Chapter Twenty-Two
TYLER
Two grueling hours of being drilled by lawyers over my past wasn’t an enjoyable experience, but now it’s over.
I’m dismissed, and my head pounds when I exit the conference room.
I suck in a deep breath and try to calm down, burying the memories of Victoria.
As I stand in the hallway, Eric walks up to me.
He holds out his hand, then pulls me into a hug.
“Thank you, man. I know how hard that must’ve been to relive all that.”
“No problem. I just hope it’s enough to help you get the justice you deserve.” When I meet his gaze, I notice the dark circles under his eyes. He looks beat down and exhausted. Helping him makes me feel good, but I won’t assume anything will come of it, considering who’s involved.
“We’ll talk soon, okay?” he says before leaving with his lawyer.
“That went well,” Serena says, tucking her brown hair behind her ears.
“I guess. Do you wanna grab some lunch?”
She checks the time on her phone. “I actually need to be at the airport in an hour.”
“Okay, no problem.” I appreciate that she interrupted her busy schedule for me and flew here.
“What’re your plans today?” Serena glances at me as we walk toward the elevator.
I shrug. “Nothing much.”
“And before your flight tomorrow?”
I shake my head.
“You can say no, but you should come to Sacramento with me, then fly home from there instead. Liam and Maddie came home from the hospital with the new baby yesterday, and I know how much they’d love to see you.”
A smile touches my lips at her great idea. “I didn’t think about that. Damn, it’s like you’re a genius lawyer or something with all this amazing logic.”
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “I can drop you off at their house. Check if you can get on my flight. It leaves at noon.”
We walk outside, and I follow her to the rental car as I contact the airline. Serena drives to my hotel, and by the time she parks, I’ve already purchased a flight and rescheduled my departure.
“I’ll wait here while you grab your things and check out of your room.”
“Great,” I say, eager to get out of Vegas.
It takes less than ten minutes to pack my small bag and turn in my hotel key. Even Serena is surprised when I return in record time.
“Damn,” she mutters. “You’re fast.”
We chat as we make our way to the airport. She updates me on life in California, her son, and how busy the law firm is these days.
After we get through security, I watch as tourists feed bills into the slot machines, trying their last chance at winning big.
After living in this city for so long, I’m desensitized to the bright lights and noises of the machines.
It brings me back to Liam’s gambling problem and how it brought Victoria into his life.
Serena and I grab something to eat while we wait to board. As I stare out at the crowds of people, I replay what happened in that conference room. Then my thoughts quickly move to Gemma. She has no idea what she does to me and may never understand how deeply I care.
I never mentioned I’d be missing work today and haven’t spoken to her since Friday night, so there’s no telling what she thinks about me being gone.
“Liam’s gonna be so damn surprised when he opens the door and sees you standing there. I’m excited to witness the shock on his face.”
“Can’t wait, honestly. Maddie and I video called after he was born, but it’s not the same as seeing him in real life.”
“You’re right. I spoke with them yesterday, and they’re both worried sick about you, so it’ll be a fun little reunion.
Plus, I don’t think I would’ve been able to sleep tonight after hearing those in-depth stories about Victoria and knowing you were in the same city as her.
” Genuine concern is displayed on her face.
“I didn’t care to stay, anyway. The city harbors too many awful memories for me to ever enjoy it these days. I’m relieved to leave early.” And never return if I can help it.
Our plane arrives, and once we find our seats, it doesn’t take long before we’re in the air. For the entire two-hour flight, I stare out the window, and my mind wanders back to Gemma and everything that’s happened since I returned to Lawton Ridge.
I wish I could pull her into my arms and kiss the hell out of her to show her what she’s missing.
When Robert treats her like an afterthought, I want to tell her I’d always put her first. I might not be rich with a mansion or a successful business, but I’d give her the damn world.
Too bad she’s engaged and too blind to see how wrong Robert is for her.
Once we land, Serena and I take a shuttle to her car. Within thirty minutes, she’s pulling into Liam and Maddie’s driveway. Excitement rushes through me as I think about seeing my best friends again.
Before I get out, I turn to Serena, who’s smiling wide. “Thanks for everything. You’ve been such an enormous help. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you.”
“Liam and Mason helped me through some rough shit over the years. The least I could do is give back to a close friend of theirs. I still regret not being able to fight a corrupt system that landed you in prison in the first place.”
“You did everything you could. Short of a few million dollars exchanged under the table, nothing would’ve been able to get me out of serving those years. I don’t regret what I did that got me in there, but I still appreciate how hard you tried to save me.”
“Thank you, Tyler. Means a lot.” She sucks in a deep breath. “I hope justice is actually served to that bitch. She deserves to rot in hell for the things she’s done.”
I grunt. “Agreed.”
“Now, get out before you make me emotional,” she demands playfully. “I can only take so many compliments in one day. Also, knock lightly. Unless you’d like to feel Maddie’s wrath, don’t you dare wake a sleeping baby.”
“Duly noted.” I grin, then grab my bag.
Before I get out, Serena tells me she’ll call if she hears anything about the case. I thank her once more, then walk toward the house. Taking her advice, I tap lightly on the hard wood. Serena’s waiting in the car. I look at her with a shrug. She waves me forward, so I try again, slightly louder.
Seconds later, the door swings open, and Liam’s face transforms from shock to joy as he pulls me into a giant hug.
“Holy shit!”
I laugh as he smacks my back.
Serena lowers the window and shouts, “You’re welcome!”
Liam waves as she backs out and speeds away.
“Maddie’s gonna freak the hell out. I’m so happy to see you, man!
” He hurries me inside. “She’s trying to catch up on sleep.
Tyler’s taking a nap too, but when they wake up, prepare to be bombarded—by both of them,” Liam warns.
After I gladly accept his offer for a beer, he rushes to the kitchen and quickly returns with two Bud Lights.
I nearly drink it all in three big gulps.
We go into the living room, and as soon as we sit, Maddie walks in with disheveled hair, looking exhausted. Her mouth falls open, and she slaps her cheek. Chuckling, I stand. “I’m really here.”
“Tyler! Oh my God! What’re you doing here?” she whisper-shouts, closing the gap between us. I pull her into a hug, and she tightens her grip around me.
Almost immediately, she starts crying. “Gah!” She drops her arms before wiping her cheeks. “My hormones are still out of whack.” She goes over to Liam and smacks his arm. “You should’ve woken me up!”
“I’ve been here for five minutes, Mads. You didn’t miss much.”
“Jesus,” Liam mutters, rubbing his bicep.
Maddie gives him her infamous eye roll. “Quit being a baby. I barely touched you.”
“Good to see nothing’s changed between you two.” I chuckle.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get even in six weeks when the doctor releases her.”
“Releases her from what?” I ask.
“Liam, shut up!” Maddie scolds.
Liam waggles his brows. “Releases her body back to me.”
“Okay, now I’m making you wait twelve weeks. Keep it up, and I’ll triple it.” She pouts with her hands on her hips.
“Yeah, right. You jumping me is the reason we even have two kids.”
“Ugh,” Maddie groans as Liam pulls her into his big arms and kisses her.
“There you two go again, being sickly cute. Please, spare me. I didn’t come all this way to witness you making baby number three.”
Liam releases Maddie from his hold, and she smirks at me. “Okay, good. The kids are asleep. Tyler’s napping in our bed, but you can still meet Tobias.”
“I’ll be quiet. Lead the way, Mama.”
The three of us walk into their room where a bassinet is next to their king-sized bed. Tyler’s sprawled out in the middle, sleeping peacefully. When I lean over and see Tobias, I instantly smile.
“Oh, Mads. He’s beautiful.”
Liam squeezes my shoulder, and I’m overcome with joy for my friends. They look at their sons with so much adoration. One day, I hope I get to experience what they have, but for now, I’ll live vicariously through them.
“There’s nothing like a sleeping baby,” Maddie whispers.
Tyler begins to stir, so Maddie sits on the edge of the mattress and rubs his back. She’s such an amazing mother, and her kids are so damn lucky to have them as parents. I would’ve killed to grow up in a household overflowing with love like theirs.
His eyes pop open, and Liam swoops him up in his arms. Tobias doesn’t wake as Maddie watches him in awe. Tyler places his head on his daddy’s shoulder, and Maddie grabs the baby monitor. Quietly, she moves past us, and we follow her into the living room.
“I missed you all so much,” I say, sitting on the couch.
“Well, it’s not too late to move back and live with us.”
Liam chuckles, then goes to the kitchen.
“Well, it doesn’t hurt to try. How long are you staying?” She glances over at my small bag on the floor.
“I fly out tomorrow afternoon. Have to be back at work on Wednesday morning.”
“How’s Gemma?”
“You’re relentless.”
“What do you expect? You tease me about this mystery woman, and then when I ask, you only give me crumbs of information. You’re lucky I don’t live closer.”
“Oh, no doubt you’d infiltrate her group of friends just to learn all the Gemma gossip.”