She presses her lips together in a tight line, but she finally nods.
I don’t loosen my hold on her. “And memorize Gia’s address: two Emerson Avenue. In Belmont.”
“Okay,” she says.
“Say it.”
“Two Emerson Ave.”
I give her one more squeeze. Someone enters the bathroom, and sounds from the bar echo in with her. Pink crawls up Tess’s cheeks as I break the hug.
“Wanna go to The Square and get a milkshake?” I ask. “The diner will be quiet on aTursday.” I roll my eyes at the word.
She smiles, sniffling. “I’d like that.”
“I’ll go get our stuff. Meet you back here.”
I leave the bathroom, walk down the hallway, and round the corner back into the restaurant. Sawyer’s right where I left him.
Laughing.
Having a great time as Ethan grins back.
No sign of Rich, though. With any luck, the earth opened up beneath him and swallowed him back to the depths of hell where he belongs.
For a little while, I forgot how awful they are. All of them. I was almost pulled in by Sawyer’s charm, Ethan’s hospitality. The way they dealt with Rich. I let it distract me from my worry over Tess. She was late and Iknewthere was something wrong, but when Sawyer said it was probably parking trouble, I let myself believe him. She could’ve been hurt—or worse!—while I was bantering about harems and royalty with that chlorinated asshole who doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself.
Sawyer looks up as I approach. He shoots to his feet, fake concern painting his face.
“How’s Tess? Where is she?”
“She’s waiting for me in the bathroom.” I grab my jacket and Tess’s purse, and drop some cash on the table.
“You’re leaving?”
“We’re leaving.”
My phone vibrates in my back pocket. I reach for it in case it’s Tess calling from the bathroom.
It’s a text from Dev.
Guess what
I ignore it, but before I can pocket my phone again, it vibrates in my hand.
Harvest dumped me for Sawyer.
I read it two more times, trying to process. As I do, a prickling sensation climbs up my spine, and pure unadulterated rage lodges its ugly claws into me.
It’s official. Everyone sucks.Tess’s toxic waste of an ex-boyfriend treating her like garbage. Nashnotmaking it clear to his little sister that she’s important enough to tell things to.
And Sawyer.
How did he do it? Did he get Harvest’s number while we were all there? Did he even wait until the next day to call her, or did he have her over that very night? She was eager enough.
Sawyer steps close, his voice low. “What can I do? Is Tess okay?”
I pause to look at him.
