Chapter 18

Amber

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. I stretched my arms, trying to get the blood flowing so I could get up and take a shower, but I yelped when my elbow came down on something hard. I turned over in bed as the body shifted underneath my covers, and for a split second, I wondered who the fuck was in my bed.

But, the moment I saw the rippling muscles of the back I was staring at, I knew it was Tyler.

Oh, shit. I’d brought Tyler home last night?

I drank much more than I should have at the club. I was trying to forget about the double-standard bullshit that was happening all around me, and now Tyler was in my bed, and I couldn’t remember a damn thing. It wasn’t that I didn’t like him in my bed. I thought it was kind of nice to wake up to him.- But my first gut reaction was wondering if I’d taken him home in front of Luke.

Shit. Luke and Kelly.

I reached for my phone as the comforter peeled away from my naked body, and the mere fact that I was sore told me everything I needed to know. I wish I could remember the night I’d shared with him, but all of that faded into the background when I saw I had two missed calls from Luke.

Two missed calls and no voice messages.

I called him back as I rolled onto my back in bed, and Tyler stirred just as I settled back down. His hand slid across my stomach, pulling me close, and I couldn’t help but smile. I never thought of myself as the kind of girl that wanted to wake up to someone, but his touch was warm and inviting.

It was a very nice way to wake up.

“Amber, what the fuck?” Luke asked.

“And good morning to you, too. You and Kelly use protection?” I asked.

“Cut the shit. I know there’s something going on between you and Tyler, and it ends now,” he said.

“For the last fucking time, Luke, nothing’s happening.”

“I’m getting dressed and heading over to your place now, and if he’s fucking there ass naked in your bed, Mom and Dad will find out, and he’ll be cut out of the company,” he said.

“Whoa whoa whoa whoa,” I said as I sat up in bed. “What the hell’s gotten into you? You can’t fucking do that. You wouldn’t be where you are currently without Tyler!”

“That’s how fucking serious I am about you not doing shit with Tyler,” he said.

“Oh, but you can fuck my best friend? Fine. You fucking touch Kelly again, you even so much as look in her fucking direction—”

“What? What leverage do you have over me?” he asked. “I’m serious. I’m walking out the door now, and if he’s there, you both are done for.”

“Why the hell do you have such a problem with this? And what the fuck kind of proof do you have that we’re screwin’ around?”

“Tyler blurted out to the entire fucking club about how much he was in love with you. Fucking jumped up on stage with a damn shot in his hand, proclaimed his undying love for you and how there’s no other woman for him, then fucking threw the shot back. You practically dragged him offstage and out the door!”

I heard his car crank up in the background as I looked down at Tyler. He had said what? I’d done what? Holy fuck, I wish I could remember it. Just the suggestion of him saying those words made my skin crawl in all the best ways.

Had we made love last night?

“Tyler isn’t good enough for you. Not by a longshot, and he never will be. I get it that you’re pissed that Mom and Dad push their agendas on you, but this one is serious. He will eat you up and spit you out,” Luke said.

“You will stay away from Kelly. The only reason you feel this way is because you’re fucking around with her while you’ve got some pussy back in New York,” I said.

The phone call fell silent, and I snickered into the phone. How stupid did he think I was?

“How stupid do you think I am? You would never get this angry about anything unless you felt it directly reflected onto you somehow. You see how Tyler supposedly treats women, and it disgusts you, but the reason why it makes you mad is that you’re doing the same thing. Stay away from Kelly. You’ll never be good enough for her,” I said.

“Fine. I’m ten minutes out. Make yourself presentable,” he said.

“I’m not letting you anywhere near this apartment,” I said. “Go fuck yourself.”

I hung up the phone and tossed it across the room while the light snores of Tyler’s beautiful body sounded out into the room. I felt tears burn the back of my eyes as I tried to recall last night. Tyler had told an entire club he loved me and I couldn’t even fucking remember it.

The only thing I would remember is how one of the most romantic nights of my life apparently pissed everyone off.

“Tyler,” I said as I pushed his body. “Tyler, wake up.”

“Hm?” he hummed.

“Wake the fuck up, Tyler,” I said.

“What? What? What’s wrong?” he asked.

I watched him roll over, and I saw the claw marks on his chest.