Chapter 13 #2
As if I haven’t been locking up without him for years?
“I’m fine.”
“Come on, Mer.”
I bristle at the overfamiliar shortening of my name.
“I don’t want you going home alone.”
“I’m fine.” I’m not, but I won’t get into the details.
Calder stands next to me, placing his hand by mine. He’s close, his chest nearly brushing against my elbow. “She’s not going home alone.”
A choking sound gets stuck in my throat. Does he know what that sounds like? When I sneak a peek at Calder and his set jaw, yes. He does.
Tanner cocks his head. “And you are…?”
“Tanner, this is Calder.”
No recognition flares in his eyes.
“Cross. Calder Cross,” I add.
Tanner’s brows lift. “And you two are—”
“No.” Living with Calder is awkward enough. Rather, not as uncomfortable as it could be, and I don’t want that to change. I also don’t care to hear Calder rush to clarify what we aren’t. “He’s staying at the house, since it’s probably his.”
Does Calder sway closer? His heat surrounds me, and I snatch little beats of comfort from it. I’m so tired my heart hurts, and he doesn’t need to know.
My ex frowns. “Ram didn’t hang you out to dry, did he? I mean, this place should be yours.”
The air thickens between Calder and me.
I swallow. “It’s not my decision, and Ransom had three kids.”
“Kids who left.”
He always did kiss up to Ransom. Tanner’s about status, and he wants some of his own. I knew perfectly well that Annie was the daughter of a bank president. If her daddy were on the road crew that came in the other day, Tanner wouldn’t have fucked her. Or maybe he would’ve anyway.
“Aren’t they all rich?” he asks as if Calder isn’t right next to me. “What would they need with this place? Would they even know what to do with it?”
“None of that’s your goddamn business,” Calder says, his tone frigid. “Neither is Meredith. You need to leave.”
Tanner’s sharp inhale echoes between us, heightening my discomfort. I can’t handle an argument right now, nor do I care to witness the guy who didn’t love me engage in a pissing contest with the guy who likely only cares because he needs to be in control.
“All right, Tanner. Let’s call it a night. I appreciate your concern.” I leave Calder’s space, missing his heat immediately, and head for the exit. Tanner slides off his stool to trail after me.
Once I can grab the handle, I swing the door open. Frogs croak in the distance, the dewy smell of the night surrounding me.
He cups my elbow and crowds me like he’s trying to herd me outside. “I just want to talk, Mer.”
“You gave up that chance.”
Remorse fills his expression. “I’m so sorry. I was stupid. I miss you, and I want to be here for you.”
He might mean it; he might not. Too much of me doesn’t care.
“There’s a lot going on right now.”
“Come on, babe. Let’s just talk. I’ll wait for you. You can even come to my place, so we have some privacy.”
The shutdown is instant. I don’t know how much longer I’ll have in the house, but I don’t want to miss a single second of sitting at that table with Calder. I really am pathetic. I take a step back, but his grip tightens, and he drags me closer.
“Tanner, what are you—”
“Just to talk. That’s all I want. I’m worried about you.”
A shadow blocks out the parking lot, and Tanner’s grip slips away as he cries out.
Calder’s in front of me, his fingers turning white on Tanner’s wrist. “Don’t touch her again.”
My ex attempts to stand to his full height, but he’s a few inches shorter than Calder, and he seems to be battling the urge to curl up in Calder’s punishing grip. “Let me go.”
“Not until you understand you’re not touching her again.” Calder’s voice sends shivers over my skin.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Color leeches from Tanner’s face.
“Do you really want to find out?” Calder’s voice is pure velvet and full of promise. I wish he’d said that to me for an entirely different reason.
Tanner works his jaw back and forth. “Fine. I’m leaving.” He cranes his head to look around Calder. “Call me when you get home. So I know you’re safe.”
I don’t answer. This whole situation is nothing I’ve experienced before.
“Let me go,” Tanner croaks.
Calder does, giving him a shove. Tanner stumbles backward and lurches toward his pickup.
I linger in the doorway, barely able to see around Calder’s broad back, but he doesn’t move, as if he’s blocking me from the spectacle.
Tanner gets in his truck, peels away, and speeds down the highway.
The stress of the past week and the absurdity of the evening hits me, and a maniacal giggle bubbles up from within. “Wait until I tell S-Sawyer.” I take a deep breath. “She’s going to say Car-Alarm Humper deserved it.”
Calder slowly turns around. “Come again?”
“He tried to!” More laughter swamps me, and I clutch my belly. I manage to get out a stilted version of what Tanner did. “He was trying to come again with another woman when he got busted.”
Calder’s brow ratchets up. “Asshole. How long did you two—”
“Too long.” I exhale as my fatigue merges with feelings of shame and embarrassment.
My smile fades. “What a stereotype, right? The girl whose parents abandoned her clung to a toxic relationship a little too long. Really, I was too afraid to return to Scandal and be the kid sister who couldn’t make it on her own. ”
My cheeks burn. I pivot on a heel and march into the taproom, wishing I could rewind the night and not look like a fool in front of Calder. Again.