Chapter 6
LAINEY
“Candles. We need more candles.” It’s an insane thought because we do not need more candles.
In general, I love markets, but add the festive season and it just ups the ante. I step closer to a stall selling jars of jam and pick up the one labeled eggnog. My face screws up as I try to imagine that taste, and I’m not sure it’s favorable.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” the old lady behind the table assures me and hands me a small tasting spoon.
I beam at her. “I’m sure it’s delicious.” Licking the spoon, I instantly want to gag, but instead, I give her an unsteady nod and smile. “Sure is.” I swallow, attempting to get the taste out of my mouth. “Thank you. I’m just wandering around for now.”
“I’ll be here.” She turns her attention to another patron while I walk away.
Inhaling a deep breath of the fresh cold air, I rub my gloved hands together.
I’m relieved that all of Santa’s gifts for Enzo have been clicked, with an email confirmation they are on the way.
I can just focus on little things for friends and colleagues.
It’s easy since everyone’s grateful for the thought.
Gracie would lose her cool and laugh all night if I were to get her the ornament that I see to my left that says “eight crazy nights it’s amongst other options hanging on a small tree.
The sound of holiday music in the background fills the air, and up ahead, a blue stall is selling Hanukkah gifts. The if life gives you potatoes, make latkes sweatshirt is cute, although not that creative.
Up ahead I see the food truck selling coffee, and I’m sold. That is my priority since I haven’t had a cup today. I was too busy with laundry and getting Enzo out the door to even remember. Prime example of why pets are not joining the family anytime soon.
I join the short line and check that they have my usual with oat milk. I shuffle through my purse for my wallet, and then I curse to myself when I remember that I left it in the car when I was filling the tank with gas. Fine. I’ll quickly go to the parking lot and grab it since it isn’t far.
The parking lot isn’t that busy to my surprise.
I guess people have school plays, holiday work parties they have to attend, or are simply decorating later than normal.
When I’m at my car, I hit the key fob, and I’m about to open the door, but suddenly, a shift overcomes me.
My body is on alarm when I feel someone behind me, and I turn to face them.
My stomach sinks because right in front of me is a reminder of everything I hate in life.
“Lainey,” my ex's best friend says my name firmly.
Just like my ex, he is tall and slender, his hair a dirty blond and styled with gel. But right now, I’m surprised that he’s standing in front of me.
“What are you doing here, Jones?” Maybe he hears how uncomfortable I am in the moment. I refuse to let him notice my fear, but it’s impossible. Doing my best to scan the area to see who is around, I fail because I’m trying to grasp why he is in front of me.
I haven’t seen him in years, and I have no idea why he is here. I would like to remember that he has more sense than Jaime did. Maybe even a tad lower on the asshole scale, but he followed his best friend’s cues, so I can only imagine that I am the devil in his world.
“My girlfriend dragged me down from Chicago to check out small town markets around Illinois. Boring as fuck, but here I am. I noticed you back by the coffee truck and dread filled me, just as much as you probably hate seeing me.”
Standing taller, I feel my breath quicken. “Well, pretend you didn’t see me.”
I begin to step away, but he steps forward, trapping me between the car and him. My back hits the door of the car and he reaches out to wrap his hand around my arm.
“Wait, can we just talk for a second?”
My eyes grow, and I shake my head. “No,” I state sharply.
“It’s just… well… the situation.”
“Let go of me. There is no situation.”
His nostrils flare, and he glances to the side real quick then cuts his gaze right through me. “Lainey, we both know that’s not true. I tried to tell him he was making a mis—”
“Fuck off, Jones. I don’t care what your asshole friend and his family decided was best.”
“Fair enough. Seeing you just kind of reminds me of all of that.”
I struggle to leave his grasp. “All that? Right, the inconvenience I caused. Well, joke is on all of you because I have the best child humanly possible.” Wiggling, I grunt my discomfort.
“Lainey, don’t be so offensive. It all worked out.”
“Then let me go.”
Before Jones can answer, he is pushed to the side, freeing my arm. It happens so quick, but he ends up pressed against my car with an arm locking him in by his chest.
I blink a few times to understand the situation, but I see clear as day that it’s Tyler.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” Tyler grits out.
“Relax. I was just trying to talk to her. We go way back.”
Tyler only holds him down tighter. “And I don’t fucking care. Don’t threaten her or touch her, and even better, don’t go near her.”
Jones does his best to fight back, but it’s useless. It’s Tyler. His entire career is throwing people against the boards. “Dude, relax.”
I attempt to touch Tyler’s arm, because we don’t need to waste time. But Tyler is too engrossed in his current state.
“I won’t relax. When a woman says let her go, then let her fucking go. I have no problem killing a man for that. So don’t get near her or I swear…”
“Tyler, stop.”
His icy eyes slide to me, and he takes a breath before focusing on Jones and letting him go.
“Geez, man. What the hell is up with you?” Jones’s gaze travels between Tyler and me while he rubs his shoulder. “Ah, I see. Well, Lainey and the kid are your problem now.”
Tyler clenches his fists hanging at his sides, but luckily, Jones walks away like an animal who lost a fight.
I rub my face, taking in the last few minutes. The feeling of a soft hand on my arm brings my attention to the man in front of me who has concern written all over his face.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Tyler seems to survey my body.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” But there is a mixed bag of emotions happening inside of me. I actually just want to cry.
“Who was that guy?”
“Long story. Why are you here?”
He rubs his palms along the length of my arms. “It’s a maintenance day, so no practice, and it pains me to say it, but the market has knitted scarfs and jam that my aunt likes.”
I try to stretch the line on my mouth because of his admittance, but I can’t. I feel sick, and it’s causing me to grow quiet.
“It’s a good thing I was here. Who is that guy?” He is insistent on asking.
Ignoring his gaze, I try not to answer. I can’t even comprehend because a hot tear pools in my eye. “I-I’m just going to go home.” I begin to fumble with my key.
Tyler blocks me when I pivot on my feet. “Not like this you’re not.”
“I’m fine. Really. Let me just go home.”
He sighs reluctantly. “It’s a short drive. I’ll follow you in my car.”
“You don’t…” I peer up to his face that is filled with worry. “Okay.”
I guess he’ll be waiting for me there.