slightly to the side as he looked at me. “Who woulda thought that Maren was going to be the one acting out and not you?”
I scowled at him and pushed away from the table. “I’m worried about her. She usually keeps all her emotions tightened down so when they break free, the pressure is enough to take someone’s head off. I don’t want her to do anything she’ll regret because of that jerk.”
“You mean like kissing you in clear view of every famous person in California? That chick is just as reckless as you are. I had no idea.” My younger brother really sounded baffled.
I pulled out my phone and tapped out a message asking Maren where she was. I didn’t expect any kind of response, so I was shocked when the name of a very expensive and well-known hotel in Beverly Hills flashed across the screen.
I told her I signed the contract and asked her if she wanted me to bring it to her. Again, I wasn’t expecting any type of reply, so when my phone rang, I was a little bit stunned.
“Uh, hey, Maren. Are you all right?” Jeno’s eyes widened, and he demanded to know where she was in a low voice. I promised Maren I wouldn’t double-cross her again after the ambush on the airplane, so I wasn’t telling him where she was unless she gave me the okay. He was the one who told Lennon he’d let her know if he heard from her, not me.
“I’m...fine. Yeah. I’m perfectly fine.” Her words were a little slurred, and it seemed like she was struggling to figure out what she wanted to say. “You should join me for a drink.”
I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes quickly. I knew something was up with her because I’d just put my name on a multipage document swearing that I wouldn’t use any kind of substance, including alcohol, while we were working together. She was definitely not in her right mind.
“Okay. Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you there. Don’t talk to anyone or leave until I get there. Maybe you should call Arrow to keep you company, or even Lennon. I’m sure they are both worried about you.” I was already headed toward the garage with Jeno hot on my heels.
“I sent Arrow home. She kept bugging me to call Lennon, too. She kept telling me I shouldn’t be sad. But I am. I’m sad, Salinger. Lennon will yell at me for crying, but I want to cry.” She hiccupped and sounded like she was on the verge of tears. I was honestly amazed Maren Copeland had it in her to get so sloppy and emotional. It went against her very refined and collected image. I hoped the hotel bar was doing a decent job of maintaining her privacy. It was a pretty exclusive place that catered to celebrities, so she picked a good place to get smashed and lose control.
I wondered why she answered me when she was ignoring everyone else.
“You can cry as much as you want when I get there. Keep it together a little bit longer. Can you do that?”
She mumbled something I couldn’t make out and the line went dead. I glanced at my brother over my shoulder and could tell before he opened his mouth that he was going to try and talk me out of going to Maren.
“Call Lennon and tell her Maren is all right. Let her know I’m with her and that I’ll have her call as soon as she feels up to it.” I grabbed the keys to my Audi R8 and stepped toward the garage when I was brought up short by his hand on my arm.
“Are you really going to a bar? Do you know what you’re doing right now? This girl already has you making dumbass decisions and you haven’t even finalized the paperwork.” He squeezed my biceps to the point it hurt and gave me a narrow-eyed look. “I’m going to come with you.”
“I’m not going to a bar. I’m going to Maren. She sounds wasted. Call Arrow and ask her to book a room at the hotel for Maren. I’ll get her out of the bar and situated. I’ll help her sober up and then get back home before it’s dark out.” I tugged my arm free and gave him what I hoped was a reassuring grin. “I’ve been in her shoes, Jeno. When you’re so sad and upset that