Page 17 of Tenure

“. . . okay? Kiernan!”

“Hello?”

I hear a long exhale. “Kiernan, are you okay? What thefuckwas that?”

My head is spinning.

“Who is this?” I slur.

A pause. “It’s James.”

“Jamessss?”

“Kiernan, are you drunk?”

“I’d go withwasted.But yes.”

“Where are you?”

“Um . . . not sure. A house party, somewhere.”

Another pause. “Where’s your ride? Who’s taking you home?”

“Don’t have one. Was gonna call an Uber.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he hisses. “Ask someone for the address.Right fucking now.”

“I just need a sec.”

“I said NOW, Kiernan!”

But I hold the phone away from my mouth and vomit all over the lawn.

13

James

I’m losing. My. Shit.

After hearing someone call her a bitch and then having the pleasure of listening to her throw up for a solid five minutes, she finally managed to track someone down and grab the address.

I pull up to the house and it’s clearly inmess modenow, the few people outside swaying in the wind or bumping uglies in the bushes or both. I told her to wait for me on the front porch but she isn’t there, and I crack my knuckles for the hundredth time as I head around back.

There’s nobody out here, just a roaring bonfire and Kiernan, sitting on the back steps with her forehead pressed against the deck railing.

She looks so small and sweet, and I want to pick her up and carry her to my car.

“Kiernan,” I say softly.

She looks up at me, her eyes glassy, lips parted while she clearly tries to shake off the spins.

I walk up the steps and squat in front of her, taking her hands in mine and turning them over. They’re covered in dirt. I notice the grass stains on her knees, but it’s her shirt, disheveled, the bottom button popped open, that has me seeingfucking red.

“Who did this to you?” My voice is steady. Calm.

People are going to die today.

“It’s fine.” She waves her hand at me dismissively. “Nothing happened.” But her legs shift, opening slightly, and I look away as my brain fully liquefies and dribbles out my ears.

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