I suddenly feel dizzy as I realize why Luke knows that information. Either Ben told him after he searched for the bogus name I gave him, or Luke did some research of his own. And this interrogation could easily ruin my chances with Tyler, especially if he finds out he has two cops investigating him.
So I act fast, stepping in between the two of them with my back to Luke. “Can you just give me a minute with him?” I ask Tyler, trying to sound irritated instead of panicked.
A deep crease sets in his forehead as he frowns before stepping back. “Whatever. Make it fast.”
I turn and grab Luke by the arm, pulling him several feet away until Tyler is out of earshot. I spot Leah, fixated on us from her log, and that aggravates me further. He’s concerned about me, but only after he locks down a pussy for the evening. Good to know his priorities are in check.
“You need to back off. I am leaving with this guy and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
He looks down at me, arrogant smirk in place. “There’s a lot I can do about it.”
I take several deep breaths through my nose as I try and keep myself from losing it completely. But I’m right there. I’m always right there with Luke; on the edge of an emotion I don’t want to feel.
“What I’m about to do, and who I do it with, is none of your business. I don’t need to explain myself to you, my brother, Reed—nobody! So go back to my desperate looking cousin, and stop acting like you actually care.”
Tyler catches our attention as he comes up to my side, grabbing my hand and pulling me in the direction of the cars. “Time’s up. We’re going.”
Luke grabs my elbow and puts himself between Tyler and me, getting up in the other man’s face. “You’re going. She stays with me.”
I see red, tearing myself free of both of them and shoving my hands against Luke’s chest. I push against him as hard as I can, meeting his resistance. “Stop it! God, just leave me alone!”
He drops his head until I feel his breath against my face. “Don’t do something stupid right now.”
“Why not? I’m so good at doing shit I end up regretting.” I motion at him with a sweeping hand. “Case in point.”
“You’re a fucking brat.”
“And you’re ruining my life!” My voice breaks at the end of my response as I step closer to that familiar edge, fighting back my tears. I drop my head, concealing how he affects me. Please, don’t lose it right now.
“Yeah?” he questions, prompting me to lift my gaze. “Well, now you know what it feels like.” He steps back, keeping his eyes on me. “Ruin your own life, Tessa. Do whatever you want. I don’t give a shit, and soon, I won’t even have to watch.” He turns then, not giving either one of us another look before he walks away toward the parking area.
The air leaves my lungs in a loud rush.
“What a fucking loser. And what was with the parking ticket stuff?” Tyler asks next to me.
I decide against giving him any information on that and dismiss his questioning with a shrug.
He grabs my hand again. “Let’s go, before you introduce me to anyone else.”
I watch Luke fade in between the vehicles ahead of us as we walk away from the crowd, following his direction. You’re ruining my life. That’s funny. I wanted to say, “You’ve ruined my life”, but I think deep down I know there isn’t an end to this torture in sight. Not when he acts like that around me.
Protective.
Caring.
Like I actually mean something to him.
“Where are you parked?”
I glance up at Tyler, not having realized we’d reached the parking area. I force a smile and point down the row of cars. “Right over there. I’m the silver RAV4.” I drop my hand and look up at him. “Where do you wanna go?”
“Your place,” he states, his voice clear. “That’s what we both want, right?”
Yes.
The word is right there, tickling my lips, but I’m suddenly having difficulty affirming the one goal I had for the evening. He senses my apprehension and tilts his head with a soft grin as he cradles my face in his hands.
His gaze lowers. “I am dying to be alone with you. Don’t make me wait anymore.”
All my hesitation evaporates as I blush, nodding before finding my voice. “No more waiting.”
***
“Nice place,” he observes, looking around my apartment as I lock the door behind us. I watch him get comfortable on my couch, slumping down on one end. I toss my keys onto the table and head into the kitchen.
“Thanks. Do you want something to drink?”
“A beer, if you got it.”
I grab two beers out of the fridge, and kick my flip-flops off before joining him. As I place the beers on the coffee table in front of me, he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small plastic bag that’s rolled up tightly.
“What is that?” I ask, leaning forward and watching him hold it over the coffee table.
Two of his fingers grasp the top of the bag, allowing it to unravel and reveal the contents.
I put a hand on his arm as my breath catches in my chest. “Um, those are just regular cigarettes, right?”
He muffles his laugh through tight lips, opening the top of the bag and reaching inside. “They better not be.” He pulls out a blunt and tosses the bag in front of him before reaching into the front pocket of his polo and removing a lighter. I watch with what I’m sure is my most alarmed expression as he lights up and takes a hit, holding it in for several seconds before he exhales and offers it to me.
I shake my head, scooting back on the couch.
He moves closer. “Come on. Get high with me.”
“I have beer. I’m good.”
His brow pinches together before he takes another hit, grabs the back of my neck, and blows the smoke against my mouth.
“What the hell!” I push against him, hearing his amused laugh as I cough into my fist. “I’ve never done that stuff. Are you crazy?”
He takes another hit and nods. “You’re twenty-four and you’ve never tried pot? I just did you a favor.”
Suddenly annoyed and borderline murderous, I move to stand when he grabs my wrist and pulls me back down next to him.
“I just wanna go to the bathroom really quick.”
He releases me, blowing the smoke out above him. “Hurry up.”
I ignore the warning in his voice and walk down the hallway, stepping into the bathroom and closing the door behind me. I rinse my hands under the cool water as I stare at myself in the mirror.
My eyes appear glassy and dilated.
Shit. Can you get high off one hit of weed? Is that a thing?
I turn the water off, roughly drying my hands on a towel before balling it up and tossing it against the wall. I could easily walk back out there and follow through with my original plans for the evening, but I’m suddenly no longer wanting to do anything with this guy besides kick his ass out of my apartment. And after forcing me to try drugs, I seriously doubt he’s going to take my sudden disinterest in him very well. But right now, I don’t give a shit what this guy wants. Nobody makes me uncomfortable.
I exit the bathroom and walk down the hallway, coming up behind the couch and seeing him bent over the coffee table. “Look, I don’t think…”