing idiot. So you want to keep playing the victim, go ahead, but I no longer feel guilty for fucking your husband better than you could.”

“Is that what you think?” She laughs. “I’ll admit Jensen and I being married was a terrible idea, but the sex, that has always been hot. I can say from recent experiences that we’re still through the roof with heat.”

“Bullshit.” Taylor comes stumbling out of the stall and rushes Chrissy. I grab her arm to keep her from hitting her, because Taylor has even less control than I do. “Jensen wouldn’t fuck you with a homeless man’s dick,” she slurs.

“Are you sure about that?” She looks past Taylor and focuses on me. “I got out yesterday, do you know where he’s been?”

“He’s working a case.”

“Is he?” she challenges me. “Or is that what he’s telling you?”

“You’re pathetic.” My throat suddenly feels dry.

“He didn’t think I was pathetic when I called him yesterday to tell him I was getting out and needed a ride home.” She shrugs. “He also didn’t think I was pathetic when he walked me to my front door and made sure I was safely tucked inside. We’ve still got it, the same chemistry we’ve always had. The way he knows my body, all the right places to kiss, lick, mm.”

Taylor again lunges at her and I still hold onto her. I consider letting go, but I don’t want my best friend to get arrested for handling my garbage.

“Are you done now?” I won’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction from me.

“It won’t be long before he’s done with you,” she throws out and I don’t know what comes over me. I laugh.

“That’s funny because at this point he can’t seem to get enough. Three, four times a day, hot dirty sex, any place we can.”

Her nostrils flare.

“I live with her so I hear it. That man calls out Brynn’s name all hours of the night.” I try not to laugh at Taylor as her words slur together.

“I’m not worried about you,” I tell Chrissy. “You’ve had more dick than a Vegas hooker and that means you're overused.” I release Taylor against my better judgment and step around her, squaring off with Chrissy. “Jensen prefers clean, tight, and tidy. He tells me often how good I feel.” Her eyes narrow. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a very delicious man waiting to take me home and do all kinds of dirty things to me.”

I walk off and hear Taylor behind me call Chrissy a loose whore. I try not to laugh as I step outside and search through the crowd for Jensen.

He and Connor are leaning against the wall talking and he looks over to find me standing there.

Pushing off the wall he starts walking toward me. His face instantly falls when he gets within reach. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say but Taylor of course goes off. “That ex-bitch of yours, how the hell did you ever fuck her? She is nasty, like skanky nasty, Jensen!”

Jensen looks away from her and locks his eyes on mine. “It’s fine,” I assure him. My buzz is long gone, and if I’m being truthful I feel a little sick.

“Babe.” He places his finger beneath my chin and tips it upward. “What happened?”

I don’t want to do this. I just want to leave and continue on with the plans we had.

“I’ll tell you what happened, that ho tried to convince Brynn that you picked her up from rehab and then went back to her place with her. Apparently the two of you still are so hot together because you spend some time fucking to prove the point.”

I want to put my hand over Taylor’s mouth.

“Baby.” Jensen slouches, bringing himself eye level with me.

“It’s okay,” I tell him again and he doesn’t seem convinced. “I know she’s lying.”

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