by Marie Skye
I spent the first part of the morning listening to Gwen talk about the film festival, while I waited for my phone to charge. I could barely get a word in. She seemed so excited.
“So are you guys going to go out on another date?”
She paused. “That’s the thing. I don’t think he saw it as a date, more so as two people hanging out.”
I shrugged. “Just ask him. The worst he’ll say is no, right? You like him that much, which is evident, so why not just ask him out?”
She shrugged, before grabbing a coffee pot and heading to a table. My phone finally had enough charge to power on. There was a text from Tyler, sent about a half hour ago.
What happened to your apartment?
I froze. Was Tyler back in town? I dialed his number, and he answered on the first ring.
“Hey, you!”
“Tyler, are you in town?”
“Yeah, at your place. Are they remodeling or something? I am at the right place, right?”
I laughed. “Yes. Stay there.” I hung up and ran to the back looking for Louie. He was in going over inventory. “Louie, would you mind if I left early?”
He looked me up and down. “Are you sick?”
I hesitated. “No.”
He continued going over shelves. “You just got here, and you want to leave?”
I groaned. “Louie, please. I’ll make it up. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
He sighed. “Go. You’re lucky I like you, yeah?”
I smiled. “Thanks, Louie.” Grabbing my things, I ran out the door, but stopped to quickly write a text to Grayson, because I just knew how he was. Then I ran the six blocks to my apartment.
I had just stepped into the elevator when I got a text. I smiled seeing it was from Emmalin. My smile quickly faded when I read it.
Left work. Headed to my place. Don’t freak out. I’ll text you to let you know when I’ve arrived.
I knew for a fact, renovations weren’t quite complete yet, so what the hell she’d have to go to her apartment for, I had no idea. I pushed the button for the parking garage.
I sat in my car. Still no text from Emmalin letting me know she arrived. Twenty minutes had passed. I was paranoid. My meeting was scheduled to start in five minutes. I considered my options. I could send Luke. Or I could simply call her to make sure she wasn’t in a gutter somewhere. Instead, I dialed the office.
“Glenda, have Mark start the meeting. I’ll be late.” I started the engine and headed out. Twenty minutes later, I pulled up outside a small café, which was where the GPS on her phone led me. Walking in, I spotted her in a small booth in the back with a guy sitting next to her. I didn’t like this one bit. I made my way to the table. It was a moment before either one of them finally stopped whispering and looked up.
“Grayson, hey, what are you doing here?” I slid into the booth across from her, not taking my eyes off the boy next to her.
“I didn’t get your text to let me know you arrived safely and became worried. Who’s your friend?”
The boy leaned back in the booth, putting his arm on the back of her seat, almost in a protective gesture, but the mere fact he was sitting next to her had me wanting to rip his fucking teeth out.
“This is Tyler. Tyler, this is Grayson, who I’ve been telling you about.” She reached across the table and grabbed my hand. When she moved to let go, I tightened my grip.
“So what brings you into town, Tyler?”
He took a sip of his water. “Just passing through, I suppose, and I wanted to be here for Emmalin. I’m not always around, and since I won’t be here for her birthday next week, I thought I’d stop in.”
I tensed, staring at Emmalin, who immediately looked down at her menu. The waitress came over, and I sat there seething as I watched Tyler absentmindedly playing with the strands of Emmalin’s hair. He got up, as she excused herself to the bathroom. Good. It was just him and me.
He took a sip of his coffee before saying, “She seems to really like you.”
I nodded. “You seem to really like her. Tell me, Tyler, how long have you wanted to fuck her?” He paused. “Come on, Tyler, don’t play dumb. It’s unbefitting. She’s a beautiful woman, sexy. You’re the friend who clearly can’t keep his hands off her, and trust me, it took a lot of restraint not to jump across this table to break your hands, but it’s completely evident that you want to fuck her.”
He stared straight ahead.
I pulled out my phone. “Tyler Langer. You don’t seem to have any steady jobs. In fact, you seem to jump jobs quite a bit. Why is that?”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you tracking me?”
I smiled. “I wouldn’t call it tracking, more like looking out for the people I care about, and for some reason, you rub me the wrong way.” I saw Emmalin heading our way. “We can discuss this later.” I stood up and pulled her into the seat next to me.
“Good, you guys didn’t kill each other.” She smiled, before turning to Tyler. “So you really can only stay just one night?”
Tyler nodded. “Yeah, but I’ll be back in a few weeks when the job ends. Then I’ll be back here looking for more work. So I hope we can do dinner later, I didn’t know your apartment was under construction, so I still need to find a hotel, and I’m pretty beat.”
She sighed. “Of course.” She then looked at me. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
I nodded as we went around the corner.
“He’s here for your birthday?”
Shrugging, she quickly changed the topic. “I don’t care about my birthday. But that’s not what I was going to talk about. I was going to let you know that I want to stay with Tyler tonight.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? My girlfriend staying with another guy? That doesn’t seem odd to you?”
“He’s my friend, Grayson, and I haven’t seen him in a while and I miss him. He’s only in town for one night.”
“No.”
She stepped back. “No? Grayson, I wasn’t asking you.”
She turned to walk away, but I grabbed her arm. I ran my hand through my hair.
“What if—fuck, I can’t believe I’m going to say this. What if he spends the night with us at the Brownstone apartment tonight? You guys can stay up all night talking, and he can still go to the guest room.”
She put her hands on her hips. “It took a lot for you to say that, didn’t it?” She rolled her eyes, focusing out the window. “I don’t understand this newfound jealousy you’re harboring. You’re going to have to let that die down.”
I backed her into the wall. “Baby, you know how I am around you. You drive me crazy.” I nipped her collarbone. We heard two kids giggling, and I stepped back, forgetting we were in public. Turning around, I smiled at them.
“Look, if it bothers you, he doesn’t have to stay there. It’s your house. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in your own house.”
I cupped her face. “I told you before, wherever you are, I am. So, why doesn’t Alistair drive you to headquarters, and I’ll take him to the Brownstone, make sure he gets settled, and then we’ll arrange for dinner later, okay?
She nodded. “Thank you. For being you, and doing something you don’t have to do. He means a lot to me, so be nice. Please?”
"Of course.” We headed back to the table, Tyler eyeing us warily.
"So, change of plans. You're staying with us tonight." Emmalin beamed at him.
Tyler looked between the two of us and cleared his throat. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"It's a perfect idea, and I won't take no for an answer, so you're doing it. Grayson will take you to his apartment, so you can rest, and I'll see you after work.”
I gave him a half smile, knowing I had to be in the same car with him for the next twenty minutes.
Emmalin nudged me. "Yes, please. It'll be fine," I found myself halfheartedly contributing to the conversation.
Emmalin was already grabbing her stuff, so I laid money on the table, a
nd we were out the door. Alistair was already waiting at the curb.
She turned to Tyler. "Okay, so I'll see you in a few hours?” He nodded, and she gave him a hug, which lasted longer than it should. Fuck, get a grip. They're friends. He got in the passenger side of my car as I walked over to her.
"I'll see you in a bit. Thank you, Grayson.” She reached up for a kiss, which I, of course, deepened, staking my claim and ownership. Call it a pissing match, but I knew one thing. She was mine.
The silence lasted thirty seconds before he spoke.
"Why are you even agreeing to this?"
I kept my eyes on the road. "It's what she wants. I'd do anything for her."
He was quiet for a moment. "I've never seen her like that before. She's different.” He sounded like he was talking more to himself than me. We pulled into my driveway.
I walked him in and showed him around. "Help yourself to anything. Don't try anything stupid; this place is secured."
He rolled his eyes. "I'm not a fucking thief."
Stopping in my tracks, I whirled around. "Really? Weren't you in jail for car theft? Isn't that what you told Emmalin? Or were you lying about that?”
He turned to me. "I don't know how much she's told you, but she's been through a lot. You hate me, I get it. But I'm in her life. Maybe you should accept that."
I was on him and had him against the wall. "I would be very fucking careful with what you say to me. I think you're hiding something, and trust me, I plan to find out. For some reason, she trusts you. I don't know what bullshit you've fed her, but it ends.”
He shoved me off him. "You don't know shit about me." He shook his head. "And you obviously don't know shit about her either. I'm here for her. I'll always be here for her.” Picking up his bag, he walked to the guest room and slammed the door. He was right. I didn't know shit about him. But I was about to make it my mission.
I drove to work frustrated. My girlfriend had a birthday next week that I didn't even know about because she didn't feel the need to share it with me. She had a friend I didn't trust, and I couldn’t put my finger on why.
I arrived to work in time to finish out the meeting with Mark. Then I fielded calls the rest of the day between Paris, with the promise that I would see them the following week. Emmalin didn't know it, but I was taking her with me. Plans for the charity ball at the end of the week were coming together. Everyone had already RSVP'd and arrangements had been taken care of. There was a knock at the door, and Emmalin came in and sat in the chair in front of me. Cute.
"Hey, did everything go okay this morning?" she asked, and I watched as she reached for my water glass.
I leaned back in my chair. "Get over here.” Her eyes widened briefly before narrowing. She uncrossed her legs before standing up and walking toward me, achingly slow. Fuck me, she was taunting me.
Stopping just short of my reach, she crossed her arms. "Were you nice?"
"Sure.” Before she could take a step back, I surged forward and pulled her into my lap. "We need to talk about this teasing, among other things.” I cupped her neck, guiding her toward me and placing her forehead against mine.
"Like what?"
“Like what?” I parroted. “Like how I’m the bad boyfriend who didn’t know you have a birthday next week. I thought your birthday was in September?” She tried getting up, but I held her down.
“I told you, it’s not a big deal, and I don’t want to talk about it.” She gave me a chaste kiss before getting up and going back to the chair across from me. She wasn’t exactly putting the bricks up, but she had them out and was mixing up the concrete.
“I have to be in Paris next week.”
She smiled. “Oh yeah? That’s exciting. How long?”
“I’m thinking a week tops. I want you to go with me.” I held her gaze.
She opened her mouth to say something then shut it several times before finally speaking. “Grayson, I don’t know.”
I stood up and walked around the desk. “Let me rephrase. You’re going with me. I’m not being apart from you for a week. Think of it as a getaway, rendezvous, birthday trip. Business should, hopefully, only take two days, but we’ll have the rest of the week. It’s Paris. You and me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to get in the way of anything.”
I shook my head. “I would love nothing more than for you to be there.”
She paused. “Shit. I need to see about Tea Lites, but if they say yes, then I’m all yours.”
“Oh, baby, you’re already mine.” I pulled her in to me. God, I loved her.
The rest of the day went smoothly. By the time we got to the Brownstone, it smelled like an Italian restaurant. There was laughter and chatter in the kitchen. Tyler was sitting at the island, and Magda was chopping up vegetables.
“What do we have here?” I looked around the kitchen at all the food.
Magda wiped her hands on her apron. Coming around, she pulled Emmalin into a warm embrace before hugging me.
“I come here and am greeted by a naked man.”
“I had on a towel,” Tyler interjected.
She points to him. “A towel you dropped. Naked man Tyler tells me he’s a close friend of sweet Emmalin. Well, any friend of Emmalin’s is a friend of mine. Imagine my surprise when he says you guys were going out for her birthday dinner. Well, I can’t have that. I make a homemade meal for Emmalin. Homemade pasta.”
“Oh, Mrs. Mancini, you didn’t have to do that.”
I pulled Emmalin to the side. “Don’t even bother arguing with her. It’ll get you nowhere.” I plucked a cherry tomato out of the bowl.
“I told you, it’s Magda. I don’t do formal. Besides, it’s your birthday. You eat good food. Real good food, surrounded by those you love.”
Emmalin’s smile faltered briefly. I watched as Tyler walked over to Emmalin and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I restrained myself from lashing out, but that didn't stop my grip on her waist from tightening, which didn't go unnoticed by him.
"She never makes a big deal about her birthday. It's about time you did. Believe it or not, people care about you.” They stared at each other for a few seconds. I swore, you could have heard a pin drop. Emmalin finally dropped her gaze and removed herself from my grip, muttering something about going to change.
Before she reached the door, Tyler spoke again. "Willow."
She froze and slowly turned, eyes glistening with tears. She took a deep breath before shaking her head and leaving the room. The silence was broken by the bedroom door slamming.
"Magda, would you excuse us."
I watched as she turned off the stove. "Everything is finished here. No making the birthday girl upset, you two. Birthday cake is in the fridge.” She turned to Tyler. "Nice meeting you, naked man.” He smiled as she gave him a hug. She walked toward me. "Cut your hair.” I helped her put her coat on and walked her to the door, where Luke was waiting.
"What the fuck was that?" I demanded.
He glared at me before tipping his beer back. "It's nothing."
"Sure as hell didn't look like nothing. How I see it, everything was fine until you got here. She wants you here, and I'm going along with it, but I don't have to like it."
"And then what? We play nice for her sake, and then you can go back to hating me?"
I stepped closer. "Whatever it takes to protect her."
He smiled and took another swig. "See, that's where you're wrong. She doesn't need someone to protect her. She was failed in that department. She needs someone to fight for her."
Before I could ask him more, I heard Emmalin in the distance, so I stepped away.
"Don't tell me you two are having a pissing match." She stood there with her hands on her hips.
I smiled. "Just a friendly chat."
She took Tyler's beer and drank the rest of it. "And you're full of shit.”
I smiled, thinking of the plans I had for that mouth of hers later. As if reading my t
houghts, she blushed. She fucking blushed. If there weren't a third person in the room, I would’ve had her laid up on that kitchen island, doing things one probably shouldn’t be doing with the olive oil. I wanted to see my marks on her while she screamed beneath me.
"I'll set the table."
I stopped her before she reached the cabinet. "It's your birthday. Sit down."
"It's technically not my birthday, Grayson."
"No, but today we're pretending it is. Now get out."
Dinner went quite normal. I mostly sat back listening to Emmalin and Tyler banter back and forth, talking mainly about his job. He seemed relatively harmless, but there was still something about him that rubbed me wrong.
"So how long am I going to have to keep talking till you tell me about this girl?” she asked.
Tyler paused, fork in the air. "What girl?”
"Don't fuck with me. That crack of dawn I called you, I sensed a girl there.”
He smiled before resuming his eating. "Fine, don't tell me, but I know I'm right. You've always been a shitty liar.” A moment passed.
"Her name is Molly. That's all you need to know… for now." He stifled a grin.
Emmalin smiled, seemingly content with that answer, and laid her hand on top of his.
He turned to me, almost as if to goad me on. Motherfucker.
"Emmalin, could you pass the wine?” I didn't need more wine. I just knew she would need to use that hand to grab it. "Magda made you a cake if you have room for it."
She shook her head. "I'm stuffed, but you guys go ahead.” The remainder of the dinner was Tyler telling stories of laying pipes. We eventually moved into the living room. It was getting close to ten when I caught Emmalin stifling a yawn.
"You've had a long day, baby. Let's go to bed." I kissed her forehead.
She hesitated. "You go ahead. I wouldn't mind some time with Tyler.”
I knew I was walking a fine line if I said no. I ran my fingers through my hair. "Yeah, of course. I have some work to do anyway.” I gave Tyler a pointed look before walking out. I may not be in the same room, but I'd still be watching and listening.
Reaching my office, I turned on the security cameras in the living room. Yeah, I was that guy. It wasn’t that I didn't trust her. I didn't trust him. Unsure of what to expect, I grabbed my bluetooth. Everything was as clear as if I was standing right next to them. They just sat there facing the fireplace not saying anything.