I take one step away, and his hand latches onto my arm. It shocks me so badly that all the anger drains out of me. His fingers squeeze my arm gently before he drops it like it burned him.
“She was wrong,” he says softly. “You dealt with it the way you needed to, and we all deal with shit in fucked up ways. You shouldn’t live your life because of what that bitch said or what Ryder thinks. Live your life for you, Baby girl.”
My heart leaps into my throat. He hasn’t called me baby girl since our last good time together. It used to make me melt into a puddle at his feet like it is now, but this time I know I’m getting my hopes up for nothing. “That includes a very different version of all of us. That life includes you, Dex.” I finally reach the door, and Dex still hasn’t moved. “Tell them I’m going out and not to follow me.” I slam thedoor shut behind me, done with this day. I woke up this morning happy, fulfilled, and hopeful. Now I feel like the walls are closing in on me, and I’m kicking myself for even thinking this could work.
It's time to take things back to how they used to be.
Friends.
Chapter 14
Leo
Gage and I are watching tv when my phone rings, Mateo’s name flashing across the screen.
I slide to answer. “What’s up, man?”
“You know where your girl is?” he asks cryptically.
I frown. I knew she and Ryder got into it. I could hear them yelling from the garage. And I have no idea what happened between her and Dex. All I know is he came inside like the weight of forty worlds was on his shoulders and relayed Alessa’s message not to follow her.
“She said she was going out.”
I could hear the thumping bass in the background. “She’s at Skyline. Drunk as fuck.”
I sit up on the couch, and Gage gives me a concerned look. “Is she okay?”
Mateo sighs. “No. She’s not. That’s the only reason I’m calling. I promised her I wouldn’t, but that’s before she put away enough liquor to drown a fucking elephant.”
“I’m on my way,” I tell him before hanging up and turning to Gage. “Alessa’s at Skyline drunk as hell.”
His brows knit together. “Why is she at your brother’s club?”
I shrug while standing up. “I don’t know. But are you taking me, or am I stealing a car?”
“I’ll take you. Let me go put some jeans on.” He jogs up the stairs, and I realize we’re both in ball shorts. I walk quickly to my jail cell and jerk a pair of jeans on, sliding my feet into my boots. When I step back toward the garage door, Gage is sliding his on, nodding his head for me to follow.
I still can’t help staring at the garage in amazement. It’s huge and wrap-around style, so they can park anywhere and still be able to get the cars out. There are cars everywhere, of various kinds, along with the bikes and the vintage Mustang Alessa said Ryder is restoring. When we returned this morning, I commented on the cars, and she joked about them being children with grown-up money.
Gage hits the fob on a black Range Rover. We both slide in, and before he can shut his door, Ryder appears from the back of the garage, covered in grease. He must have been working on the car, and we didn’t see him.
“Where are you going?” Ryder asks Gage.
Gage’s face changes to that level of crazy I saw right before the fight last night. “Out.” He slams the door before stabbing the button for the garage door. He backs out of the garage when it slides open, but not before flipping Ryder off through the windshield. He also heard them yelling at each other and said this happened sometimes. I didn’t like it, and from how his demeanor changed from joking to silent, he didn’t either.
He breaks every traffic law driving there, and I don’t even say anything; he is just as worried as I am. Alessa doesn’t seem the type to drown her worries with booze, so something major went down. He swings into the lot, and we get out, making our way inside. The bouncer just waves us through when we walk in, probably expecting us. We find Alessa tucked into a corner booth with Evander and Mateo. Evander is beside her like he’s blocking her from exiting the booth, but they are laughing and joking with her. I can see the worry in Evander’s eyes when we walk up.
“Leo!” she crows. “And Gage! The only two people who like me inthe house right now.” She downs a shot, and I shoot a glare at Evander, and he subtly nods his head for me to follow him.
When he gets up, Gage slides into his spot. “Hey, Pretty girl,” he greets softly, throwing his arm around her shoulders.
“What the fuck, man? Why is she still drinking?” I ask when we round the corner toward the offices.
He raises an eyebrow, looking at me over his shoulder. “You want me to tell the woman who could kill me with a look that she can’t drink in my bar?” I glare harder. He pushes the door open to the back office before shutting us in. “It’s watered down, and she’s too drunk to notice. What the fuck happened?”
I run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know, bro. Things were fine this morning, and they went to shit quick with Ryder and Dex.”
“Because of what happened?” he asks.
