Chapter 27
Luke
After Ryan’s “pep talk,” I changed clothes and then went to get in the truck to drive to Portland.
“See you on the flip side,” Ryan called out as I pulled out of the driveway.
I arrived at her office and was greeted by an older lady with glasses perched on the end of her nose.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m here to see Emerson.”
“Miss Myers isn't in the office, but I can get Chris Ames to help you, if you'd like.”
“No, that's okay. When do you expect her back?”
“Not until next week.”
“Oh okay.” I put my hands in my pockets and walked back down the hall toward the elevator. As I was waiting, Chris’ voice came from behind me.
“She’s at my house. She needed some alone time. I can give her a message if you want.”
I wanted to come out of my skin. I really wanted to hit him, but I contained my fury and pulled the door open, deciding to take the stairs instead of being near him another second.
“Too bad you never got to hit that from behind, watching her round ass ripple every time I sink into her is quite a sight.”
I couldn't stop myself. I turned and grabbed him by the neck and walked him backward into a wall.
“If she is at your house, and if you guys are together, that’s one thing... but don't you ever speak like that about her again.” I squeezed a little harder.
“I will talk about her anyway I please. You’re just jealous she chose me over you.” He croaked out.
“I feel sorry for her if she chose you. You are a poor excuse for a man. I know how you are and how often you can actually keep your dick in your pants.” I pushed against his chest with my forearm.
“As long as she’s in my bed, that sweet ass of hers will be all I need.”
I punched him. Blood trickled from his nose. I hit him twice more until there was a man pulling at me.
“Son.” I heard from behind me and turned to see an older man standing there looking at Chris in a way my father used to look at me when I was about to reprimanded. Then, he looked at me.
“I am not sure who you are or what exactly is going on here, but you should probably leave.” Chris looked over at the man as he spoke, then dropped his face in his hands. Blood was pouring from his nose now.
“Don't ever talk about her like that again,” I threatened Chris again, then turned and walked away.
***
Ryan burst through the door to the workshop wondering what was going on. “I’ve been texting you for hours.” Ryan threw his hands in the air, looking over at me as I stood over the piece of furniture I was currently working on.
“I’ve been here all day.” I watched as he paced around the room shaking his head. I reached into my pocket and looked at the phone and seeing multiple text messages. Fourteen from Ryan, to be precise. “Really? Fourteen messages, are you a girl?”
“I didn’t want drive all the way out here if you were here. And you haven’t been the most responsive the past couple of days.” Ryan walked out of the door, returning with his favorite blue cooler. “So, we gonna talk or what?” he made himself comfortable in one of my chairs, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other at his ankle.
“I’ve been here all day. Sorry I didn’t realize you needed to talk to me so bad.” I look down at my phone screen again realizing there was a message from Emmy. I touched the screen to open it. All it said was she wanted to talk when she got home. I seriously thought about texting her back, but chose to stick my phone back in my pocket and deal with Ryan.
As if Ryan knew that she had messaged me, he said, “Have you heard from Emerson?”
I fiddled with my phone through my pants pocket. I wanted to message her and at least acknowledge it, but at the same time I didn't.
“Someone else text you today?” he said it like he knew she had.
“Nope.” I frowned and took the beer he was handing me.
“Sorry, man.” He popped the lid off his bottle and lifted it to his lips. I did the same, thinking about what had happened with Chris.
“She wasn't there when I got to the office.”
“Oh.” Ryan looked up.
“She was apparently at Chris’ and I got to hear him tell me all about what it was like to—” I meant to set my bottle down, but I slammed it against the workbench top.
“Wow, I've heard it all now,” Ryan laughed.
“It isn't funny.”
“Dude, you know as well as I do that she isn't sleeping with that asshat.”
I looked at him, and he shrugged.
“Then again, you told her you guys aren't together so... who cares?”
“The thought of another man touching her makes me sick. Literally sick to my stomach.”
Ryan nodded, took another pull of his beer, and then started to speak again. He opened his mouth and then shut it again without saying anything. He took another pull before dropping the bottle to his thigh.
“I just don't think she would do that. Even if she had the opportunity. I don't think so. Would she really be that easy?”
“She’s known him for years.”
Ryan smiled. He lifted his finger in the air as if he had an idea.
“So, she’s known him for years and decided to sleep with him just now? Seems a bit suspicious to me.” He shook his head as if it was a ridiculous idea.
“I don't know what to believe anymore.” I lifted my bottle and drained it. “Throw me another.” I reached my hand out just as the bottle came flying across the room.
Ryan tapped his head as he said. “Don't get all caught up in here.”
I nodded and drank. We drank all the beer and then moved into the house and drank all of my bourbon. We played PlayStation, and I was distracted. It was a good night, until I laid down and thought about Chris and Emerson together.