Fiona's teeth clenched. Her fists were tight. She couldn't look Dakota in the eye. She didn't want to think that's what happened with the Austin guy. She took a breath and tried to explain, but then said. "Just forget I said anything."
Fiona hurried to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. She stared at herself in the mirror. She was beginning to think she didn't know who she was. What kind of idiot was she? Was she suicidal? Was that what Dakota thought? Fiona went to pee and washed up once more, hoping Dakota wasn't there, but she was waiting for her.
"What happened?" Dakota danced about as if she were here to help.
Fiona wouldn't say; she was on a brisk walk back to her trailer. Really, she just needed to be by herself. It was best to stay away from everyone, but of course, Dakota followed as if they were in their very own private club.
"Are you OK?" Dakota asked when she caught up to her.
She couldn't say here. She didn't know what Dakota wanted to hear.
"Just peachy," Fiona glared back, but the way her head slightly shook, she might have been going into a small seizure of pity.
She opened the metal door to escape Dakota, but Dakota didn't let go of the door.
"Fine, do what you want." Fiona plopped herself on the cushion that was her very best friend lately when she came home. Dakota squeezed in next to her. Fiona winced, thinking she was too close, but it was tight quarters here.
"I hope you talk to him," Dakota advised.
"I don't want to," Fiona puffed a frown. "It was nothing. Nothing, I tell you. Nothing."
"Did you use protection?"
Fiona scowled back at her, as if that were private. "I didn't need any, OK?" Fiona's eyes lit as she informed her so-called friend that she had the patch and she'd been vaccinated against a certain cancer. Yes, she'd covered her basis. Still, she wondered now if this is why her mother wanted her to have this kind of protection. Not exactly for a rainy day, but hell, every day felt rainy to Fiona lately.
"Don't you judge me!" Fiona snapped.
"I don't guess you told Ezra," Dakota turned on the kettle and looked for some tea.
Fiona sighed and nursed her bottom lip.
"Why would I do that?" Fiona cracked a laugh that got stuck in her throat. Needless to say, she was a very bad actress.
"He cares about you. I can see that." Dakota reminded her while she went to get the chamomile tea ready.
"Don't get me started about him," Fiona shook her head. "Nothing..absolutely nothing is going on between us."
"So you say, but I don't think so," Dakota said after she handed Fiona the mug of tea. She nursed on her tea as well. Fiona wished Dakota had thought of sugar, but maybe she didn't deserve any.
"What?" Fiona wanted to be daff. Dakota had to be wrong.
"Oh, he's smitten all right." Dakota looked as if she had her own private screening going on that only she could see, the real Fiona and Ezra movie.
"He'll get over it," Fiona shrugged.
"I hope that guy didn't rape you." Dakota's words were so foreboding.
"Stop staying shit like that," Fiona said as if for a moment maybe she was thinking of Ezra too. Not Austin. No, she'd never think of him again. But after a minute or so of soaking up how sweet Ezra actually was, the dark horse entered her mind. She sipped her soothing tea in thought.
"He was rogue," she spoke of Mr. Dark who liked dark beer and dark clothes, but then again, she remembered his skin. Beautiful and golden, in fact. "It was rogue. So I was sloshed. If only I hadn't blacked out."
"Where were you when you woke up?" Dakota turned to her, ever so serious.
"I was right here."
Fiona looked at her blankly.
"Were you dressed?"
Fiona squeezed her eyes shut. "I like sleeping in the buff."
"In the trailer park?" Dakota looked at her as if she'd really lost it.
"It happens." Fiona shrugged as she looked at her pale tea.
"Evidently," Dakota concluded.
