"She came right up to where he and I were talking and introduced herself. I knew it was her because he'd told me her name and he clearly looked distraught."
I nodded and bit my bottom lip.
"She asked to talk to him in private. He didn't follow her right away. I don't think he wanted to leave me, but then she latched onto him and practically dragged him away. I tried to stay positive. I thought maybe she just needed to talk to him, but when I came back from getting a drink, I saw them wrapped up together in the corner making out."
"Oh shit." I cupped my hands over my mouth and stood there silently. I couldn't believe it. Penn seemed really into Becca and to kiss his ex right in front of her was so blatantly disrespectful. I felt rage wash over me.
"I'm so sorry, Becca," I offered, reaching to touch her shoulder. She just shook her head and stepped toward the stall's door.
"Can we just leave? I don't want to be at this party anymore, and I definitely don't want to see Penn and his ex again."
I nodded continuously, pulling her out of the stall and out of the bathroom. There was no way to exit the party without heading back through the main ballroom, so I directed her through the crowd while she kept her head down. We were almost midway through the room when Tara blocked our path.
“Leaving so soon, ladies? Is Becca already plastered?” she asked, shooting Becca a pathetic glance.
I completely ignored her question and tried to shove past her. Unfortunately, she sidestepped again, and as I moved forward, my foot got caught on her leg. I tripped and tumbled forward, catching my upper body with my hands and banging my knees hard on the ballroom floor. I’d managed to catch myself as gracefully as possible, but I couldn’t help bringing Becca down with me and the small commotion was causing a scene.
“Oh my god, these two are completely plastered,” Tara oozed with a feigned concern. “Can someone call them a taxi? Or maybe we should notify security?”
“I’m fine. I just tripped,” I answered just as a random bystander reached down to help Becca and me to our feet. I shot Tara a death stare and was met with an identical one from her. The threat was clear: game on.
“Kinsley, you don’t have to get drunk at a party to get attention. I have a feeling you’ll be getting plenty of attention from the press in the next few days,” she promised with a glint in her eye.
I scowled, trying to determine if that was a direct threat or not. “What are you talking about?”
“Let’s just go, Kinsley,” Becca huffed, already moving through the crowd toward the entrance. I ran after her, trying to catch up before she saw Penn. I’d have to deal with Tara later.
I caught up to Becca and we were almost at the entrance of the ballroom when we saw Penn, Liam, and a woman I assumed was Penn's ex. They were a few feet away from the door and had already spotted us approaching. I wrapped a protective arm around Becca and tried to ignore the urge to yell at Penn.
That urge only multiplied when my eyes scanned over his ex. I wanted to stomp her beneath my heels. I didn't care what her story was. She symbolized Becca's sadness and for that, I hated her. She was pretty, of course she was, but she was the type of pretty that guys like, but that women can see right through. Fake, orange tan, false eyelashes, and a plastic surgery nose. She had long dark blonde hair that was piled up on her head and a skintight dress. Her eyes were focused dangerously on Becca and I felt my predatory side flare up even more.
Liam stepped forward and fell into step on my other side.
"I had your car brought around just in case," he whispered. "Were you just talking to Tara?"
I gave him an appreciative glance. "Yes, but it doesn’t matter right now. Thank you for bringing the car around. We're gonna go."
He closed his eyes and nodded as if that was for the best. "I'd leave with you, but I have a few last things to handle. Can I come to you after I leave?"
I glanced toward Becca. There was no telling what kind of mood she'd be in, but if she needed me, I didn't want to bail on her to be with Liam.
"Call me first and we'll figure it out," I explained as we brushed past Penn and his ex. Becca turned her head away from them and hurried out. I shot Liam an exasperated shrug and followed after her quickly.
That car ride home was hard to endure because 90% of me wanted to turn the car around and seriously lay into Penn. What was he thinking playing with Becca's feelings like that?