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Chapter Ten

Tatum

Sighing, I watch the customer walk out of the gas station with his soda before plopping down on the little stool tucked away behind the counter and cross my arms over my chest. I spent the whole weekend analyzing that note, trying to figure out what it really means and its implications for me but I’m as lost as I’ve been since the moment my mother died. And I can’t help but feel like I’m being watched now. I searched the surveillance cameras set up around the house but whoever taped the note to my door was as average as they come and he kept his face covered.

My gaze flicks to the windows surrounding me and I shudder as my phone rings. Slipping off the stool, I grab it out of my bag and make sure Reed isn’t looking before pressing it to my ear.

“Hello?”

“Hey, T. What are you up to?” Theo asks and I let out a relieved breath. I’ve been so fucking paranoid since that note showed up so it’s nice to talk to him.

“Not much. Just at work.”

“Oh, do you need to go?”

I shake my head, scanning the empty parking lot “Naw, I can talk for a minute. What’s up?”

“I just wanted to see how you are. My twin sense was tingling.”

I snort, slipping out from behind the counter and ducking into one of the aisles. “Your twin sense is broken then.”

“Or you’re lying.”

“I don’t think that’s it,” I lie, the high pitch of my voice betraying me.

“Start talking, Tate,” he orders and I sigh. I don’t want to tell him about the note because he will just freak out and there’s nothing he can do from all the way in Charleston.

“It just this guy.” It’s not a total lie and honestly, Lincoln has been haunting my dreams these past few days.

“Wait. The guy from Friday night? What the hell did he do to you? Tell me the truth, Tate. I’ll call my chief and get in the damn car right now.”

“Slow your fucking roll, Theodore,” I say as I roll my eyes. God, he’s so overprotective. “Do you honestly think he could do anything to me that I didn’t want him to do?”

“Then why are you upset?”

Sighing, I rub my fingers into my temple. “Because he kissed me.”

“And…you didn’t want him to…?”

“No, I wanted him to but after he kissed me, he just said “fuck” and “you should go” before stomping into his house.”

“I see,” he replies and I can tell he’s trying not to laugh. “And then what happened?”

“Then, I marched up to his door and tased his big, stupid ass before leaving.”

He starts laughing and he’s so damn loud that I have to pull the phone away from my ear.

“Of course you did. You better be careful or someone’s going to call the police one of these days.”

“Why?” I cry. “I don’t run around in the streets laughing and tasing innocent civilians. If I tase someone, there’s a damn good reason and they know they deserve it.”

“I’m just sayin’, sis.”

“Tate!” Reed calls from the office and I shrink down the aisle, covering my mouth and the phone with my hand.

“Hey, I gotta go. My boss just yelled for me.”

“Call me later, okay? I love you.”