Chapter Six
GEMMA
Tyler looks at me, and my breath hitches. For a moment, I think he’s going to walk away, but then he sits down in front of me next to Everleigh.
He avoids eye contact, but I’m well aware of how close he really is. I can’t help but notice how his shirt hugs him in all the right places. When he reaches for his beer, his biceps peek from under his sleeves, and I force myself to look away.
For just ten minutes, I wish we could talk about our past. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening any time soon.
Maybe he’s forgotten it all, but I haven’t.
The pain he caused still runs deep, but maybe now that he’s back, I’ll finally get some closure. At least that’s what I’m hoping for, so I can move on for good.
The silence draws on, and my cheeks heat as I finish my margarita.
Having him here with us is suddenly awkward, and I try to think of something to talk about, but my mind goes blank.
Maybe I shouldn’t have spoken up and invited him to join us, but once the words were out of my mouth, there was no going back.
“So…” Everleigh looks at us with a mischievous grin. “How about a round of whiskey?”
“The hard stuff, huh?” Tyler chuckles, then empties his mug in a big gulp.
“Only for my favorite people in the world,” she sing-songs. It’s gonna take the hard stuff for me to get through tonight.
Everleigh calls the waitress over and orders double shots for all of us.
When they come, Everleigh holds hers up.
“To my amazing brother, Tyler. For kicking ass and taking names.” She looks around the table, then we clink our glasses together, and the liquid burns going down.
When the server returns to clear the table, I order another margarita with an extra shot of tequila.
The only way I can be this close to Tyler is if I’m inebriated. Hopefully I don’t say anything stupid, like the other day in the lobby when I told him I’d waited years for him.
The more hours that pass, the drunker we get, except for Tyler. He’s switched to water and doesn’t join in on our conversation but listens.
Everleigh’s two shots away from reliving our early twenties, and I can’t stop laughing at everything she says. Katie has the giggles too, and I don’t even remember what was so funny when we ordered another round.
“And look how sexy they look in these new dresses,” Everleigh beams, swiping through her photos and showing Tyler the pictures.
“I mean, look at Gemma in that summer dress. She could be on the cover of Vogue, not modeling my clothes in small-town Alabama.”
I shake my head, not wanting the attention.
“And Katie. Jesus, girl, you’re a MILF if I ever saw one. Still don’t know why a man hasn’t made an honest woman out of her yet.” Everleigh talks loud when she’s drunk, and right now, the whole bar can hear her.
Tyler laughs as he shushes her. “Looks like you found the perfect people to guilt into helping you.”
This makes Katie and me snort.
“First comes guilt, second comes threats. It’s easier to just give in right away.”
“So, what you’re saying is, Everleigh hasn’t changed one bit since I left?”
“Are you kidding me? Not much has changed here at all,” I say, smiling. “Everleigh’s the same smartass she’s always been.”
Tyler looks at me. “You have.”
My mouth falls open, and it’s like everything around us disappears. “No, I haven’t.”
Then I replay what’s happened since he’s been gone, and I realize he’s right. I’m not the same na?ve eighteen-year-old girl who thought he could rope the moon.
He arches a challenging brow. “Sure about that?”
I shrug. “Well, maybe a little.”
Everleigh butts in. “We’re all more mature and doing pretty good in life. Katie has a son. I have a business. And Gemma has a fiancé.”
“And I have a record! Yay me!” Tyler adds sarcastically.
I’m relieved when more alcohol arrives, but I’m at the point where I can’t feel my lips.
I stand to go to the restroom, and the room rocks sideways.
Regardless, I keep going, and that’s when it’s confirmed that I’m trashed.
At least the edge is gone, though it’s starting to mess with my emotions and thoughts, which can’t be a good thing for me right now.
When I look in the mirror, I smile. My hair and makeup are perfect, and I look hot as hell. Confidence doesn’t strike me much because I’m often insecure about my weight. People have commented on how thin I am most of my life, and I still struggle with body image as an adult.
But right now, none of that matters, because Everleigh put me in a dress that accentuates my waist and shows the perfect amount of cleavage for a quick peek. She could be a personal stylist for any body type, and it’s one of the reasons Ever After does so well.
When I go back to the table, I glance at my cell and wonder why Robert hasn’t texted me. He was okay with me canceling tonight because he’s exhausted. He must’ve gone straight to bed after work.
I blink again and notice it’s nearly one in the morning. It feels like we just got here, but that seems to happen every time I hang out with the girls.
“I should probably get going.” Katie yawns.
The booze has probably worn off by now since she stopped drinking hours ago.
“I’ll need to get Owen from my parents after breakfast in the morning. He has a birthday party to go to, and I still have to wrap the gift.”
“You okay to drive?” Tyler asks.
She nods. “I wouldn’t be if I tried to keep up with these two monsters.”
Everleigh laughs and leans over the table to give me a high five.
My head’s woozy. I wish I would’ve passed on that last one. Or maybe stopped three drinks ago.
We say goodbye to Katie.
Everleigh finishes her drink and slaps some cash on the table.
“I should probably get going too.” She slurs her words as she shoves her phone in her bag. She turns to Tyler. “And before you ask, I’ll be fine to walk. This isn’t Vegas.”
Tyler looks at me. “You’re in no shape to drive.”
I can’t even argue with that. I look for my keys in my purse and can’t seem to find them.
“Why don’t you drive her home, Tyler?” Everleigh suggests.
I could kill her.
“I think I should,” he confirms with a nod. I can’t stop staring at his bottom lip and the way his tongue swipes across it. I try to look away, but he’s so damn mesmerizing.
“Okay, fine,” I agree.
It’s better than calling my dad this late or waking Robert. Besides, it might be nice to get Tyler alone without eyes on us.
He lets Everleigh out of the booth.
“My car’s parked at the boutique,” I remind her. “Guess we’re walking some of the way with you after all.”
Just as we’re moving past the bar, a guy turns around with a beer in his hand. He’s not paying attention, and seconds later, he bumps into me. The liquid runs down my dress, and I scream at the sudden cold.
“Are you serious?”
He apologizes, but I groan and keep walking.
Everleigh leans in, looping my arm with hers. “Surprised Tyler didn’t kick that guy’s ass for doing that.”
“Shut up,” I say playfully as she nudges me.
She’s aware of how I felt about Tyler and what happened between us by the end of that summer. While I don’t know what she’s shared with him about me over the years, I’m sure it’s enough to keep him informed.
It’s still humid outside, which doesn’t help how sticky I already feel from the beer I’m wearing. I walk beside Everleigh as she chats about posting our photos early next week. Tyler walks behind us, and I swear I can feel his eyes burning a hole in the back of my head.
“Good night, you two,” Everleigh sing-songs when the storefront comes into view. She waves her fingers with a teasing smirk. “I’ll text you tomorrow!”
Her house isn’t too far so she’ll make it home fine. “Goodbye!”
Once I find my keys, I hand them to Tyler. The nervous tension returns when Everleigh’s out of sight, and it’s just the two of us. Guess there’s no amount of whiskey or tequila that can hide it.
“Here, let me help you before you break an ankle.” Tyler unlocks, then opens the door for me. It’s the first time we’ve been this close, and I can smell the faint scent of his cologne and soap. Memories flood in from years ago, but I push them away and climb inside.
He cranks the car and grins when it rumbles to life.
“What?”
“I’ve always wanted to drive one of these.”
When I graduated from college, my dad fully restored a 1967 Ford Mustang for me and painted it jet black.
I lean my head against the seat. “Be careful, she wants to go ninety all the time.”
“Noted. So am I taking you to your fiancé’s house or…”
“No, you’re taking me home.”
“Tell me where that is.”
“It’s where it’s always been.” I chuckle. “The house behind my dad’s.”
The same place he took my virginity and where we spent endless nights having sex.
“The Snow White cottage?” he asks, pulling out onto the road.
“Yep. Remember when we used to hang out there after I graduated?”
I immediately clamp my mouth shut, but it’s too late. The alcohol made me blurt those words. Bringing up our past has been on the tip of my tongue all night. The summer I spent with Tyler often feels like a lifetime away, but also like it was yesterday.
“How could I forget? It was the best summer I’ve ever had here.” He finally glances at me, and I’m thankful it’s dark so he can’t see the heat rising up my neck and cheeks.
We stay silent, listening to the radio until Tyler pulls into the driveway. After getting out of the car, we walk to the cottage. He follows, and when I look at him, I nearly trip and bust my ass.
The only thing that saves me is Tyler’s quick reflexes.
For a second, the world shook on its axis, but he caught me before I embarrassed myself.
I look up into his brown eyes and suck in a breath.
For a moment, it feels like we’re suspended in time as we stare intently at each other.
He swallows, and his mouth opens, and I notice his heartbeat pulsing in his neck.
“You okay?”
“Nearly twisted my ankle, but I’ll live. These damn shoes. This is why I hate wearing heels, but Everleigh insisted.” I bend over to take them off, then walk barefoot the rest of the way.