Chapter Twenty-Six
SUNNY
Angry is an understatement. I’m fucking livid. I hit his back as hard as I can, but he doesn’t budge as he carries me through the venue, not caring about all the shocked faces watching us.
He walks up the stairs taking two at a time in swift motions, bringing me back to the balcony we stood at earlier. He stares at me blankly when he sets me down.
Straightening my jumpsuit, I realize his jacket is still around my shoulders. I take it off and shove it in his chest. “What the actual fuck, Tyler?”
He pushes it back to me. “I told you not to get involved with a guy like him.”
“It’s none of your business who I involve myself in.” I cross my arms, refusing to take the jacket back.
He sighs and slings it around my shoulders again. “It’s my business when it involves my family,” he growls, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Tyler, he is a perfectly kind man.”
He shakes his head. “No he isn’t.”
“How do you know?”
“I grew up with him, Sunny.”
“We have an understanding.”
His jaw flexes at my comment because Tyler’s jealous. He’s jealous for me.
He places his hands in his pockets, looking down at his shoes. “And that’s what you want?”
No. “Yes,” I say before I say anything else.
“Well, then.” He takes a step closer to me. “If a fuck is what you want, Sunny, then a fuck is what I can give you.”
The human disappears as fast as it came. He’s all predator as he takes each step closer to me. I can physically see it, the switch that happens in his eyes.
“Either way, at least I know that when his tongue explores your mouth but never in ways mine did and doesn’t taste like me, when his fingers meet that spot on your neck that hurts with anyone else but me, when he doesn’t satisfy you in the ways you know I would, I know you’ll be thinking about me the whole time, the same way you did on Halloween night,” he whispers in my ear.
“The same way you always will when it isn’t me. ”
He brushes my hair from my neck, exposing that scar for his lips to brand. My body betrays me as his touch manifests in goosebumps and shivers. When he pulls away, he looks down at me with stupid admiration.
“When that happens, because I know it will, you know who to call.” He starts walking away, but I refuse to let him have the last word.
“Why are you so upset? Huh? I told you what I could give you. Why are you expecting more?”
He pauses and turns around, looking straight at me. I realize he looks at me like there is something worth looking at. For some reason, it brings unshed tears to my eyes.
“You smiled for him,” he says.
“What? What does that even have to do with anything?”
“If there’s anything I learned, those smiles are rare to come by. It’s hard to get one. I’ve spent so much time trying, and I’ve succeeded a handful of times. In one night you gave him the one thing I’ve been working months to get.” He looks at the floor, as if the words physically pain him.
I shake my head. “Tyler, that’s…that’s not how it is. But it just comes to show that I don’t have a lot to give. I barely have anything. He…he took it all.”
He steps into me again. “Don’t underestimate yourself, little fire.
You have a lot to give. But I’m not asking for anything.
I’m asking you to accept what I am giving you.
Take it all, Sunny. Take it from me. Take all you need, because I will always keep giving myself to you if it means I can keep that smile on your face. ” He thumbs my bottom lip.
Pulling back, he turns around, hands in his pockets and walks away triumphantly.
I still have his damn jacket around my shoulders.
“Dude what the actual fucking fuck?” Sam pulls me back to the couches we claimed for the night.
“I have no clue.” I shrug.
“What was that even about?” Macey asks.
“Are you fucking him?” Sam asks curiously.
I shake my head. “No, not at all. I guess he just doesn’t like Connor.”
“Doesn’t like Connor my ass. He barely knows Connor. Something must be up.” Sam’s eyes turn to slits, scanning the venue.
“What did he say to you?” Macey asks.
Tyler likes me. And I may just like him, too.
“He just said Connor isn’t a good guy and doesn’t want anything serious,” I say.
Macey hands me a glass of wine while she settles herself on the couch. I take a sip, hoping it’ll calm my racing heart.
“Doesn’t he know that’s the whole fucking point?” Sam raises her hands.
Nodding, I swallow down my wine. “Yes, I told him that. But you know your brother better than anyone, he gets protective of his family.”
“What if he likes you?” Macey suggests.
“He doesn’t,” I counter.
“I mean it would make sense.” Sam bites her tie dye nail.
“Guys, he doesn’t. I promise,” I lie.
“Okay well, we can’t let my brother cock block your night. You deserve to be dicked and dined.” Sam stands up. “I’m going to find Connor.”
“Sam, no. He probably doesn’t want anything to do with me after that whole debacle.”
“He was practically drooling on the cornhole pallets.” Sam scans the venue.
“How about we just let him come to me then?” I suggest.
“God, my parents are going to be pissed. It’s going to be awesome.” Sam sits back down.
Laughing, I agree. At least there will be one positive outcome of this whole scenario. I haven’t seen their parents since our initial introductions, and I honestly don’t want to, either. I know if I did, I’d do or say something that would get all of us in trouble.
“What a damn night.” Macey shakes her head, staring off into nothing while she takes a sip of her drink.
“You’re telling me,” I say.
My body already hums with the warmth of the wine.
“Can we order something?” I ask.
“You read my fucking mind. Waiter!” Sam yells. “We need fries. Lots of fries.”
TYLER
“Tyler, everyone saw that,” Cole says. “What if it affects the polls?”
“Yeah, I know, and frankly I don’t fucking care.” I pace.
“You will care once Mitchell finds out, if he already didn’t see,” Cole mutters.
“People have done worse things in public, Cole.”
“I wonder if Shelby saw,” Anthony quips.
“Of course she fucking saw. The whole venue saw,” Cole growls. “Fuck, her dad probably saw. Tyler, I am not in the mood to have to break up fights tonight.”
“If Connor doesn’t fucking stop drooling over Sunny and trying to get in her pants, then there won’t have to be a fight tonight.” I grip the table near us. “I kissed her,” I finally admit. And did more.
Hanging his head between his shoulders, Cole looks back up at me. “Go on.”
“This night just keeps getting better.” Anthony leans against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I kissed her the night we trained together in the gym. And she kissed me back. It’s there, you guys. I know she feels something. There is something fucking there.” I sound like a desperate man, and maybe I am, but it’s only for her.
“You’re making this really fucking hard for me, Tyler,” Cole sighs. “This, this changes things.”
“We can’t betray her trust. But we can cock block for you.” Anthony shrugs.
“We have to be smart, not irrational,” Cole reminds me.
“I know. I know.” I say.
“Okay, this is what we can do –” Cole starts.
“Fucking shit, Tyler.” I hear Mitchell say behind me.
“I’m not in the mood, Mitchell.”
“Well, I wasn’t really in the mood for you to walk through the event with a woman who isn’t your bride to be over your shoulder, Not only in front of everyone, but her god damn parents,” he seethes.
The closer he gets, the more I can smell the alcohol seeping from his bulging veins and sweating skin.
“Well, it’s a good thing they all know where I stand then,” I challenge.
“Tyler!” He throws his glass, shattering it.
Cole and Anthony immediately step between us, but they’re too late. I fist his shirt, slamming him against a wall. “Look who is irrational and making a scene, now. Don’t ever fucking threaten me again.” I throw him, watching him stumble on his feet.
He’s got his teeth in me, but I’m about to fucking bite back.