Chapter Fourteen #2
Everleigh nearly drops her sandwich on the floor as her eyes widen in shock. Sassy’s eagerly waiting at her feet for any spare crumbs. Everleigh sets it on the plate and stares at me. “What the fuck?”
“Exactly! Completely pulled the rug out from under me. I’ve never seen Robert this mad before. There was no reasoning with him, so I just got the hell out of there.”
She huffs. “What’s wrong with him?”
I look down at the two-carat diamond ring on my finger. Right now, it feels more like a symbol of prison than love. It’s not supposed to be like this.
“He said Tyler’s a criminal and that he no longer respects my dad for hiring him.” I force my eyes closed as the anger builds again.
“Fuck him,” she snaps. “My brother may have gone to prison, but he’s not a criminal.
It’s jackasses like Robert who believe all those dumbass rumors instead of his side of the story.
That’s a part of the reason Tyler didn’t want to come home in the first place.
I’ve seen the way people look at him. It’s ridiculous. ”
“I know.” My voice is nearly a whisper. “I’m sorry.”
“What’re you gonna do?” Everleigh picks up her sandwich, and Sassy walks away, defeated.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you gonna quit? Robert doesn’t seem like the type who’s just gonna let you go to work if he doesn’t agree.”
I grit my teeth. “I’m not quitting. He acts like I’m just supposed to blindly agree with whatever he says, but I’m putting my foot down on this. Then he bitched me out for standing up for Tyler at the bar when Robert was commenting on why he went to prison.”
She lifts an eyebrow. “Sounds like he’s jealous and threatened, maybe even worried that Tyler’s gonna steal you away from him.” An evil grin spreads across her face.
“That’s dumb.” I sip my margarita that tastes like pure tequila.
“Is it, though?”
Considering where Tyler and I stand at the moment, it seems like a non-issue. Has everyone lost their minds?
“Yeah, it is. So was Robert asking me if I’m sleeping with Tyler behind his back.”
This makes Everleigh snort. “Flirting…maybe. Anything else, I don’t see that happening.”
“We don’t flirt. We hardly speak to each other. He said he saw the way Tyler and I looked at each other, which is crazy. What does that even mean?”
Everleigh gets up and grabs a bag of chips.
“It sounds like he’s insecure that you won’t move in with him, so he’s looking for a fight.
Probably hoping it’ll get you to change your mind.
But I mean, I kinda get it. My brother’s good-looking, closer to your age than him, and has a lot to offer.
Plus, most people associate him with being mysterious because he’s typically on the quiet side and keeps to himself.
With that being said, I don’t think Tyler’s looking at you any differently than how he always has. ”
I lay my head on the bar top and groan. “This is so confusing.”
“What is?”
I lift my head, then follow her to the couch.
“Everything. Tyler working at the garage. Robert demanding I quit and marry him immediately, which he brought up once again. Knowing my dad couldn’t run the shop without me nor do I want him to.
He’d be heartbroken if I left and so would I.
I don’t want to have to choose between Robert and my dad, but if it comes to that, my family will always come first. Always. ”
“As it should. Him saying that about your dad makes me so fucking mad. Out of everyone in your life, he’s been Team Robert since day one.”
“He’s Team Tyler too.”
As the words leave my mouth, the door swings open, and Tyler enters, wearing a T-shirt with the sleeves cut off. It shows off his muscular biceps and the shorts that hang low on his hips leave nothing to the imagination.
“Who’s Team Tyler?” he asks with a boyish grin.
He’s drenched with sweat, and I assume he’s been at the gym.
Sassy perks up, and her tail wags when she sees him. He walks over, pets her head, then looks at me.
“Well?”
My words are stuck in my throat. “My dad.”
My body burns from the inside out.
“I’m Team Jerry. He’s a good guy. Really appreciate everything he’s done for me.” The room falls silent. “Anyway, I’m gonna jump in the shower.”
When he walks away, I can smell the hint of his cologne mixed with sweat. I watch until he’s out of sight, then turn to see Everleigh grinning like a fool.
“What?”
She shakes her head.
“You better tell me!”
“If Robert saw you look at Tyler the way I just did, I can understand why he’s pissed. That’s all.”
“Like what? I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”
“Are you sure, like one-million percent sure, that you want to marry Robert? And I’m only asking because you’re my best friend, and I love you. You deserve to be happy.”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about marrying him.
I do have doubts, especially now that he’s being extra pushy about moving the date.
On top of it, leaving my mother’s cabin so quickly feels wrong.
And now he wants me to quit my job just because he doesn’t like one of the employees?
It feels like a lot of change at once that I’m not ready for, and instead of giving me time and space, he’s become more demanding and pushier. ”
“If that’s any indication of how things are now, it won’t get easier being married, Gemma.” She keeps her voice low, and I hope Tyler can’t hear our conversation over the water running.
“That’s what concerns me the most. What if I learn too late that he’s super possessive or he gives me an ultimatum that forces me to quit working at the garage?
I’ll work there until I physically can’t or he decides he wants to retire and sells the place, but he’s already told me it’s mine.
It’s literally my family’s legacy in this town.
My grandfather and father both spent their entire lives there.
I’m shocked Robert has the audacity to even demand it.
A part of me wonders if he’s doing this so I’ll tell my dad to fire him instead, then Robert gets what he wants either way. ”