He tips his head up in greeting, and toes off his shoes.He drops his keys on the kitchen counter and grabs a beer from the fridge, then slumps on the couch and turns on motocross.He’s wearing the same shirt he had on yesterday.
Something seems off, but since I’ve got many things that appear off in my life, I decide Tyler’s issues can wait.“Can I borrow your car for a bit?”
His eyes flick up.“Sure, what’s up?”
“Nothing, I just need to talk to Gen about something.”
Tyler straightens his leg, pulls his keys from his pocket, and tosses them to me.“When will you be home?”
“In an hour, Grandma.”
His mouth twists.“Don’t crash my wheels.”I roll my eyes.Tyler’s Land Cruiser is about thirty years old.If I crash, it’s because the steering sucks.
I park in the Blue parking garage and walk in the doors closest to Gen’s cocktail lounge, hoping to avoid people.Mason spots me first, smiles, then glances nervously across the room.I follow his gaze—to Jaeger holding Gen in a corner of the lounge.
My feet stop moving and my heart drops into my stomach.Gen’s arms are around Jaeger’s waist, his hand tucking her head close, comforting her in the same way he’s done with me.I try to swallow, but my mouth is dry.
I don’t know what’s real.I thought I knew—thought I’d jumped all over Gen wrongly.Now nothing makes sense.
The guy I believed cared for me, in a way no other guy has, is embracing my best friend.Right after she told me my ex-boyfriend betrayed me with her.And there’s been this distance between me and Gen…
Jaeger said there was nothing going on between him and Gen, but looking at them now, that’s hard to believe.
What am I doing here?I have to clear my head, think rationally.
Whipping around, I stumble into a body, my arms tangling with hard limbs.Drake uses my imbalance to haul me off the casino floor by my waist, one arm across the back of my shoulders.
“Let me go, Drake,” I growl as he carries me toward an elevator cove.
“We need to have a little talk, pretty girl.”His voice is calm, steady, but his grip pinches the skin on my shoulder and he’s hurting my ribs with his tight hold.
If he tries to drag me into an elevator, I’ll scream my fucking lungs out.
Drake stops in a relatively quiet section beside the elevators, his chest blocking my view of the rest of the casino.“I’m surprised to see you, Cali.Didn’t think you’d show your face after you were fired.”Vodka vapors waft off his breath.
He crosses his arms and shakes his head.His eyes leave me briefly to glare over his shoulder—at Jaeger hunched protectively over Gen.
Drake’s toxic breath and the image of the guy I’m falling for with my best friend bring bile to my throat.I flatten my hands behind me against the wall and swallow the sour taste in my mouth.And realize a moment later how weak that makes me look.
Straightening my shoulders, I say, “What do you want?”
The look Drake levels at me is ruthless.“Your tall friend won’t be able to pull the same stunt in here that he did the other night.”He taps two fingers to his temples and raises them to the ceiling.“I’m the eyes inside Blue.One move out of line and I’ll have him thrown out.”He cocks his head.“I could be persuaded to put in a good word for you.Help you get your job back.”His gaze trails my body, sending a shiver of repulsion down my back.“With the right motivation.”
I pinch my mouth and hold back a gag.“You’re horrible.I must have been drunk off my ass to let you take me home.Leave me alone, Drake.”I push past him, but he grabs my arm and squeezes until my fingers go numb.
“Remember who’s in charge here.”He shakes me, wrenching my neck.“Show a little respect.”
My eyes open wide at the threat.I’m not an employee.I have no rights.This is Drake’s world—his word against mine.What he’s doing to me is wrong and looks bad under any circumstances, but how do I know he didn’t drag me to the one place no one can see us?Or that he won’t tamper with the surveillance footage?“You made your point.Let me go.”
Drake releases his hold and plasters a charming smile on his face.“The offer of help stands.”
I don’t trust myself to respond—afraid that whatever comes out of my mouth will make matters worse.I move toward the exit, glancing over my shoulder to make sure I’m not being followed.
Inside the parking garage, I run to my brother’s car and lock the door the second I’m in.The tightening in my chest from holding my breath ebbs, replaced by a sharp pain as images of Gen and Jaeger blind me.It could have been innocent—him holding her—but after what Gen told me this afternoon, I feel like I don’t know anything.
My head sinks onto the headrest.I thought returning to Lake Tahoe would help me work through my reservations over grad school.But it’s horrible here.
I have to get out.Away from all of this.
