I pinch my eyelids closed and take a deep breath. I can’t think about that night when I’m around him. It reminds me of all the things I’ve lost.
Tyler drops his duffel on the porch’s cement pad and glares at his sister. “Cali, you can’t offer Mira your place to keep her safe, then take off. Someone needs to look after her. You and Jaeg have to stick around.”
Cali’s jaw sets. “Jaeger works in his woodshop, located at his house, Tyler. He’ll be gone most of the time, and for that matter, so will I. I work during the day and take classes in the evening. That leaves one person who has nothing else to do at the moment.”
Tyler lets out a growl.
I’m so caught up in the sibling angst I’ve forgotten this is about me. And damn, it’s humiliating. I don’t need a babysitter.
“Hold on a minute,” I break in, but Cali and Tyler are having none of it. Their eyes don’t even flicker toward me. They continue to glare at each other.
Tyler picks up his duffel and stalks back inside the cabin.
Cali claps her hands. “I’m glad that’s all settled.”
“What’s settled?” I have this sinking feeling in my stomach, and it has nothing to do with residual nausea from those bastards’ boots striking my abdomen.
Cali turns to me. “Tyler will stay with you, Mira. To protect you.”
Oh, shit.
This might be the worst possible scenario, and I can’t come up with an alternative. My mind is in freak-out mode.
Everyone busies around me, collecting items and stowing them in their respective cars, while I stand in shock, at first on the porch, then in the center of the living room after Cali ushers me inside.
Lewis hugs my stiff shoulders. “I’ll check back in the morning. We’ll get your truck and pack some things from your apartment.” I cling a little too long, and he squeezes me again. “You’ll be safe here, Mira.”
What he doesn’t realize is that I’m not afraid of those jerks returning. It’s unlikely they’d find me at Cali’s tonight. I don’t want to be left alone with Tyler.
Misreading my hesitation, Lewis and Gen take off, assuming I’m safe now. Cali and Jaeger leave shortly thereafter. I’m still in the middle of the living room several minutes later, sifting through my muddled brain as to how it came down to this. Me and Tyler, alone. Living together. I wouldn’t want those guys finding me here with Cali, drawing danger to her. But if Tyler is here with me, it isn’t safe for my emotional stability.
Tyler kicks his duffel behind the recliner and strides into the kitchen. He shoves items around in the refrigerator, glass scraping on metal racks, bottles clanging together, ignoring me. I remain helpless as he pulls out a Sierra Nevada and pops the top with a bottle opener.
The brisk, yet controlled anger and the beer in his hand are a haunting reminder of a past life. Only then it was my mom or some guy she was dating, drinking and belligerent.
This is all wrong. I cradle my ill stomach, and sink onto the couch. “You can’t stay here, Tyler.”
“Tell me about it,” he mumbles.
I look up as he walks into the living room. “No, really. Go to a friend’s place. No one needs to know you aren’t around.”
His eyes narrow on my face. He takes another swig, gaze unwavering as he studies me. “First of all, they’d know. And second, you can’t stay here alone. Cali’s right. I’m the best person to look out for you.”
“You’re the worst person.”
Tyler stomps over and slams his bottle on the end table beside the couch. I flinch, despite the solid nerves I pride myself on. It must be this night. The beating, seeing Tyler again—I’m off my game.
He looms over me. “Let’s get one thing straight. You fucked me over, not that I minded the way you used me.” He sneers, and I hold his gaze.
Anger I can relate to—a little piece of home. “If that’s how you feel, then why are you helping?”
He leans closer, as if to spew more venom my way, only something happens. We’re too close. The scent of him hits me, a hint of beer, but also bike oil and laundry detergent, and him, the scent that’s all Tyler and smells so good.
I don’t know if my expression changes, or if he senses it too—the spark that’s always between us—but his eyes go dark. He slowly eases back and swipes his beer from the table, his gaze cutting away. “Stay out of my business, Mira, and I’ll stay out of yours.”
Tyler strides to the back door and slams it shut behind him. I sit there without moving, because I can’t. Not after that.
Chapter Eight
