A cold feeling creeps up my spine. I pause in the dark lot and turn around, plagued by a sense of impending doom. Goosebumps crawl my skin, like I somehow have eyes on me.
I’ve been feeling this way for a while now. And I can only blame being apart from Tyler along with the phone call just a few weeks prior. Ever since then, I’ve been really on edge, making Tyler resistant to leaving me at all for his trip.
I shake the feeling off and get into his truck. Turning it on, I check the back seat and all the mirrors and blow out a breath of relief.
I’m getting so into my head. In less than two weeks I’ll be leaving, and I can feel myself getting antsy as each day etches off.
As soon as I pull up to Tyler’s home, I rush to the door and lock it, putting the alarm system back on. I do have to say,Tyler’s home is a fortress that is not easy to break into. Staying here has made me feel safer.
I kick my shoes off and my eyes peer over to his office door. I’ve been here hundreds of times and have never been there. But the only reason it piques my interest now is because helockedit while he’s away and I’m here. It makes me wonder what he has in there that he doesn’t want me to see.
Waltzing to the door, I jiggle the handle as if it’d magically unlock on its own. There isn’t even a key fob for a key to go into, making me think he has an app to lock and unlock it.
Maybe I’ll ask him about it when he comes home.
I go to the bathroom and turn the faucet for the shower where we spent probably one too many times naked together.
Then I hear the front door open and close.
The alarm doesn’t go off.
Feeling my heart sink, I grab the gun that sits in his nightstand drawer and slowly make my way downstairs. No one is supposed to come over tonight, and my phone didn’t have any messages from the family.
Slowly, I make my way down the stairs, gripping the gun in my trembling hands. Thoughts fester over and over how I should’ve trusted my instinct.
More sounds rustle around the downstairs, making my heart lurch in my chest. Nausea rolls through me, but I steel my spine and hold the gun up to the shadow that is standing in the living room. My heart thrums in my ears as it beats frantically against my sternum.
“Woah,” Tyler says, holding his hands up and turning around. “Looks like all that training paid off.”
“Jesus Christ, Tyler! I thought you weren’t coming home until tomorrow?” I set the gun down and run to him.
Relief washes over each tense muscle of my body. My hands are still trembling, but it slowly disappears when his smilewidens as he brings his surrendering arms down and wraps them around me while I jump into him.
I’m engulfed in his citrusy scent, feeling his warm body press against mine, his heart thrumming in his chest against my own. Each inhale of him makes my heart slow to a calm.
“I just couldn’t stay away any longer,” he murmurs in my hair, taking in a big inhale of me.
He pulls away and cradles my face with both his hands. When I meet his gaze, I can see exhaustion ring his dark emeralds. He presses his forehead to mine and we sit there for a few breaths. Then he finally presses his lips against mine.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I reply. “Wanna take a shower with me?”
A feline smile spreads across his face. “Absolutely.”
I’m going to miss you so much, Tyler.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX
SUNNY
I siton Sam’s couch, knowing the times left for moments like these are dwindling down to practically nothing. It’s our last bach night, and honestly, I still don’t feel ready to leave.
I thought as the time reduced and I got closer to my departure, I’d feel ready the way I did before coming to Boston. But I just don’t. If anything, I can’t shake that sense of impending doom. That string between me and Tyler seems to protest anytime I think about leaving. Like it’s tugging at me, and he whispersbut just stay, along it.
“It’s not going to be the same without you, Sunny.” Macey plops down next to me, handing me a bowl of pasta.
“Seriously. I know you said we could facetime but who is going to help us finish off the wine? My ass has gone lightweight having to share.” Sam sits on the other side of me.
