Page 78 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
Damn. While I don’t like Janelle or what she did to Ben, I didn’t want to hurt her.
But then I consider the larger situation. “I wasn’t trying to be insensitive, Amelia, but Janelle came on this trip knowing full well that Ben and I are together. Is she surprised that I slept with myboyfriend?”
The vehemence in my voice catches me off guard. While Ben and I started out pretending so he could set some boundaries with Janelle and only became official, like, two seconds ago, there’s a conviction in me that feels more intense than it should at this stage.
She rolls her eyes at me. Ignoring her, I take the baby to Janelle’s room. It’s surprisingly empty. Just rumpled blankets on the bed, the pack ’n’ play, and a giant diaper bag.
I dig through it to find a change of clothes. After I get Lily cleaned up, I pick her up and hug her close. She jams her thumb in her mouth and drops her head to my shoulder.
“It’ll be okay, lovie.” I pat her back and rock her side to side for a few minutes before I return to the living room as the guys stomp back in.
They’re all sweaty, and judging by their expressions, they don’t have good news.
“We didn’t find her.” Ben punches at the screen of his phone. “And she’s not picking up.” He paces back and forth across the cabin. “What if Ernest abducted her? She came to me in the first place because she was worried about him becoming violent.”
The guys and I make eye contact.
“Ben,” I say gently, “why would she call him if she was worried for her safety?”
Amelia laughs rudely. “Because you and Ben fucked all night and devastated that poor girl. No wonder she went crying back to her ex.”
I want to point out we haven’t gone all the way yet. Instead, I open my mouth to reiterate, again, she chose to come on this trip, when I catch a glimpse of Ben’s face.
“Amelia, you don’t know shit, so I’ll ask you to keep your nose out of my business.”
Bug-eyed, she turns to Olly. “Are you going to let Ben talk to me this way?”
He shrugs. “It’s a complicated situation, Amelia. You walked in on the tail end. He’s right to feel frustrated.”
“Whatever, dick.” She storms out, and he curses and chases after her.
“Yeah! Fun times, people!” Johnny yells, still in his boxers.
“Shut up, Johnny,” Ben and I say at the same time.
“I don’t know why y’all are so worked up about this,” Johnny says as he scratches his balls and strolls into the kitchenette to make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “Janelle’s probably playing you and her ex. That’s what my mom did. How’s that for a role model, huh? What’s to become of today’s youth?” He shakes his head.
I don’t know him well enough to gauge whether he’s telling the truth or being sarcastic about his home life, but he might have a point about Janelle.
“I think she might have taken her stuff.” I wince, hating that I had to say it. “I found the baby bag and pack ’n’ play when I changed Lily, but I didn’t notice any other belongings.”
“Fuck.” Ben runs to her room. A few minutes later, he returns with a stoic expression on his face. “She had that suitcase. Some toiletries. It’s all gone.”
I look at the teary-eyed child in my arms.
“Well, not everything.”
