Chapter 36
Stella
“I can’t believe we didn’t figure it out,” Mom said.
She and I stood on my parents’ back porch in a shaded corner. It was late September, and while we were officially in fall, the heat of summer was still clinging on, one final burst of warmth before the cooler temperatures moved in.
Today’s gathering was the first social event I’d attended in well over a month, because I’d needed that time to focus on healing my flare.
At least it was small, just my family, and Richard and Tyler, who stood chatting together by the grill.
Mom and I had been watching them, and without the distraction of other people around, their similarities were much more obvious.
“They have the same laugh,” Mom said. “It’s almost uncanny.”
“Even if you had noticed, you would have found a way to excuse or ignore their how alike they are,” I told her.
She made a dismissive sound. “Never. I’m far smarter than you are.”
I tried to flick her arm, but she swerved me.
“See?” she said.
“Don’t make me regret taking today off to come here. You invited us. You’re supposed to be nice to guests.”
She started to respond, but the sound of the French doors opening had us turning. Blake stepped out, carrying a platter. Dad was right on his heels with another, and he paused long enough for Tippi to come tottering onto the patio after him.
“It’s too hot out here for her, darling,” Mom said.
“She wouldn’t stop whining at the door,” Dad answered, looking sheepish.
“Well, then we need to get her chilled dog bed and fan,” Mom said before heading inside.
Tyler heard and sent me a look over his shoulder. “Spoiled,” he mouthed.
I grinned.
“A little help . . .” Blake said, struggling to set his tray down on the already crowded table.
I took a step toward him, but Tyler got there first, sliding aside a bowl of potato salad to make room.
“Thank you,” Blake said, the words clipped.
“You’re welcome,” Tyler told him before returning to his station at the grill.
It was a terse exchange, but it was better than nothing.
Not that I could really blame either of them.
Tyler had used Blake like a pawn in his quest for vengeance, and even though Tyler had apologized and explained himself, we knew that forgiveness would take time, if it was ever granted.
And Blake had gotten half of Tyler’s clients arrested, which, you know, wasn’t great since most of them were involved in the criminal underworld and might try to get revenge.
Tyler had laid low after the initial fallout. I thought it was a good thing, because it also gave him a chance to book a therapist, spend more time with his best friend, and start to unpack twenty-five years’ worth of trauma.
Mom reemerged from the house and settled Tippi near us in the shade on her pre-chilled bed, making sure the fan wasn’t blowing too hard before she rejoined me.
“So,” she said, “how are things going . . . with those two?” She indicated to Tyler and Richard, who were now flipping burgers.
“Richard has been sparse on the details and we’ve been trying to respect his privacy. ”
“By asking me instead?”
Her look said Yes, obviously.
I sighed. “It’s . . . I don’t know, like any new relationship? I think they’re both just trying to come to terms with being in each other’s lives and what that looks like.”
She tipped her head down, peering at me over the bridge of her sunglasses. “And how are you two doing? Still not official?”
“Still none of your business.”
She tutted and lifted her head, and our conversation drifted toward easier topics. Tyler and I hadn’t had the “What are we?” conversation yet. For now, we were happy to keep learning, exploring, playing.
But, I mean, I had tattooed my teeth marks on his ass, which felt pretty permanent.
My gaze dropped to the spot, now covered by clothing, and I wondered how he was feeling.
He was in the itchy stage of the healing process, and this morning, I’d had to order him to stop bothering it.
The way he’d responded by saying, “Yes, ma’am,” in his growliest baritone was the reason we were late to this party.
We were sitting down to eat when his phone chimed with a news alert.
My heartbeat picked up as he slid it out of his pocket.
He showed no reaction whatsoever, but his eyes were triumphant when he passed it to me.
I read the headline: FBI Opens Investigation into Tourist Drowning.
It was from the TCI Sun, a small, local paper in the Turks and Caicos, but I knew it was just the beginning, knew the story would soon reach our city and spread like wildfire, and this time, not even Mommy and Daddy would be able to save Maddie.
I schooled my face as I passed the phone back to him, and once it was in his pocket, he put his hand on my knee beneath the table and squeezed. We’d done it. We’d gotten the bitch.
And we didn’t plan to stop with her.
Maddie was only the beginning. Piece by piece, we would feed information to authorities and newspapers, and soon everyone in this city would know that Bradley Bluhm was far from the only monster hiding amongst its citizens.
“So,” Richard said. “Any fun plans later?”
Tyler and I didn’t look at each other. I couldn’t speak for him, but I was too busy trying not to blush to do anything but stare at my plate.
“We’re meeting AJ for dinner,” Tyler said.
Mom perked up, looking from him to me. “Oh, I’m so glad you two reconnected. He was always such a good boy.”
Tyler’s hand tightened on my leg, and I knew he must be fighting for his life.
Yes, AJ was a very good boy.