“Here you are. Saw the whole thing. I’m Red, by the way. This is my place.” I almost died as a petite woman with long scarlet hair brought me another mug. She snatched a white bar towel from her shoulder and squatted to wipe up the mess. “Happens all the time. No worries.” With a pleasant smile, she was off again.
“Now that you know I’m an idiot, might as well introduce myself,” I said, grinning. “Eddison, but people usually call me Eddie.” I pulled my chair out and sat down, dragging my messenger bag into my lap.
“Warren Andrews,” he replied, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes in an attractive way.
The world slowed down to a crawl before speeding back up brighter and faster than ever. “Do you know Tyler Morrow?” The words were out of my mouth before I could consider whether or not they were smart.
Andrews’s smile wilted and his blue eyes flared, leaving an unpleasant sinking feeling in my gut as he pushed in his chair, rather than sitting on it. “No. Why would you ask that?” He ran a hand down his face, silver watch flashing in the overhead lights. “I’m, uh, not feeling well. I have to—” He gestured at the door without finishing his sentence.
My gut sank to my toes as he fled, and I took a cautious sip of my coffee. What did he do? Tyler hadn’t told me anything about the dead guys, but I knew no one was on that list because they were friendly fellas who helped him out. They were all assholes, including me.
I sighed.
I’d been avoiding thinking about the issue since the second I’d spotted that list, but I was on it because I’d hurt him. I’d always been able to ignore a problem if I put my mind to it. Guilt sank its fangs into my heart. And now? I was lying to him. I would have to come clean eventually, but I wanted him to trust me. Would the murders that reallyweren’truin things?
And perhaps Tyler didn’t want me dead, despite still being on his list, but I would be making up for the pain I’d caused for the rest of my life.
I was halfway through my cup of coffee when it hit me—I would get a chance to ask all my questions. Unless Andrews was able to convince someone he worked with to take his spot in our meeting, we would be sitting across the negotiating table from each other again as early as next week. Humming, I downed the rest of my coffee, then checked my phone and grinned.
Andrews had been my last meeting of the day, which meant, mystery aside, I could go home early to Tyler. I bought a few red-and-white striped chocolate peppermint chip cookies, Tyler’s favorite holiday flavor, and headed home. Hopefully, he would love his treat.
Hell, I would even make him some hot cocoa to go with it.
And perhaps blow him while he ate.
Smirking, I went out into the gloom of the snowy, cold late afternoon and drove cautiously over the ice and snow to my house. I smiled as I arrived because the holiday lights were already glowing brightly. Tyler must’ve flipped the switch on, and I loved the idea of him sitting happily near the tree, snuggled in a fluffy blanket on the couch.
When I made it through the front door, the tree was indeed lit, but there was no sign of Tyler.
“Hello! I’m home early! I brought something sweet for my something sweet!” I rolled my eyes at myself, but warmthswirled in my gut. He really was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
No answer.
“Tyler?” I scowled and rushed into the kitchen, flinging the bag of cookies on the counter. He wasn’t in here.
He wasn’t in the bathroom or our bedroom, and I even checked the basement, but it was empty, too. I was starting to panic by the time I made it back to the kitchen again, but I swung toward the fridge and happened to notice a note.
Eddie,
Went to meet a man about GED classes starting in January. Back by 6. Took a rideshare so I wouldn’t bother you at work. Have your extra credit card and key.
Love you,
Tyler
My heart stuttered, and then I was grinning from ear to ear as I traced my fingertip over the wordlove.
“Love you, too, sweetheart,” I whispered.
Why had I flipped out? Did I really think my dad would sneak in here and throw Tyler in a sack Grinch style? Steal him away? Sighing, I rested my head against the cool metal of the fridge as my muscles loosened from the tense knots they’d been in. My shoulders hurt. I’d been really fucking worried.
“It’s fine. It’s all good.” I tugged out my phone to scroll through restaurants—perhaps curry tonight? Yes, definitely—when the doorbell startled me. Hell, did Tyler forget his key after all? Did I lock the door when I came in?
“Coming!” I called.
I stumbled over my own feet halfway to the door. What if it was my dad? I stopped and the doorbell rang once. Nah. I shook off the anxiety. He would’ve been hammering on the door. He couldn’t hold back the part of himself that was a policeman, even when he was busy disgracing his badge.
The doorbell rang again, and I rushed to answer.
