“Yeah? Where’s he staying?”
“The hotel was full. Some kind of festival or something. But he got the Seaside Bed and Breakfast booked.”
Cal chuckles. “Wendy, the owner is really nice. He’ll have fun.”
We head back up the beach, and Cal says, “I’ll grab us some water.”
I nod and use my towel to wipe my face. Who knew surfing could be such a workout? I’m going to need a nap later.
My phone rings, and I glance at it. It’s a work number calling from Montclair Holding. I answer it, guessing it’s probably someone from my team or Wilby. Although Wilby usually calls me from his cell.
“This is Silvie.”
“What the fuck, Silvie?” Tyler bites out. “Evicting me?”
I’m startled at first hearing his voice. I never noticed how whiney it is. How was I ever attracted to this man? I close my eyes. Fucking Tyler. I have been avoiding his calls since the wedding and haven’t spoken to him. Figures he’d use a work phone to get through.
“Get the hint, Tyler,” I say calmly. “I don’t want to talk to you, and you need to move out of my house.”
He lets out a frustrated huff. “Are you serious right now?”
I steady my breathing and say, “We’re done, Tyler. Get the hell out of my apartment and take my skank sister with you.”
That felt really, really good to say to him. I kind of wish I could see his facial reaction.
“We have nowhere to go, and you know that,” he says, voice rising a few octaves. “We’re family, Silvie. You’re just going to kick us out?”
Is he for real right now? He thinkshe’smy family? And the way Belladonna treated me sure as hell isn’t how family treats family. Both of them can go kick rocks.
“You’re not my family, Tyler. And yes, I can,” I say firmly.
“You can’t just do that,” he sputters. “That’s your sister.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, a headache forming from the stupidity that I’m hearing right now. “Tyler, you need to get your things and leave. If I hear that Belladonna has been there again, I will have her officially trespassed. I am done with you both. You can go fuck yourselves.”
He gasps as though I’ve punched him in the gut. I bite back a laugh.
“You’re being dramatic again,” he hisses. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
I laugh, but it’s short and humorless. “I don’t really care what you think. Just get out of my house, my life, and don’t ever call me again.”
“Listen,” Tyler pleads, grasping at straws. He’s lost control, and he knows it. “I just didn’t know if I was ready to be married to you,okay? I thought I was and then...I needed time. I wasn’t sure if you were the one for me. But...Maybe we could try again? Why don’t you come back to New York? We can talk.”
Is he for real right now? I’ve never met anyone so delusional. He wants two different realities—one with my sister and one with me. She can have him because I am so beyond done.
“Silvie,” he says again, voice even needier than before. “Please?—”
I end the call before he can finish his sentence. I don’t argue with losers. And Tyler is a loser.
When I look up, Cal’s standing there with two waters, his jaw tight. Oh my God, how much did he hear? How embarrassing.
“That didn’t sound great,” he says carefully as he settles in next to me on the sand, handing me a water.
“It wasn’t.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” he says. “But you can. I’m a good listener.”
My chest warms at his words. Like I said, Cal is caring. It’s nice to be cared for, even if only in a “friend” capacity.
