One of the doors is closed with a big note on the front telling me, and only me, to keep out.
“What do you think is in there?” I ask without turning around. The cabin is small enough that Tyson in the kitchen can hear and so can Maverick who stands like a sentinel watching King and Steel talk.
“What do you think is in there?” Tyson answers with a question.
“That’s the million-dollar question. I’m sure I’ll find out before too long,” I say, walking into the small area where he’s busy doing nothing.
I lean against the island bench and watch him while he putters around the kitchen, obviously not sure what he should be doing. A sudden gust of wind blows against the windows and a wailing starts up in the ceiling. Considering the storm is only just getting started I think I’m going to be up all night making sure we don’t blow away.
“Do we need to board up or something?”
Perhaps my question is the focus Tyson needs before he stops pretending to be busy and looks calmer now that he’s got a task. He walks off towards the front door.
“I can be your work buddy,” I offer but I figure it will also give us a good opportunity to talk.
Tyson opens the front door and waits for me, but before I make it out the door, he nabs a sweater off a chair close by and hands it over. And lucky for me, or probably all of us, it’s one of King’s.
“So, I’m impressed you’re still alive,” I joke once the door closes and we make our way down the front stairs to the small lean-to tucked under it.
Tyson laughs before trying the small door. “He’s a bit intimidating, isn’t he?”
I’m not going to argue, because he is. There’s not two bones about it, King still freaks me out sometimes, but I know inside he’s got a heart of gold. Tyson starts passing out what I assume are window shutters.
“We have to nail them on?”
“They might have grooves already in place but let’s see what we’ve got to work with first.”
“Or you can tell me what you wanted to tell me that you couldn’t put in your note,” I offer leaning against the stairs. I kind of think it’s better to rip the band aid off and it is why I offered to help.
Tyson stands up but keeps the distance between us. I forget how tall he is because he doesn’t make me feel small. Well, except for when he lied to my face and rejected me, being an ass about it too.
“The phone call I got was from Steel.”
I nod my head because I’m already right back in the hospital corridor with him. I can remember how giddy I was. And not just because he’d fingered me like a champion, he gave me a sense of feeling we had a whole lot of time ahead of us getting to know each other.
“I gather you know a little of MC politics and how things work?”
“So, so,” I answer, keeping my cards to my chest, that quote about burning me once flashes over my thoughts which is a little sad because it wasn’t there before.
“Rex isn’t like King.”
“How did you jump to that conclusion? It’s not like you know King,” I argue defensively.
“If it was Rex with you, the three of us would be dead or dying.”
“All jokes aside, Tyson, you have to know that’s probably still an option in King’s mind.”
“Yeah”—he nods his head, agreeing—“I figured. But at the same time, I use that as my measure that he is indeed a different person. I’m pretty sure you’re the reason why he’s so accommodating.”
I don’t answer, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know I am the reason. Tyson is also right to be cautious when it comes to King because he can be dangerous and volatile. But then again, I scare myself when I think what I would do if anyone hurt him… and them too.
“Back to us talking about Rex because he is the reason why I did a complete job on pushing you away. I had to be an asshole because I couldn’t afford for you to doubt for a second how final we are.”
“Ouch,” I hiss at him. I’m not trying to defuse the impact of his words or lessen the brutality, I guess I’m reminding him I was there.
His eyes drop before they close and he stands before me, his head bowed and his lemon scent full of a sadness that dilutes the vibrance of his unique perfume.
“I would have done or said anything to push you and keep you away, Tristan. Not because I don’t want to explore ourobvious connection, because I’d like that opportunity still, but if Rex gets any wind of you, it’s a dangerous position for us to be in.”
