“I’m glad,” I tell her while running my hands through her curls, getting them just right.
The doorbell rings.
It’s time.
∞∞∞
“Hello? Tinsley?” I attempt to sit up in my groggy state.
“Sage, can you come pick me up?” Tinsley’s voice trembles.
I jump out of bed, slipping my feet into the first pair of shoes I find. “Where are you?”
“I’m not sure. A party somewhere.”
“Ping me your location. I’ll be there shortly.” I grab Victoria’s car keys and head out.
“Thank you. I just sent it. I’m going to hang up because my phone’s almost dead, but let me know when you get here.”
“I will. Call me back if you need to. I’ll be there in fifteen.”
I don’t bother driving the speed limit. Hearing the tears in her voice brought out the protective side of me. What the hell was this kid thinking taking her to a party? Especially one where she knows no one?
I look at the clock and note that it’s past midnight. Surely Reed and Keaton are out looking for her as well. I wonder if that’s why she called me.
I pull up to the house and immediately see this party is a more intimate one. The hair on the back of my neck stands up immediately. I try to call Tinsley, but her phone goes straight to voice mail. I don’t hesitate, just jump out of the car and walk right up to the door, pounding on it as hard as I can. It only takes a moment for the door to fling open.
“Who in the fuck—” The boy who answers stops as he takes me in. “Hey, shorty. How can I be of service to you today?” He rubs his hands together as he continues to ogle my body.
I glance down and realize that when I didn’t change, that left me in my sleep shorts and a tank, sans bra.
“Where’s Tinsley?” I demand.
“I don’t know, baby, but come on in. I can take care of you better than Tinsley can.”
I shake my head and push past him. I find my way to the living room and see a small group of people but no Tinsley.
“I don’t like to repeat myself. Where is Tinsley?”
They all look at me with glazed eyes. Obviously high or drunk. Probably both. I glance at the boy standing behind me and glare. That seems to sober him up a little.
“Seriously, we don’t know any Tinsley. I think you have the wrong house.”
“Her pin shows me that she’s here, so either you find her, or I’ll search every room in the house until I do.”
One of the girls on the couch speaks up. “Didn’t Asher bring a new chick with him tonight?”
“Shit, I don’t remember. If it is her, they went upstairs a couple of minutes ago. Third room on the left.” The guy turns away and goes back to sit in the only empty chair before picking up a bong.
“Thanks for your help,” I mumble before making my way upstairs. My heart is racing at this point. I have no clue what I’m going to walk into, but I’m ready to pounce.
I get to the door that the boy downstairs indicated. It’s slightly ajar. I slowly ease it open, then stop when I catch her voice.
“Asher, my sister is almost here. I need to go. I told her I would meet her outside.”
“Come on, baby. Only a little longer. I told you I would take you home.”
She pushes him, but he refuses to move. I don’t think, just act. I’m across the room in three strides and pulling him off her in the blink of an eye.
“Hey, fucktard. Did you not hear her say she has to leave? Come on, Tins.”
Tinsley jumps up and moves behind me, her big eyes frightened.
“You can’t leave yet. The party just started now that you’re here.” Asher whistles. “Tinsley, baby, you didn’t tell me your sister’s a hottie.”
He reaches out to grab her arm, but I move her farther behind me. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll sit down, shut up, and never contact her again. Do you understand me?”
My blood is boiling. I can feel Tinsley trembling behind me.
“Oh yeah? What are you going to do to stop me, little girl?” He starts to move closer, but I don’t hesitate.
I take a short step forward before hitting him with my left fist, quickly followed by my right. Before he can recover, I grab his shoulders and slam my knee into his balls. He falls to the floor.
“Come on, T. Let’s go.” I grab her hand and feel a shot of pain through my knuckles.
As we descend the stairs, the boy from earlier yells something at us, but I don’t stop. I pull Tinsley all the way out to the car, practically shoving her inside before racing around to the driver side.
Once we’re buckled in and on the road, I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my blood starting to wane. My hands sting, but I push that all aside.
“Are you okay, Tinsley?”
“Yeah. Thank you for coming to get me.” She sniffles.
“T, honey, why are you crying? Did he do something? Do I need to murder him?”
She chuckles a bit. “No, but he was very persistent. I kept telling him Reed would be waiting up, but he didn’t want to leave.”
“Speaking of Reed, you need to call him.”
“My phone’s dead.”
“You can use mine.” I hand it over.
I watch as she dials the number but doesn’t press Send.
“What are you waiting for? You know he’s out searching for you.”
She lets out a sigh. “I know. I just don’t want to hear how they were right and I’m not ready to date.”
I hold my hand out. “Give it here.”
She gives me a confused look.
“I’ll talk to them.” I press Send as she chews on her bottom lip.
“Yeah,” his gruff voice answers on the second ring.
“Hey, Reed. It’s Sage.”
“How the fuck did you get my number? You know what? It doesn’t matter. I don’t have time. I can’t talk.”
“Wait!” I call out before he hangs up. “Tinsley’s with me.”
“What? Tins is with you? Why?” His voice becomes even harder.
“She called and asked me for a ride. I’m taking her back to your house. I just wanted to call and let you know. She’s safe. Don’t hound her as soon as we get there.”
“Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? She’s my sister. I will give her a lecture on missing curfew and then find out why she called you instead of me.”
I scoff. “With a tone like yours, I wonder why. We’ll be there in ten. I hope you aren’t home yet,”
I hang up and throw the phone in the cubby, ignoring the set of buzzes coming from it.
“I might’ve either bought you some time or made it worse. Reed honestly brings out the worst in me. You should have called Keaton. He would have listened.”
She sighs. “I know, but Reed is the one who’s going to lecture me the most. He stepped into the parental role when we were kids since ours are too busy for us. Mom tried to hire nannies, but Reed and Keat would chase them off until Mom finally agreed to let Reed be in charge. I know he can be a real asshole sometimes, but it’s only because he had to grow up too fast.”
“As far as I can tell, you’ve all had to grow up faster than you should have. Don’t give him too much credit.”