The Sidekick

Chapter Fifty-Five

Tera

I get clued in on everything that’s happened since I left. So much stuff. I can’t even catch up with it all until I set the last letter down.

Andi bought the bar. My one safe space. She flipped it, so it’s now thriving and keeping everyone employed.

What do I do with that?

She never told me. No one did. It makes me break down in tears, knowing that I’ve been allowing her back into my life with a careful distance so I won’t get hurt. I’ve turned down every invitation she’s given me to go somewhere with her. She just shows up unannounced and takes over. I only go to their family dinners because Shade asks me to.

Andi has been secretly saying she’s sorry, and so has Trevor. Long before I even thought of coming back.

I’m confused, sad, and angry over it. It’s an avalanche of feelings I wasn’t ready for.

It brings a lot of things into question, too.

He says he loves me. Is it a ploy to manipulate me? He knows me. He is totally aware that I’m gullible.

He’s so embarrassed by his emotions that he’s hiding them. Do I believe that?

Oddly, yes, I do. He wears a mask daily to pretend to be friendly and hide the angry person underneath. After reading these, I understand why.

He’s abrasive and demanding.

Glancing at the clock tells me that Asher is in class by now. I can’t call him yet.

My phone rings, and I glance over to see Dr. Robinson’s name pop up.

Perfect timing.

I get a lot of disappointed looks and real talk. She has a lot of advice that I plan on following. Tips on how to speak with someone who has anger issues. And a twenty-minute lecture about independence and when to say no.

The conversation with Asher comes during my lunch break. He spends the time asking serious questions that make me think. It’s a little mind-numbing, but it serves a purpose. By the end, we have a plan set, and he’s promised to bring me dinner at the bar.

The plan is to get him alone, talk to him, and find out if he’s telling the truth. Asher thinks he is. Either way, if he’s approved by me, Asher gets to punish them both tonight. I’m really nervous about it, too.

This is going to be a day of bravery.

Maybe he’ll take it all back when I get there. He might look at the blatant hickeys on my neck and say no thanks. If he does, I have to find a way to live with that. I’m not giving up Asher any more than Max is giving up Trevor.

I’m sitting in my car stewing over it as I watch people go into the bar.

It’s now or never. If I choose never, Asher will show up later with dinner and a need to punch people.

I pull my hair into a bun at the back of my head, as Asher asked, and look at the marks he left on me. Remembering how they got there makes my breath hitch. I take a quick selfie with the marks proudly displayed and a grin. I send it to Asher as I giggle and then hurry out of the car so I don’t get too caught up in my daydreams.

The bar isn’t as busy tonight, and I’m grateful. Who knows what kind of toxic behavior is going on in there? The less people who see it happen to me, the better.

I smooth my hands down the skirt of the sunny yellow dress Asher picked out. It’s weird, but the fact that he picked this and people have been complimenting me today has done my ego some good. He wants to show people what he sees in me.

Here’s hoping that Max and Trevor approve.

Going inside the bar later in the day is both easier and more complicated. I have support in the form of Asher, but I’m alone as I step through the doors.

It’s not too busy inside. People are filling orders and not paying any attention to me. Couples dance on the dance floor, and a group of young men play pool.

Meanwhile, I’m frozen in the doorway with indecision.

The option to run is taken out of my hands when I see Max cleaning a table with his usual solemn look. Sal is beside him, talking his ear off just like I used to. She touches his shoulder, and my stomach clenches with dread. How dumb is it that I feel jealous over a simple touch when I’m showing off hickeys?

Max shrugs her touch off with a scowl and tries to walk away. Sal slides in front of him with a smile, dragging a finger over the top of her low-cut shirt. He doesn’t look down at her cleavage.

My brows begin to furrow as I watch.

Why am I just standing here? I need to do something. He’s obviously uncomfortable with her attention, and she isn’t taking the hints to back off.

I suck in a bracing breath and march over to them.

“Hi, Max!” I yell out as the music suddenly cuts out for another song to begin. I get a lot of attention before people turn back to their tablemates. My face burns as my eyes widen.

I have to tough this out. I can do this.

Max’s jaw drops as his head swings my way. His eyes widen when he takes in my outfit before zeroing in on the hickeys.

The blush gets worse.

“I guess things are going well with the boyfriend?” Sal laughs and jabs an elbow into Max’s side, inviting him to join in.

He doesn’t. He takes two steps toward me, and a grin breaks across his face so wide it’s like the sun peeking out from the clouds.

“Hi, Tera!” He yells as loud as he can, regaining the attention I don’t want.

My eyes flit to Sal and him again as I debate what to say next. The angry trip over here was too short for me to come up with something witty.

“I’m on break,” Max says to Sal and sweeps me in a tight hug that leaves my legs dangling.

I wrap my arms around his neck and settle my face on his shoulder to hide my embarrassment. And the relief. He didn’t hesitate, even after seeing the marks Asher left.

He takes a deep breath, and his arms tighten around me convulsively.

“Oh, fuck. He found the soap.”

“What?” I think I misheard him over the music.

He keeps repeating the eff word as he quickly strides toward the office.

“Max! It isn’t your turn,” Sal yells angrily from behind us.

He ignores her as we pass into the shadowed hallway and then into the office.

“Max,” Trevor begins warningly, only to stop and take in the spectacle.

“He found her soap. He found her dresses.” Max’s voice is rough as he clutches me to him. His shoulders are shaking as he holds me.

“Andi bought them. I hid them in the closet,” I confess, wondering at this breakdown.

“I’ve missed this so damn much,” he sets me down roughly and places both his hands on my cheeks. His kiss is rough and thorough.

Someone tries to open the door behind him. He doesn’t stop kissing me as he kicks it shut again.

I draw back from him with wide eyes. “You can’t kick a door shut in someone’s face.”

“It isn’t your turn for a break! It’s Emily’s!” Sal’s voice rages outside.

I never thought it was a big deal when they stole my breaks.

“Trevor,” Sal yells again.

Max kisses me again, and I surrender to it. Forget her and jobs in general. I’m happy right where I am.

Someone starts banging on the door demandingly.

Max pulls his lips from mine with a scowl. “You’d think she’d take the hint, but she never does.”

“Enough,” Trevor yells, and I leap away from Max in pure reflex. I turn to face Trevor, standing stiffly with my arms at my sides.

He looks at me in confusion before a scowl overtakes his features. He stands and walks toward me while my eyes drop to the floor. The tension in my body is enough to cause my muscles to lock up. Trevor passes me and opens the door to lean out.

“Do not ever knock on this door that way again,” he says grimly.

“But Max-”

“Is speaking with me. Go back to work before I write you up for this.”

There’s a moment of silence that stretches my nerves thin before the door is closed softly behind me.

“Tera?” Max asks in concern.

I don’t dare look at him. My brain has realized Trevor wasn’t yelling at me, but my body thinks I’m in deep trouble. The more attention I pay to Max, the angrier he’ll get. I thought it would be ok for us to be like this in front of him. I was wrong.

“Have a seat, Tera.”

I hurry to a chair and sit down on the edge. I’m way too stressed to sit back.

Trevor pauses behind me and braces his hands on the back of the chair. I can feel his attention on me, almost like he’s touching me.

“Do you understand that I’m not mad at you?” He asks softly. His voice still carries a dark tone, and I swallow hard as I try not to fidget in the chair.

“Yes, sir.”

“And you know I don’t care what you do with Max?”

I chew my lip, stuck for an answer.

“Three.”

“No, sir?” I squeak out while my eyes widen. I don’t want him to say any more numbers. I’d like him to forget that numbers exist for however long this interrogation lasts.

“I don’t care what you do with Max. I don’t care what you do with Asher. Do you care what she does with me, Max?”

“No, sir.” Max’s voice comes out sickeningly sweet, and my eyes narrow. I know he’s making fun of me.

“Do you care what she does with Asher?” He continues without calling him on it. It makes my eyes narrow more. He’s not in trouble? Why am I the one in the hot seat?

“No, sir,” he answers happily. “But I do want to know how he convinced her to use her old soap and wear a dress. If this is a strategy, I want in.”

Dang, you, Max!

“Tera?” Trevor asks in a silky dark tone.

How do I get out of this? I don’t want to share details with them. That was my time with Asher.

“Two.”

“No.”

The word pops out of my mouth in an angry rush. When I realize what I said, I panic and shout, “Red!”

Trevor immediately backs away from me. I can feel his towering presence fade as my breath saws in and out of my mouth. I can feel sweat pouring down my face as panic consumes me.

I said no. I argued.

“Well, there goes that,” Max says lightly, sitting in the chair next to me with a hesitant smile. “The one time you tell him no, and it’s when I wanted an answer. That seems about right, doesn’t it?”

I can’t answer as I shake in the chair.

“Red is your safe word?” Max asks and leans towards me, his hands loosely clasped between his knees.

I nod stiffly. I’m trying to focus on three things that can help bring me out of this. My computer is on Trevor’s desk, waiting for me. Max’s cologne is fantastic, and I want to know what it is. Trevor has gone so quiet that I wonder if he left the room.

“T-Trevor?” My voice comes out shaky with tension.

“Yeah?” He sounds upset still, but the dark tone is gone. More than anything, he sounds sad.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what, babygirl?”

“I-I want to have rules first.”

Max turns to Trevor with a pointed glare.

“You’re right. Until we have something in place, this won’t happen again.”

“Thank you,” I breathe out, and my shoulders slump as the tension deserts me.

“Here,” Max hands me my phone. Did he go through my purse? “Call Asher and let him know you stood up to Trevor. He’s going to be ecstatic.”

He’s right. Asher will be proud of me. Then again, he might be mad at Trevor for starting this in the first place.

“Not yet,” I stare at the phone in confusion. This has become even more complicated than it was before.

Max looks back at Trevor and nods towards the chair across from me.

Trevor takes a breath and sits across from me heavily.

“I’m sorry,” he says firmly as he stares at my hands clutching the phone.

“All right. I’m leaving you two to it,” Max announces with a grin and quickly slips out.

Trevor stares at the closed door with a scowl.

I clear my throat and try to relax back in my chair. My laptop sits open already, so I power it on. A glance at my feet shows me where Max dropped my purse. I grab the pad of paper and pen before I can lose my nerve.

Trevor returns to the paperwork in front of him as if nothing happened.

I stew in my thoughts, trying to come up with something to say.

How did he do this for so long? How did he know what to say? This is more stressful than a conversation. I have a blank page staring me in the face with no idea how to start. No wonder some of his letters were so short.

I give up.

“Hi.”

I subtly slide the notepad over to his side of the desk and start working on the laptop.

A few minutes pass, and I’m getting into my work when the pad of paper slides back to me.

“I was out of line doing that. I’m sorry.”

Wow, he’s starting off strong. At first, I want to write that it’s ok and brush it off. When I start to mark it down, I scratch it out. I can’t let him off the hook at the first I’m sorry. Where is my spine? I could say don’t do it again. Would that drive a deeper wedge between us? It feels like an ocean separates us already. It doesn’t need help getting bigger.

“Let’s work it out to make it easier for both of us.”

I’m too stressed to focus, so I open a document and start writing random words to make it seem like I’m busy.

The paper gets slid back to me.

“Rule one: No pressuring you for answers about what you and Asher do. Rule two: ?”

Am I supposed to come up with them? We’re doomed.

I tap the end of my pen on the desk as I try to think. What does Trevor do that makes me mad?

“Don’t talk to me about food.”

It takes me an embarrassingly long time to even write the four-letter word.

I can’t look at him when I pass it back. My spine is tense again, and my stomach is in knots. Please don’t argue. Please.

The paper comes back to me quickly.

“No eating punishments. Liquids?”

Huh. My brow furrows as I think about it. Some liquids equal the forbidden subject, too.

“Can you talk to Asher about this? I don’t think I can.”

He looks at me with a frown. I duck down so I can’t see him. He taps the pen on the desk, and I hear the snap of a pencil breaking in half. I try to ignore it and let him process it in his own way. I run. He gets mad. It’s weird that now that I know what’s happening, it’s easier to handle, at least at this level.

Oh my gosh. He walked away when I was yelling at him because he was angry. Dr. Robinson said that removing yourself from a situation that upsets you is the hardest thing to do. He did it so he wouldn’t return fire and say something he didn’t mean. I wish I had done that.

“Because you trust him more than me?”

The words make me scowl. I sit up to give him my stubborn look. He was waiting for me to respond so he gets the full effect. He leans back in surprise at the expression.

“No. Because I hate talking about it, and it makes me angry.” I might be writing too hard. The words are pressed in so hard I could read them from the back.

I shove the pad back to him. His hand stops it from going over the edge of the desk as he stares with shock. I look back at the computer and get back to work. The keys clack as I stab at them with my fingers.

I’m setting up the shutdown of the electricity for the jerk’s place when the pad slides back to me.

“I’ll talk to Asher. I’m not used to seeing you angry.”

I wince and glance up guiltily. He’s still watching me, so I duck down again as my cheeks heat.

“Shade is teaching me that showing people I’m angry is ok. I always feel bad after.”

He chuckles as he reads that. My cheeks start feeling like they’re on fire.

“Why didn’t you before?” He asks out loud this time. He sets the pad and his pen down with a finality that says he’s ready to take this a step further.

“My Mom,” I mutter. “Ladies don’t get mad.”

He looks thoughtful. “They don’t curse either.”

“Yeah,” I say with a soft sigh. I can never come up with a good cuss word when I need it.

“Your mom was strict?”

“Yes.” This time, the affirmation is firm.

His brows lower with concern. “Did she hit you?”

I look at him in confusion. “No? She made us stand and stare at walls until we couldn’t anymore.”

“We? You have siblings?” He asks with surprise.

My shoulders slump. “Kind of. He doesn’t talk to me anymore. They all disowned me for being a black sheep.”

He laughs like I told him a joke. I chew my lip and glance down at the keyboard.

“Wait. You’re serious?” His gapes in surprise again.

I shrug defensively and start typing again.

“You never talk about your family.” His thoughtful tone brings my attention back to him. He isn’t laughing anymore. Now he looks mad.

“I don’t like it. It makes me mad and sad. I don’t want to be that way. I like being happy. I miss it.”

I bite my lip at the last sentence. I feel like that was too personal to blurt out.

“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t angry about something.”

His admission surprises me.

“You didn’t become a villain through tragedy? It was from birth?” That throws a lot of my hero/villain theories out the window.

“A villain?” He laughs and shakes his head.

“Yeah. You manipulate people all the time to get what you want.”

His frown comes back, and I wince.

“I try to fake being nice so people don’t run from me screaming. How horrible.” The deadpan tone has an undercurrent of anger that makes me swallow hard.

“That’s what I just said,” I mutter in confusion. “You want them to stay, so you manipulate your behavior to get it. You should just be yourself.”

“The only person I’m myself with is Max.”

“Uh-huh,” I sit up straight with a smile. “It’s perfect because he’s a jerk, and you don’t put up with it. You guys have a great relationship.”

He leans back with a thoughtful look.

“Don’t you think?” I ask warily as he stares without blinking. “I do. He plans out being a jerk to get maximum anger from you. I can’t understand how he lives like that, but to each their own. He falls into the brat category with cement shoes. But that’s what makes him Max. It’s easy to be a jerk to him because he can take it without being sad. Like Shade can take me being angry and yelling. He loves it.”

“You yell at Shade?”

My eyes narrow as I take in his disbelieving expression. “Spend an hour with him talking your ear off and see if you don’t want to punch him. I dare you. He talks like a total jerk the whole time. He makes comments to make you madder. He always wants me to fight back. Maybe Shade is a brat, too. Ugh, I don’t want to know.”

I shudder with a cringe. Where is the brain bleach when I need it?

Trevor’s mouth twitches like he’s trying to hold a smile back.

“Anyway,” I push on to wipe out those thoughts. “Everybody has that person they can be themselves with if they’re really lucky. No pretending stuff because you know each other well enough not to go too far. Like having the rules. Asher set up some, and we discussed what would work so we’re both comfortable. It’s nice to have everything laid out like that. I mean, sometimes. Not all of the rules are perfect, and we need to work on some of them, but it’s a start.”

“A foundation.”

“Exactly,” I sigh at his easy acceptance. He’s following my thoughts perfectly.

“Max and I have rules.”

“Yeah. It involves numbers,” I wince at the blurted words.

“I figured numbers are an easy way to get the point across without telling everyone the punishment.”

“Max knows the punishment,” I nod thoughtfully. “He’s the only one that needs to because he’s the only one that matters.”

Trevor blinks at that, eventually nodding.

“See? You guys are perfect,” I beam at him in approval.

“If I told you what the punishment was, would you still panic when I count?”

I gape at him in surprise. Would I?

“I don’t know. Does it involve hurting him? I don’t like that.”

“Sometimes,” he shrugs easily. “Not something that would really hurt him, though. Things that he can tolerate within limits. We’ve got that set up already.”

“You’ve been together for long enough. It’s easy for you guys. I’m so jealous. I’m on a maiden voyage, and you guys have sailed around the world seventy times.”

He chokes up laughing at my pout.

“I knew this kind of thing was out there. Who wouldn’t at this point? I never thought it might apply to me until I talked to Dr. Robinson. I knew there was something weird about me. Mom said it all the time. I just thought it was how I could see good in people when she couldn’t. Our wires got crossed in the explanation.”

“I don’t think they did, babygirl,” Trevor says grimly. “I think she wanted you to be someone you couldn’t and tried to force it on you.”

“I can’t be a lady? Says who? You? You’re a big meanie, and you don’t count.” I glare at him as I firm my lips. I can be whoever I want, and he can’t stop me.

“She wanted you to obey her without question.”

His answer makes me cringe. My eyes drop to the keys on my computer. He’s right. I asked so many questions when I was little. She always got mad about it. I questioned everything from why Dad left to why we went to church on Sundays. I didn’t stop until she got angry. I slowly learned not to ask anything and just accept it as it was.

“I stopped asking,” I admit with shame. “It was easier to give in so I could stay happy.”

A warm hand settles over mine to flatten my fingers on the desk with its weight.

“You can ask me whatever you want.”

“You’ll get mad,” I shake my head in refusal. He’s giving me an opening. I should be bursting with questions. Talking about my Mom has put the fear back into me.

“I always get mad.”

I give him a flat look at his glib response. He smiles at me with a cocky expression.

“What? I know myself. I’m not going to lie to you about it anymore. All we have to do is sit here and work through it together.”

“Can Max referee? I feel like that would be better.” My mumble comes out weak with dread.

“If it gets too bad, say your safe word. I’ll grab Max, and we can work through it. Deal?”

I debate my options and glance at the phone in my lap. I can’t call Asher for this one. Trevor doesn’t want other people to know his secrets any more than Asher or I do ours.

“Deal,” I say with a firm nod, trying to shore up my bravery for this.

We stare at each other without saying anything.

“Maybe you should start,” I wilt quickly.

“I was mad you left.”

He says it flatly, and a muscle clenches in his jaw.

“I’m mad you didn’t tell me I was a toy for your boyfriend before you let me give him a handjob,” I fire back. When the words actually settle in, my jaw drops in horror. I can’t believe I just said that!

“I lied to drive you away,” his teeth clench over the words as his scowl grows. “I’ve told you that several times.”

“I’m sorry,” I try to backtrack quickly. “That just came out because if you’re mad, then it’s ok for me to be mad. That’s what Shade said. I didn’t mean to say it.”

He blinks in surprise and leans back with a huff of breath.

“Should we start over?” I ask hesitantly.

“No,” he says thoughtfully. “Let’s keep going.”

I don’t want to, but I nod anyway.

“I’m going to tell you why I did it. I think you won’t be able to ask, and I want to get it over with.”

I cringe in sympathy and nod again. He’s not wrong. It’s his story, and I don’t want to poke the bear snarling in front of me.

“I was dating a girl. She was one of the nicest people I ever met. We dated for four years, almost five.”

He looks away from me as his jaw starts clenching again. I stay quiet so he’ll keep going. Hearing him talk about this mystery woman makes my heart twist. Why is it ok for him to be in love with Max when the second he starts talking about someone else, I start feeling angry and inferior?

“I thought I was in love with her,” he admits.

The inferiority gets worse. I can’t measure up to a perfect memory. Why am I doing this to myself?

“Don’t run,” he snaps, and my eyes jerk up to meet his in surprise. How did he know I was thinking about walking away?

I nod weakly and start chewing my lower lip with nerves.

“I thought it. I wasn’t. Max proved that to me.”

I stay quiet as his anger mounts.

“I put up with more shit from Max than I have anyone in my entire life, and I’m still with him. We fight. We argue. I didn’t have those things with her. I thought that was how it should be. She bent to everything I wanted without a complaint.”

I do that. Oh no. Am I just like her? Is he waiting for her to come back?

I can’t meet his eyes anymore.

He clears his throat, trying to calm down or gain my attention. When I don’t look up, he continues grimly. “I rode motorcycles back then.”

Another thing I never knew about him.

“I was in an accident. I had to have a few surgeries to get my leg back into working order.”

The pins. I wince in sympathy.

“I’m so sorry.”

“The guy that hit me was a trucker who was drunk off his ass.”

“Oh gosh. A truck? You’re lucky to be alive,” I whine. My eyes finally meet his in horror.

“Yeah,” he agrees, but the anger doesn’t leave his face. “The company he worked for took care of the medical bills. They wanted to settle so they wouldn’t get sued. Not that I was thinking about that.”

“Of course not,” I frown back. “If you were in and out of surgery, who would care about something that dumb?”

“She did.”

My brow furrows in confusion. “Maybe she wanted revenge on them? To protect you?”

“No,” he says, his tone suddenly gentle as his hand flexes over mine. I forgot he was holding it. I try to twist mine to hold his, but he stops the movement before I can.

“They paid that and gave me some for future medical bills. While I was recovering, she took care of me. No matter how much of an asshole I was, she was always smiling and happy to help.”

That doesn’t sound right. He’s lying in bed, unable to move, and she’s happy? I’d be sad as heck. And worried out of my mind.

“How did she handle it so well? I would have been a basket case.” Maybe she is the perfect woman.

“As soon as the check hit the bank, she withdrew it all and left.”

“What?” I gasp in shock. I wasn’t expecting this twist.

“Yeah,” he says with a bitter smile. “She was faking it the whole time. Here I was freaking out because she disappeared. Max took over and yelled me back into decent health.”

“Thank you, Max,” I mutter dismally. At least someone was there for him. How awful! “Maybe she made a mistake? How did you know she was faking it?”

“Max found her for me,” he informs me with gritted teeth. “With her boyfriend living the good life off the money. She was bouncing back and forth between us. As soon as the money came in and she knew I might never be able to do things like I used to, she cut her losses and ran. She started planning it before I was released from the hospital. She told Max she was pissed because we could have gotten more money, but I was too pathetic to fight for it. Said she would have stayed if the money had been better.”

I stare at him with my jaw dropped. I can’t think of a single thing to say.

“I hope he hit her,” I whisper firmly.

Maybe I can think of something to say.

“No. She tried to convince him to sleep with her, so he broke in that night and trashed her house. He almost got caught, too.”

“And he said he had skills,” my eyes narrow as I frown. “He’s not going on a BE with me ever.”

“Not the point, babygirl.”

“Sorry,” I mutter, but my brain won’t stop being gleeful that he sucks at it.

“When people are nice to me, I question it. What’s their motive? Why? Is this a trick?”

My shoulders slump as the hopelessness of it hits me. I’m nice to everyone. He won’t be able to stand me.

“My motive is because it makes me feel like I’m helping. I’m not really, but it feels that way.”

“Why do you think you aren’t?” He asks with a frown.

“I suck at it,” I tell him firmly. “People don’t like it. Or you be nice, and they start taking and taking until you finally notice, and it’s too late to stop it. I touch people without their permission because I think it helps. I tell people happy stuff so they smile. I mean, Max never did, but I tried at least.”

“Because you want to be happy,” he says it as a question, but it doesn’t sound that way to me.

“Well, I quit,” I tell him firmly. “I’m not doing it anymore, and no one can say a thing about it.”

“Just like that?” He raises a brow that feels like he’s judging me.

“I-I’m working on it,” I flounder. “Shade says I’m doing better. I don’t grab random people for a hug anymore.”

Trevor’s eyes drop to the desk as his jaw tightens again.

“I space out and bubble head my way through life. I don’t pay attention to the warning signs. I didn’t even know you guys lived upstairs, for cripe’s sake. Who does that? Bubblehead Tera, that’s who.”

“Stop,” he gives me a firm look that makes me swallow the next tirade.

His jaw works as he stares at me. I start to get nervous over the prolonged silence between us.

The door behind me opens suddenly, and Max breezes in with a gusty sigh.

“How’s it going in here?” He tries to sound upbeat, but his expression is worried as he takes in our stilted silence.

“We’re working on a few things,” Trevor tells him with a frown.

“Do I need to go?”

He sounds like he’s whining, and I have to stifle my giggle. Trevor notices and begins to smile again.

“Nah. We won’t throw you out in the cold.”

The laughter bubbles out of me while Max glares.

“Stop laughing. It’s you and me against him, remember?”

“Is it?” Trevor’s voice slides into a dark, seductive tone, and I shiver. His eyes slide to Max with a smirk. “You two are teaming up on me?”

“Maybe,” Max grins back.

“Tell Tera what your punishments are.”

“What?” Max’s eyes go wide as they bounce between us in surprise. “Why would I do that?”

“So she knows I’m not hurting you when we get to one,” he tells him smugly.

“Uh.” His cheeks fill with heat as he shifts on his feet. “I don’t think I want to.”

“Why is that?” Trevor asks with a smirk.

“I’ve never had to tell someone before,” he hisses angrily.

“You don’t have to,” I insist, drawing both of their attention. Max is frowning, and Trevor’s brow is raised mockingly. “If it makes you uncomfortable to tell me, it’s ok. You trust him, and he trusts you, so who cares?”

“Is that a challenge?” Max’s arms cross over his chest.

My mouth gapes as I look between them. “No! How was that a -”

“I can tell you,” he leans toward me with a taunting smile.

“You’re being a jerk right now. Stop it.”

“No,” he says sweetly.

“I’m going to start calling you Shade if you don’t quit,” I glare.

“You’ve seen my dick and not thrown up. I’m not Shade.”

“Gross!” I squeal while he laughs.

“Max,” Trevor warns as I gag dramatically.

“What? I’m fighting fire with fire.”

“Please stop,” I whine.

“I thought you were on the same team?” Trevor leans back. His grip on my hand pulls me forward in my chair. He hasn’t let go. I wonder if he realizes it.

“Somebody isn’t pulling her weight,” he gives me a fake disappointed look.

“I’m tired from bearing all the weight of the team,” I inform him primly.

“That’s it.” Max rushes me, and I squeal as I try to get out of my seat. I end up falling on my knees and trying to crawl away as he laughs.

He easily picks me up and cradles me to his chest. For a second, it’s nice and comforting. And then he starts tickling me without mercy.

I laugh helplessly and struggle. My legs kick out on reflex, and I knock something over on the desk.

“Three.”

I curl into a defensive ball, and Max’s fingers pause in his assault.

“Thank you,” I try to get my breath back.

“Her computer is right there. Take her farther out to tickle her.”

I gape at Trevor’s malicious grin.

“You’re both traitors!” I protest as Max starts laughing again. He acts like my weight is nothing as he backs away from the desk.

“I thought we were a perfect couple,” Max taunts me.

“You are! You’re both mean!” I whine and struggle to get away.

My phone starts playing one of Shade’s favorite songs, and I push at Max’s chest.

“I need to get that. It’s Shade.”

“Emo music?” Max asks in surprise. His smile turns wicked as he carries me back to the desk. Instead of handing me the phone, he swipes to accept and puts it on speaker.

Dead silence greets me.

“Shade?” I call out in concern.

“Am I interrupting something?” He asks in a bitter tone filled with anger.

“Yeah, me getting tickled. Thank you.” I blush with embarrassment. Max lets me down with a frown.

Shade gets quiet again, and I pick up to take it off speaker.

“What’s wrong?” I settle on the edge of the chair. Max drops down onto the couch with a huff and pouts.

“I got what I wanted,” Shade snarls back.

I go quiet so he’ll continue. I’m rewarded with the gulping sound of him drinking water. He’s already trying to calm himself down.

“I’m proud of you,” I say with a smile. He did it on his own without my prompting.

He ignores me to keep going. “I got my transfer. In town, just like I asked.”

“That’s great!” I gasp and bounce in my chair. Why does he sound so mad if everything is working out?

“I can work from home, but I can’t leave the team.”

“What?” My happiness turns into disbelief quickly.

“I’m going to be their field leader. They still get access to me.”

“No,” I start frowning.

“Yeah,” he spits back. I don’t take it personally. He’s enraged, and I know why. “Matthias says it’s this or nothing.”

What a jerk. Mr. Matthias is still mad at him? It’s been months!

“Why does no one listen to you?” I ask him in dismay. “You’re one of the most honest people I’ve ever met.”

“I don’t care anymore,” he snaps defensively. I know he cares. This is Shade’s armor I’m talking to right now. He’s on high alert, and he’s not going to settle down anytime soon. At least he isn’t in the silent brooding stage.

I fall quiet as plans pop up. I settle on two of them and give myself a firm nod.

“I’m all over this, big bro. You sit back and call Dr. Robinson for a vent session.”

“No,” his tone turns dark with rage.

“Yes,” I immediately rebut. I can’t leave him any room to try and maneuver me. He could do that in his sleep. “It’s my turn to play petty games, and I’m taking the gloves off.”

He gets quiet. The only sound on the line is his heavy breathing as he tries to get himself under control.

“I have your back, Shade. I always will, no matter what. You chose to guard me, and I’m choosing to guard you.”

I don’t know if it’s my words or the grim tone I’m using, but Max’s eyes have gone wide with surprise.

“Fine,” Shade takes a deep breath.

“I love you. Call Dr. Robinson.” I hang up before he can reply.

I sit and stew for a minute. I have to know exactly what to say when I make my next call.

“Uh, what’s going on?” Max leans forward as he prods me.

“His boss doesn’t like him, so he’s pretending to give Shade what he wants without really doing it. He’s stuck with the four jerks,” I explain dismally.

“How do you expect to fix that, babygirl?” Trevor asks gently. “I don’t think pranks are going to cut it.”

“They won’t,” I agree. “But I’m doing them anyway. I need deniability.”

“What does that mean?” Trevor’s brows lower.

“It means I’m going to make a few phone calls to shake a few things loose, and then I’m going to prank the fudge out of them. They’ll have no idea the rest is my work because I’m too stupid and immature to accomplish it,” I sneer bitterly. “They’re so dumb they’ll never see it coming.”

I stand and straighten my skirt to get mentally prepared for my next step.

“What are you doing?” Max asks warily.

“I’m going to step outside and make some calls. I need to pace and stomp. It’ll make me feel better,” I mutter as I scroll through my phone.

A thought blares through my head like a warning, and I whip around to face Trevor. He’s scowling. I can see a muscle in his jaw popping.

“Nothing illegal. I swear. I’m basically going to beg people to help until they submit to make the whining stop. I promise. I’m just talking tough to hype myself up. I remember our deal, and I’m sticking to it.”

The stony expression doesn’t ease as he watches me.

“Please trust me?” I chew my lower lip nervously. I’m not his ex, but the way I was talking just now would make anyone doubt that. “I won’t let you down.”

His head tilts, and his eyes narrow. “Fifteen minutes. If you take any longer than that, I’m coming outside to bring you back in.”

I nod earnestly and pull up a timer on my phone. On impulse, I race around the desk and kiss his cheek. I press my forehead to his temple to try and ease the anger brewing inside him.

“Thank you. I promise I’ll be right back.” I pull away to show him the timer and then hurry out the door. I don’t know how long this will take, and I don’t want to waste a second.

I’m hitting the button for the first contact before the door closes behind me. This side door is the best for emergency exits.

“Ms. Evans,” an older man says calmly. He sounds like he’s smiling. He won’t be in a few seconds.

“Mr. Matthias,” I try to be cordial as I pace and bite my lip.

“To what do I owe the honor? I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

“How much evidence do you need before you let Shade transfer for real?” I blurt out. Way to show him your cards there, Tera. You idiot.

“Excuse me?” There it is. The smile has dropped.

“Shade needs out of that environment. It’s toxic. What do I need to do to make that happen?”

Mr. Matthias is quiet for a moment. “Are you really living with him?”

“Yes,” I admit easily. “He’s a jerk, but we’re making this brother/sister relationship work. By communicating.” That might be a low blow, but I’m sticking to my guns.

“And what has he told you?” His tone turns dark and silky. Not in a sexy way like Trevor or Asher. In a way that makes a cold chill spill down my back like death is behind me and ready to take me away. He wants to know if Shade has told me secrets. I’m taking all of those to my grave. No one is getting them out of me.

“He told me that they were cheating on him. Now they’re harassing him because he won’t fall in line. He just wants a break. What’s so wrong with that?” I plead.

“Hm,” comes his noncommittal response, amping up my frustration.

“Those guys are idiots,” I snap, letting my temper loose. “They think me and Shade are in a relationship, even when we both tell them we’re not. They’re punishing him for stuff they’ve made up in their heads. I’m not letting them do that to him.”

“Are you protecting Shade?” He asks in surprise.

I know. He’s a grown man who is deadly. That doesn’t make him any less my big brother.

“Yes. And I’m calling in backup. You might want to warn them.” I cringe as I add the last part.

There’s the loud creak of a chair as Mr. Matthias straightens. “Are you saying you’re calling in the woman you brought to deal with Glasgow?”

“Yes, sir,” I say grimly.

South is the only person who would look a violent stalker in the face and not flinch. Of course, I called her about Glasgow. The man was stalking Andi, but he wasn’t the serial killer. He was a different kind of monster, and the bodyguards were focusing on him so much they were missing the bigger picture. So, South intervention was necessary.

“You told me you only call her for emergencies,” his tone grows dark again. I hate it.

“Yes, sir,” I agree. “Shade is family now, and I’m going to make sure he stays safe.”

“Just like you did with Andi?” His voice becomes curious.

“Yes, sir.”

“I see,” he mutters. I hear some paperwork shifting around in the background. When it stops, he speaks again. “I can give him a few months away from them.”

“If I gain enough evidence proving their harassment, can you make it a permanent move?” I ask hopefully and cross my fingers.

“No,” he denies me flatly, and I groan in disappointment. “However, I can shuffle things around to get him on another team.”

Meaning Shade might leave town.

“I…” I trail off as the depressing thought circles. “I understand. If it keeps him safe and happy, I’ll do it.”

“Get me proof.”

“Yes, sir,” I say sternly. I’m going to give him so much proof he’ll choke on it.

When he hangs up, I stare at the phone dismally. I don’t want Shade to leave. He’s the dictator I didn’t know I needed. Maybe South can kidnap him.

Speaking of.

My finger is just about to press her contact when an angry voice startles me.

“You’re a fucking slut.”

Oh no. Am I about to witness a catfight? Should I call the cops?

I turn slowly to see who’s speaking and find Emily behind me. There’s no one else with her. I look at her in confusion.

“Yeah, you,” she stabs a finger at me, forcing me to step back to keep from being poked.

“You have a boyfriend already. Does he know you’re fucking Max on the side? Or is it Trevor? Both? Jesus, you have no self-respect.”

I gape at her in shock.

“Don’t play the stupid innocent card on me,” she gives me a grim smile as she gets closer. I keep backing away, at a loss for words.

“You had us all so snowed with the goody-goody act. Little Tera is so sweet and innocent. What bullshit. But you’re still a complete moron.”

What. The. Heck.

I don’t have to listen to this.

I turn on my heel to march away, and she grabs my arm to spin me back. The movement makes me slide in my shoes. As soon as I face her, I get a slap across the face.

The move stuns me and brings tears to my eyes. My hand flutters up to rest on my cheek.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask in shock.

“Stupid sluts like you. Keep away from them.”

“No,” I sputter indignantly.

“Fine,” she lifts her hands up and begins to back away. “Sal is in there right now telling your boyfriend all about what you’re up to.”

“Ok?” I give a disbelieving laugh at her smug tone.

“She’s planning on comforting him when he finds out,” Emily adds with a smirk. “She’s going to find out if the tattoos are on his dick too.”

“Excuse me?” I take a few steps forward with a scowl. She better not even think about touching Asher. I don’t know what I’ll do in retaliation, but I’ll think of something.

“Aw, are you mad?” She asks in a baby voice, mocking me. “It sucks when you get caught, doesn’t it? That’s what you get for touching people who aren’t yours.”

I open my mouth to begin ranting when a delicate hand reaches out to clasp the side of Emily’s head. Dark blue nails dig into her cheek as she gets thrown into the wall at our side. Her head hits with a dull thump, and she sags down to the ground, unconscious. At least, I hope she’s unconscious.

My mouth drops open as the person who slid up behind her stands to her full height. I look up at the tall figure in shock. Her dark blue hair is pulled into two tight buns, and her bright green eyes are dispassionate as she takes me in. Despite the tank top showing off her muscled biceps and black tattoos, she doesn’t look like she could do that much damage to someone.

“Hi, South,” I finally find words. “I was just about to call you.”

She tilts her head and doesn’t say a word.

I hold up my phone to show her that her contact info is pulled up and ready to go.

She nods and eyes the lump of waitress by the wall.

“Her?”

South’s voice is strange to other people but it’s a natural comfort to me. The muted tones that blend everything into an emotionless mumble other people strain to hear is a lullaby that helped me sleep for years.

“Not a problem,” I rush to tell her.

Her dead gaze returns to me, and I give her a small smile.

“I need your help with something.” I grimace and hold my hands up, ready to beg. I messed up not calling her. I know that. I just don’t know how badly she’s really taken the news. It’s not like she emotes enough for me to know and I’m afraid to ask. I don’t want my Southie walking away.

“I’m in.”

She doesn’t even hesitate. Even after my screw up she’s still ready and willing to watch my back.

If I asked South to dig a ten-foot hole the only question she would ask before she got started would be, “Who’s going in it?”

“I love you, Southie,” I tell her helplessly and throw my arms around her.

She embraces me warmly and strokes a hand over my head in comfort. She may not ever feel the emotion to say it back to me but I know it’s in there somewhere. No one can convince me otherwise.