Someday Never Came

Chapter Forty-One

“What do you want from me? A goddamn apology?” Jensen’s words slur together as he leans on the bar.

My throat is tight as I try to hold back tears at his words. Each sentence stings more than a slap in the face.

“Fine, I am so terribly sorry for breaking off our little high school puppy-love relationship. Sorry, that I didn’t want a long-term, long-distance relationship with my sixteen-year-old girlfriend when I had made the choice to enlist.” Venom drips into his long, drawn-out words. “Obviously I didn’t break your heart too bad, or you wouldn’t be naked in my bed every night this week, exhausted and satisfied. Are you so desperate for love and attention it only took a few texts—a few sweet little lies anyone could have told you—for you to fly all this way? Or was it just my cock? Am I the only one to ever make you come, Serena? I have heard having a dick this good—being blessed like this can make a chick go a little crazy—I just never thought it was true.” He chuckles darkly, the laugh is void of all humor or kindness as he continues, “I bet your legs are still shaking from last night.”

Complete silence falls over the bar as everyone turns their attention in our direction. Countless sets of eyes stare at the drunk jackass towering over me with nothing but bitterness in his eyes. Before I can even react to the poisonous words being thrown in my direction Wyhtt steps between us, sliding me behind his back as if to shield me from Jensen. I attempt to step out from behind Wyhtt’s back to face him—to ask what the fuck his problem is—but another hand grabs my arm to pull me a few feet away from the scene.

“Are you okay?” Grayson asks, genuinely concerned based off the look on his face. I was about to answer when Jensen shouts over Wyhtt’s shoulder.

“All you ever do is overthink, why does this have to mean anything? Why couldn’t you just let things be and relax? Weren’t we having a nice time? Maybe this is why I left—because all you do is push?—”

Tears run down my cheeks before I can stop them. I wipe my eyes, attempting to hide the evidence his words affect me at all.

“What is your problem dude?” Wyhtt shouts at Jensen. “You invited her here, man. You went looking for her—not the other way around. I promise you, you will regret this moment the rest of your life if you don’t shut your mouth and sober up.”

“Fuck you!” Jensen spews, moving to shove Wyhtt in the chest.

“No, fuck you, man. You’re a drunk piece of shit right now. Serena deserves better—we all deserve better. You made her cry, look at her!” Wyhtt throws his hands up, pointing in our direction. “Grayson is comforting the girl you’ve been obsessed with since you were six years old. He is protecting her, from you! We all love you here man, but this is getting real old real fast. What happened to getting sober?”

Sober? What the hell is he talking about? My eyes race between the three men, as I’m once again left out of the bigger picture here.

“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?” I demand, locking eyes with Jensen’s, trying my best to plea with him without speaking. Pity must have started to show with a mixture of hurt because before I can process what’s happening, Wyhtt is on the ground and Jensen is on top of him, throwing one punch after another.

“Get the fuck off me!” Wyhtt yells, swinging back at Jensen.

“Stay here, don’t move.” Grayson growls, as if I’m the issue here before he moves to separate the two men.

“Get the fuck off him, Jensen.” Grayson booms, quickly wrapping himself around Jensen’s torso and trapping his arms to his side before dragging him off Wyhtt. I run to Wyhtt’s side, cupping his face and forcing him to look at me so I can assess the damage.

“I don’t think your nose is broken, thankfully, but you will have a nasty bruise tomorrow.” My voice is still thick with the remainder of my unshed tears.

“How long have you been waiting to drop that little bomb on her?” Jensen says through ragged breaths.

“Shut up man. I am begging you.” Grayson pleads in a tone that suggests this isn’t the first time he’s had to break up a physical altercation between Jensen and Wyhtt. “Just shut the fuck up.”

“How are you possibly mad at anyone but yourself right now?” I scold. “You want to act like he did something wrong? You just verbally assaulted me, physically attacked one of your best friends, let jealously run your mouth for no reason, made a complete fool of yourself in front of everyone, and embarrassed your other best friend in the process. Who—let me add—looks like he wants to fucking murder you. All that, and it’s still not even the worst thing you’ve done tonight.”

“Serenity,” he pleads.

“Oh no. You don’t get to Serenity me after that little show. Sober? Are you an alcoholic? And you never thought to mention it to me? Not only are you an alcoholic, but you are no longer sober. How long were you sober?”

He looks around at everyone for help before Wyhtt of all people speaks up.

“Maybe this isn’t the time for that conversation, Serena.”

“Seriously, Wyhtt?” I ask, exasperatedly. “He just fucking beat your ass for no reason!”

“Oh, I’m fully aware. Thanks for the reminder, S.”

I glare at him, hoping he feels how angry I am at not just Jensen, but all three of them right now. They all knew, and they had decided to leave me in the dark with this secret. They let me drag him here, where they knew there was going to be alcohol. I had offered to get them all drinks when we got here for fuck’s sake.

“Listen S, I’m not saying he doesn’t owe us all an apology, along with a true explanation for you.” He makes eye contact with Jensen, another bout of unspoken communication passes between the two. “But let him get sobered up first, S.”

I huff, but nevertheless comply and drop the subject for now.

“Grayson, can you drive him home and make sure he doesn’t fuck up anyone else’s night in the process?” Wyhtt asks, forever cleaning up Jensen’s messes.

“I can drive him, but I make no promises or take responsibility for any of his actions.” Grayson chuckles, attempting to make light of a very tense situation.

Jensen stays silent, as if his actions are just now registering as he processes everything he said. He simply looks at me before slapping Grayson on the back, accepting his defeat for the night and stumbling toward the parking lot.

“He will be okay. He always is.” Grayson tries to assure me.

“Maybe that’s the problem, Grayson.” Wyhtt snaps, still bleeding from the fight.

“Give him a break, Wyhtt.” Grayson insists, trying to keep the peace between them.

“No. I’ve given him breaks for years. It’s always one of us who ends up bleeding from his actions. We clean up the mess, and I’m fucking tired of it.” Wyhtt tilts his head toward me. “I am not going to let her be the one cleaning up his messes from now on either. I honestly thought he was going to be okay this time.”

“Thought you said it isn’t the time to talk about it.” I quip before my tone grows sharper. “Or is that only when it comes to me getting answers?”

“No, it’s not. You’re right, S. Besides, it’s not our story to tell. It is his and his alone.” Wyhtt places a hand on my shoulder carefully to avoid getting blood on my clothes.

“He is right, Serena.” Grayson agrees. “It may not seem fair—and believe me, it’s not fair—but it is his story to tell,” he sighs, looking toward the dimly lit parking lot where Jensen is waiting. “I better go before he gets another wild idea and tries to steal my truck to drive himself home. Y’all going to be okay to get home without me? I can come back for you after I get him settled.”

“Nah, man, we’ll be fine. I’ll get us home.” He nods to us both before taking the same path Jensen had taken a few moments prior.