“How do you feel?” He set the water on the side table. She had curled up in the center of the bed, still in her clothes. Weary eyes followed him around the room, but she said nothing.
He sat on the side of the bed and moved loose strands of hair away from her eyes. “Dallas, baby, I need you to tell me what happened tonight. Why haven’t you mentioned you’ve been married before?”
The look of uncertainty covered her features, and her lids slid closed shielding her eyes as tears streamed down her face. Sadness tugged on Tyler’s heart, and he climbed further onto the bed. He rested his back against the headboard and pulled her into his arms.
His intent wasn’t to cause her more pain, but he needed to know about her and Mark. “When was the last time you saw him?”
“Over ten years ago,” she mumbled and then glanced at him. “How do you know, Mark?”
“He’s the architectural engineer who’s working on our condo project in Chicago.”
When Dallas didn’t comment, he continued. “I met him a few weeks ago in Chicago. Another architect from his firm was overseeing our project, but he got ill and Mark took over. Based on Quinn’s gut feelings and your reaction toward Mark, we’re going to have someone else finish up the project.” Tyler thought back on the day they’d met Mark and now understood why he kept making reference to Tyler having a wife. For whatever reason he thought they were married.
“Was he the guy you told me about from grad school?”
She nodded against his chest.
“Dallas, I don’t get it. Why didn’t you mention you were once married?”
“Didn’t want to think about him, let alone talk about him.”
Tyler sighed, frustrated by the short responses. “I can understand that, but you and I were once very close, and I thought we were heading in that direction again. Don’t you think I had a right to know?”
“You never asked.”
Stunned by her scathing retort, he took several deep breaths to steady his pulse and to get his anger under control.
“Why did he think we were married?”
Dallas lifted her head to face him. The dejected look he saw in her dismal eyes was that of a person in a great deal of pain. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen, nor have I talked with him since he…. As far as I’m concerned, Mark could fall off the face of the earth.”
He placed a kiss on her temple and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Talk to me, baby. I can tell whatever transpired between you two was traumatic.” He rubbed her arms hoping to bring some comfort. “What happened?”
She sniffled a few times. “Mark and I were a long time ago. There’s nothing to tell.”
Tyler stilled his hand and lifted his head. The edge in her voice let him know the stubborn, closed-lipped Dallas had shown up to replace the distraught one. After the good time they’d had earlier, he thought they were finally getting back to where they once were.
“What do you mean there’s nothing to tell? You guys were married. I would say there’s a lot to tell.”
Dallas wiped her face with her hands and scooted to the opposite side of the bed. “What part of nothing to tell don’t you understand? I really don’t want to talk about this right now.”
With her chin held high and her now passionless eyes trained on him, Tyler knew he’d have to dig deep down into his soul to find patience. “I bet he has something to do with you holding back when it comes to us. If we’re ever going to make it you have to talk to me … and trust me.”
“Just because I don’t want to talk about this doesn’t mean I don’t trust you. It means I don’t want to talk about it! Besides, I don’t owe you an explanation for something that doesn’t concern you.”
“This sure as hell does concern me. I care about you and I know you feel the same way about me.” He swung his long legs to the floor and walked to the other side of the room, never taking his eyes off of her. He ran a hand over his head, frustration covering him like a thick wool coat. What did he have to do to get her to open up? “With this jacked-up attitude of yours, you’re acting like I asked for a kidney or something. All I want to know is what happened and why you never mentioned him.”
Dallas huffed and folded her arms across her chest. The tears were now replaced with anger. “What happens in my life is my business. I’m trying to forget my past, not relive it. So let it go!”
“What’s wrong with you? Don’t you understand you have to make peace with your past, so it doesn’t ruin your present? Baby, we’re never going to be able to have a future together if something in your past is holding you back.”
Dallas lowered her eyes and fiddled with the rumpled comforter. After a few moments of silence, she scooted back on the bed until her back touched the headboard and shook her head. “I can’t do this anymore,” she mumbled. “I care about you, but … I’m not ready. You’ve been wonderful these past few weeks, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I’m sorry if I led you to believe there could be more between us. Right now, the only thing I can offer you is a friendship. Nothing else.”
Ahh, here we go again. Her mixed signals would be the death of him. But he wasn’t letting her off that easy. “Is that why you didn’t tell me your little secret? You had plenty of opportunity. What other secrets are you hiding besides being married?”
“Past tense. I was married. Let’s get something straight, Tyler. There is nothing but a friendship between you and me. And since we’re just friends, I don’t have to tell you everything.”
His eyes bore into her, not believing what he was hearing. A few hours ago she was all lovey dovey and ready to take their relationship to the next level. Now she sounded like she did when he’d asked her to marry him, as if it would take nothing for her to toss him away without looking back.
In a low threatening voice he said, “Do you even know what it means to be a friend? Friends talk to each other, trust each other. What you and I have … aw hell I don’t know what the heck we have. For some reason, I thought we’d be able to pick up where we left off and eventually build a life together. Guess I was wrong.” He turned to walk away, but stopped and looked back at her. “I’m done.”
****
Dallas jumped from the thunderous boom that shook the room when Tyler slammed the door. She collapsed onto her stomach and screamed into the pillow, pounding the bed with her fists. What is wrong with me? Why do I keep doing this to him? If she hadn’t agreed to stay with Tyler, none of this would be an issue. She knew she couldn’t be around him and not fall for him again. “Ugh,” she screamed, her voice muffled by the pillow.
Her thoughts quickly went to Mark. The nerve of him introducing himself as her husband. He hadn’t been her husband in years and even then it was in name only as far as she was concerned. She turned over on her back and hurled a pillow across the room. Irritation coursed through her veins at how vulnerable she still felt around him. I hate you Mark Darley?
Dallas heard a door downstairs slam shortly before hearing Tyler’s motorcycle come to life and peel out of the garage. “Darn it,” she screamed. She knew a simple apology wouldn’t be enough this time. He’d given her every opportunity to tell him everything, and she didn’t. He probably thinks I’m crazy. Heck, I’m starting to think it too.
Two hours later Tyler hadn’t returned to the house. Dallas debated on calling him on his cell, but what could she say? “Sorry I keep pushing you away, but I’m never telling you my horrible, pathetic story.” Why bother calling him if she couldn’t share everything with him? He deserved so much better. She sighed in frustration. There was only one thing left to do. She grabbed her crutches and went to the closet for her travel bag.
****
Skylar walked into the house, just as Dallas reached the front door. “What’s with the car outside?” She looked down and noticed the bag sitting in the hallway. “And where are you going?”
“Home. I’ve overstayed my welcome. It’s time for me to get back to my life.” Dallas lean
ed heavily on her crutches. It took her forever to get down the stairs and the little energy she had left she didn’t want to use explaining her decision to Tyler’s sister.
Skylar walked further into the house and glanced in the kitchen before running to Tyler’s office. “Tyler,” she screamed out several times.
“He’s not here. He left hours ago.”
She walked back over to Dallas. “Does he know you’re leaving?”
“It’s better if I go before he comes back.”
Skylar pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed. “Dallas, it’s eleven o’clock at night. Why not wait until the morning?”
Dallas had thought the same thing, but why put it off. She had to get back to Chicago and as far away from Tyler as possible. Better to leave now before things got even more complicated.
“Shoot. Where is he?” Skylar said out loud after getting Tyler’s voicemail. “Ty, come home…now. Dallas is leaving,” she said, urgency in her voice. She put her cell back into her purse and blocked the door, preventing Dallas from passing. “At least wait until he gets here.”
Dallas sighed. “You know Tyler and I are like oil and water. We don’t mix. Aren’t you sick of us arguing all the time? I know I am. I can’t do this anymore and besides, he deserves better than what I’m able to give.”
“I can tell this isn’t what you want. Look at you. You’re a wreck. Based on your red, puffy eyes, I’d say you’ve done your share of crying. And you look like you’re on the verge of tears now. Besides, they still haven’t found the person responsible for your car accident and the threats. It might not be safe for you to be alone right now.”
Dallas had thought about that, but she couldn’t live her life in fear.
“Why don’t you stay and talk to Tyler. I know, whatever the problem is, you guys can work it out together.”
Dallas looked away from Skylar. That was the problem. They couldn’t work it out because Dallas didn’t know how to tell Tyler or anyone else about her life with Mark. She’d done everything she could to block it out of her memory and talking about it brought it all back.
“I’m sorry, Skylar. I have to go. Thanks for everything, and please tell Tyler … I’m sorry.”
****
Tyler threw back his forth shot of whiskey and chased it down with a swig of beer. He hadn’t drunk like this since college, but tonight he was celebrating. No more Dallas. That meant no more arguments; no more stress; no ex-husband; and no more chasing after her like a puppy dog. He was done.
Fifty million women out in the world and he had to be in love with the one who didn’t want the ‘happily-ever-after.’ What was it about her that made him give up his bachelor’s life? He had dated beautiful women who had catered to his every need. Why’d he ever give up that freedom? Stupidity.
“Hey what’s up Q?” the bartender greeted as Quinn took the bar stool next to Tyler. “I was wondering when you were going to show up. Your boy here is at his limit. What are you havin’?”
“How about a cup of coffee? Looks like I’m the designated driver tonight.”
“You got it.”
Tyler could feel Quinn’s eyes on him. “Go ahead and say it.”
“Say what?”
“I told you so.”
Quinn shook his head. “That’s not what I was going to say. I was going to ask if you were all right, but I can see you’re not.”
“Actually, I’m great.” Tyler slurred his words and lifted his half empty beer bottle. “I’m celebrating. No more Dallas. I’m done with her.”
Quinn took a sip of his coffee before saying, “You don’t mean that.”
“Oh, but I do.” Tyler spun around on the bar stool and would’ve fallen had Quinn not caught him.
“Lenny, how about a couple of aspirin and a gallon of water. He’s worse off than I thought.”
The bartender chuckled. “You got it, man.”
Quinn stood and helped Tyler over to a booth. “Ty, how many drinks have you had?” he asked once he’d gotten Tyler settled in.
“Did you know Dallas is married?”
“Was married.”
“She’s married to that….” Tyler stopped and stared at his friend, even though things were blurry. “You knew?”
Quinn didn’t speak until the bartender left the aspirin and water on the table. “I wasn’t positive but I checked some things out. And, it was confirmed.”
“So I guess it’s true.” Tyler took the aspirin and let his head fall back on the back of the booth’s seat and closed his eyes. No doubt he was going to have a helluva headache in the morning. “Did you know you almost had to bail me out of jail tonight? When I saw how Dallas reacted to seeing Mark, I wanted to kill him. And I might’ve if she hadn’t insisted on getting away from him.”
“I figured as much. So instead of bailing you out of jail, I’m here watching you drink yourself into oblivion.”
Tyler opened one eye and looked at his friend. “When’d you start using big words? And how’d you know I was here?”
“Lenny called, and Skylar’s been looking for you … Dallas left.”
“Good riddance. She’s good at running, and I’m done chasing her.”
“I’m sure you’ll feel different in the morning. Besides, she might be in danger and I know you don’t want anything to happen to her.”
“Dallas can take care of herself. Or at least that’s what she always says. So let her.” Several moments of silence passed before Tyler opened his eyes and looked at Quinn. “So what, no comment?”
“Why bother. You probably won’t remember this conversation in the morning anyway.”
Tyler let his head drop back down. “Yeah, you’re probably right. But I am starting to remember why I cut out the hard liquor after college.”
Quinn laughed. “I bet. Just wait until in the morning. You’re probably going to want to cut off your head. Come on, let’s get you home.”
****
Curled up in the corner of her sofa, Dallas fiddled with the tassels on her brown throw blanket. Scanning her large living room she was still trying to get used to being back in Chicago and at home. She glanced at her wilted plants too lazy to toss them, and grunted in disgust at the dust that had accumulated on the glass cocktail table. She laid her head on the arm of the sofa and her eyes automatically went to the picture above the fireplace. Tyler had purchased the Yeb, Ghana silk painting on their first vacation together.
Dallas turned on her side and dabbed at the tears in the corner of her eyes. Despite her best efforts to forget Tyler, her mind continued to take her there. She wondered how he was, if he were still mad at her, and whether or not Desiree had moved in to play house. That last thought alone sent her back into a frustrated fit. As time went on, there would be many more Desiree’s and there was nothing Dallas could do about it. She only had herself to blame.
Why couldn’t she just answer his questions? She’d been asking herself that for the past two days. The look on his face when she refused to tell him about Mark will forever be ingrained in her brain. He was nothing like Mark, but yet, she made him suffer because of her history with her ex-husband. Now it was too late. She’d walked away from the only man she’d ever truly loved - again. And for what? To protect her precious past?
When she left this time it was even harder than the last time. Before, she could at least function without having him in her life, but now, she couldn’t even stop crying. And it didn’t help matters that she was inundated with work, which was the last thing she felt like doing.
She glanced at her laptop and groaned. The extra responsibilities and clients were proving to be too much, and right now she wanted to forget she had a job. But people were depending on her.
Eager for peace of mind, she grabbed her painkillers and bottled water. For the past couple of days, the pills had been the only way to dull the ache in her heart and the pounding in her head. Minutes after taking them, numbness traveled through her veins, stilling her mind and r
elaxing her body. Before she knew it, she had succumbed to a deep sleep.
The shrill of her cell phone woke her early the next morning.
“Hello,” she answered groggily.
“Dallas?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you awake?”
“No,” she answered, and tried to force herself to wake up, but sleep kept pulling her back.
“Dallas, wake up,” Simone said. “I’ve been trying to reach you for days. Are you okay?”
“I’m exhausted. Can we talk later?”
“No. We need to talk now. I’ve been worried sick about you. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”
Dallas had wondered when Simone would call again. She had intentionally not called her and didn’t return any of her calls. Simone was good at chewing people out and Dallas didn’t want to hear her rant and rave about leaving Tyler the way she had. How could she tell her best friend, who happens to be Tyler’s sister-in-law, she had screwed up … again?
“So, are you okay?”
Dallas, surprised by the concern she heard in Simone’s voice, almost cried. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. She was all cried out.
“No. Actually I’m not. I really blew it this time.”
“I heard. Tyler told Tim about how you guys ran into Mark after dinner. Honey, I can only imagine how that was for you, especially considering what happened the last time you saw him.”
“I couldn’t believe it was him. And he had the nerve to act like nothing happened; like he hadn’t abandoned me during the worse time in my life; like I was supposed to greet him with open arms or something.”
“I’m glad I never met that jerk. He sounds like a real piece of work.”
“And poor Tyler,” Dallas groaned. “I was awful to him. He wanted to know everything about my relationship with Mark and I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I said some things that I will forever regret.”
Blue Roses (Reunited Series) Page 12