Emmrich eyes his hooded friend, who gives him a curt nod. “It’s been a while. Can we talk?”
“Sorry, you must be confusing me with my friend with tits,” Reid says, making me cringe. “If you haven’t noticed, I don’t have those.”
“What are you talking about?” Emmrich’s brow furrows.
“I know you slept with her, asshole. Get lost.”
Emmrich’s gaze shifts to me. I shrug—I’ve involved myself in Reid’s relationships enough for one day.
He turns back to Reid. “Give me a chance to explain. Please?”
Reid exhales and pushes himself off the wall. “Five minutes. But that’s it.”
Emmrich glances between me and his friend.
Does he expect us to go somewhere?
A second later, he grabs Reid’s wrist and drags him around the corner of the building, with Reid mumbling another curse before disappearing from sight. I force a smile at Emmrich’s friend, hoping this is as awkward for him as it is for me. I step back as a couple passes between us to enter The Duck.
“Perhaps we should move.” My new companion gestures across the street, his voice low.
I nod. “Of course. Don’t want to be in anyone’s way.”
We move to the opposite building, and he leans against its worn-down brick wall. Forcing myself to stop gawking at him, I lean nearby, following his gaze to Emmrich and Reid, now visible from this side of the mostly empty street. They appear to be arguing, but I can’t make out anything they’re saying.
This is getting uncomfortable.
“So, your friend’s Emmrich? I’m Ellie.”
“Taran.” He offers nothing else, but keeps his eyes fixed on Reid and Emmrich.
Taran? That’s an unusual name.“I haven’t seen you around before.”
“I’m visiting.”
After a few seconds of silence, it’s clear he won’t be elaborating.
“From where?”
Nothing.
Lovely. Someone worse at small talk than me.
Giving up, I settle for watching the others argue. Their voices don’t carry over to us so it’s not that interesting. Perhaps Taran’salsoinvolved with Emmrich, and that’s why he’s so invested?
As if he could hear my thoughts, Emmrich glances over at us.
No—at Taran.
He nods, then Emmrich moves further into the alley, out of sight, pulling Reid with him.
What was that about?My body tenses with the realization that I’m now alone with a strange man.
He turns to face me. For the first time, I notice his eyes. A swirling, infinite green, clearer than polished emerald. My heart pounds against my ribs, pulled toward him like a tide.
“Come with me.” He holds out his hand, his voice echoing through my mind.
I find myself taking it.
