He chuckled before sucking in a long breath.
“Like I said, it’s been a long time. But I guess I’m more embarrassed than anything else. I was so into building up the bakery, talking to lenders, hiring staff that I didn’t see it coming. Amy was never that on board with the bakery to begin with and I guessed she resented me for even opening it in the first place, but why couldn’t she just tell me?” He scratched at the beer bottle label. “I even asked Jayden if I should take Amy somewhere for a weekend to talk it out, and he told me the best thing was to leave her alone.”
“Because he was taking her out behind your back?”
He laughed to himself while slowly nodding.
“I think I hate him more than I hate her,” I said, crossing my arms as I leaned back in the chair. “Best friends are supposed tohaveyour back, not stab you in it.”
His lips curved up for a moment.
“I’ve gone back and forth myself a few times, but I think it’s a tie. Anyway, she said she was going on a girls’ weekend trip the same weekend of the bakery opening. After I got home that first day, the friend that she was supposed to be on vacation with called me to tell me everything. She said she felt guilty being a pawn.”
“So you couldn’t even enjoy the first day of your brand-new business?”
My blood boiled as my hand clenched into a fist. Yes, I made it a hobby to torture him but I’d never hurt Tyler like that, and I found myself wanting to slug a pregnant woman for the very first time.
“So I waited until she got home to confront her, and she told me everything. She handed me my engagement ring and packed a bag. Jayden was there to get her in less than an hour without so much as an ‘I’m sorry.’ I think the only thing he said was, ‘I guess I’ll see you.’”
“Wow. I am so sorry.” I reached over and draped my hand over his and gave it a quick squeeze, the same way he did when he’d noticed me tearing up over my father. Maybe deep down, we were sort of friends all along and the sexual tension blinded us too much to be nice to each other. Well, it at least blinded me. Whatever the case, he needed a friend tonight, and whatever happened later, I’d make sure he had one.
“Thanks.” He nodded. “It’s fine. I guess I just didn’t want to face it all alone, as pathetic as it sounds.”
“It doesn’t. And that’s why I’m here.” I nudged his ankle under the table. “I think I can make you feel better. Remember when your cousin Alan broke his nose senior year?”
His brow pinched as he nodded. “I forgot you guys went to the same school. Yeah, some field hockey fight he said.”
“Well, he lied,” I said in a loud whisper. “Morgan was dating one of his friends. She had just come out as bisexual the year before, and all Alan did was give her a hard time. Now that she was dating a guy, he had a field day with it. He’d scream ‘pick a side’ every time he’d spot them together.” I draped my hand over my eyes for a minute. “Alan was relentless until her boyfriend broke up with her. I don’t know if it was because of Alan, but I was certain that he didn’t help. She was pretty devastated. I caught him snickering behind her back one day as we were walking home, and he said something stupid like, ‘I guess it’s back to the other team for you,’ and before I knew what I was doing, I ran over and punched him.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Tyler asked, gaping at me.
“Blood waseverywhere. I almost threw up. And I never knew punching anyone would hurt that much.” I shook out my hand, the memory of my knuckles cracking against his nose sending pain down my fingers even now.
“Holy shit. I had no idea.” Tyler’s eyes lit up. “He was always such a dick.”
“Yep. But no one was around except him, Morgan, and me. He begged me not to say anything and promised he’d back off Morgan if I kept quiet.” I extended my fingers, pretending to admire my manicure. “I did, but every time I saw him, I fiddled with my hand just to screw with him. Or commented in a really loud voice about how sore my hand was from apast injury.” I lifted my shoulder in an innocent shrug. “What I’m saying is that your homophobic, probably small-dicked cousin is nothing to worry about, and neither is Amy. I have your back tonight. Does that help?”
“Yes, it does.” Tyler’s smile was wide, easy, and beautiful. “In fact, that’s the new greatest story ever told.” Childish little flutters took off in my belly in celebration. “And I’m grateful to be on your good side tonight.”
I’d gladly slay anyone to make him keep looking at me like that. I grinned back, despite the panic churning my insides.
I was so fucked.
TEN
TYLER
“So explain this to me again,” my father said as we found our assigned table. “This… tonight, you and Olivia. It’s fake?”
He looked me over with a pinched brow. Dad usually went with the flow and didn’t say much, so for him to notice enough to comment on it meant we were getting the attention Olivia swore we would.
“Olivia offered to come with me as a favor and thought it would be fun to get a rise out of people. Not a big deal,” I told him as I found her across the room. She chatted with my mother, laughing at something. I couldn’t tear my eyes away no matter how hard I tried. That dress, that body, and that fucking slit that was draining all the blood out of my head and into my cock every time it opened. I let myself look because we were supposed to be lovers. I could explain it away as acting in the moment, even if allowing my eyes to caress her body was instinct and the complete opposite of pretend.
I was dragged out of my trance by my father’s snicker.
“What? We look ridiculous? Tell me something I don’t know, Dad.” I scooted my chair closer to the table and took a sip from my water glass.
“If byridiculousyou meanyour tongue hanging out whenever you look in her direction, then yes.” His chest rumbled with a laugh. “It doesn’t look that fake to me, son. Not that I’m surprised.” He shrugged, still laughing. “I figured with how the two of you always fought it was just a matter of time.”
