Emmalin
It’d been a week since my last contact with Carson. I hadn’t decided if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I raised my shirt and looked at the bruising that was now a disgusting faded yellow in the mirror. I dropped it as Grayson walked into the bathroom. He’d been acting different. Going off to ‘meetings’, as he put it, but I had a feeling it had to do with Carson.
“You look better today.” He kissed the base of my neck, which sent chills through me.
“I feel better.” I followed him to the kitchen, and he made a cup of coffee. “I’m going to meet Tyler today. I think it’s time. I haven’t talked to him since I was at his house, and I feel like I owe him an explanation about everything.”
Grayson nodded. “I think that’s fair. He’s your friend. He’s worried about you. I haven’t said anything because you didn’t want me to.” He leaned over and grabbed my hand. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“No. I think it’ll be fine.”
“I’ve been dying to come to Sable forever but reservations are almost impossible. You mention Grayson fucking Mandrake, and lo and behold, they open up a whole hour early for you.” Tyler shook his head as he looked around the establishment.
“Well, I honestly wasn’t trying to name drop.” I started to frown as I stared down at my drink menu. I could feel the apple from earlier trying to make its way back up. I took a sip of water, hoping the feeling would go away.
“So, I can’t ignore the elephant in the room. You brought along two extra guests. Are we going to talk about that, or pretend a little bit longer as they fail at blending into the wall décor?” Tyler jerked his chin toward Hawkins and some new guy that was bigger and bulkier.
Before I could speak, we were interrupted by our server. “Have you had a chance to look over the menu?”
“Um yeah, I’ll take the beef sliders and war of the roses.”
I flipped my menu over, suddenly not that hungry. “Just some ice water with lemon and broth.”
Tyler smirked. “Wild woman.”
I was glad the bar wasn’t opened to the public yet. It gave us some quiet time to talk amongst ourselves. “How are things with you and Molly?”
He shrugged, then let out a small smile. “They’re good. She kind of reminds me of you a little. Hard worker. Always on my ass, but other than that, things are going well.” He leaned back in his chair as he looked me over. It was quiet for a few moments as I looked around the place. “So. You wanna tell me about the two hounds hoovering over your shoulder over there? You’ve never been this nervous to tell me something, or avoid me for over a week. You’ve been doing that a lot lately. Avoiding me. I thought we were better than that.”
I cringed. I deserved that. He was right.
I took a deep breath, and spent the next twenty minutes telling Tyler everything about Carson. From seeing him In Florida at check-in, to meeting up with him and him attacking me then. To him weaseling his way into Mandrake Enterprise and getting a tour of the building, then at the club. Finally, to him breaking into my office. At some point, the server placed our food and drinks down, but neither one of us noticed. When I was finished, we just stared at each other.
“Say something.” He blinked. “Say something, dammit!” I raised my voice. He finally reached for his drink and downed all of it. He grimaced as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, then signaled to our server.
“Can I get a beer? I don’t care what. Whatever you have on tap. And a shot. Two. Patron.” She nodded as she made her way to the bar, returning within a few minutes with a frosted glass of beer, and he drank half of it within seconds. He picked up his slider and began eating in earnest. He didn’t look at me, and he didn’t say anything. Just sat there and ate as if I wasn’t even there.
I picked up my spoon and slowly stirred my broth, not taking my eyes off him. I glanced over at Hawkins. He was sitting about five booths away, facing us, but not watching. I wasn’t sure where the new guy was. Our server was filling salt shakers, getting ready for the lunch crowd that was about to enter in a few minutes. I cleared my throat.
“Tyler.”
He continued to eat, and reached for the salt for his house fries. I laid my hand gently on his arm and he immediately tensed, then banged his other hand down on the table, creating a loud boom.
“What, Emmalin!”
I looked up, startled. He’s never raised his voice at me before. He was always my protector. Out of my periphery, I saw Hawkins rise and immediately start for our table, with his hand going for his holster. My eyes grew wide as I shook my head no for him to stay back. The other guy had already arrived at our table.
“Is there a problem, sir?”
I quickly stood up. “No. Everything is fine.”
Tyler stood also, sizing the guy up. “No, everything is not fine.” He pulled out his wallet and laid down a fifty. I then watched as he took both of his tequila shots, back to back. He leaned in and said in a low voice, “Make that the last time you lie to me.” He stormed past me, out the door. My chin started to quiver. I just stood there, staring at the door, because I betrayed my best friend.
I finally turned to Hawkins and whispered, “He shouldn’t be driving.” Hawkins nodded as he jogged to the door.
Hawkins came back ten minutes later, and I looked at him, hopeful that Tyler was with him. He just looked at me and shrugged. I couldn’t help the tears that fell as they drove me home. I sent several text messages to Tyler, and all my calls went straight to voice mail. By the time I got home, his mail box was full.
I finally called Molly and told her that if she heard from him to please call me, no matter what. I laid down and cried myself to sleep, clutching my phone.