Sweet Affection (Truth Book 3)

by Henderson, Grace

  Chapter Eleven

  Laurel

  Jess dropped me home after work. I didn’t want to ring James and he didn’t seem to think that I might need a lift either so I went with the silent approach. I’m starting to think maybe I’m being unreasonable. Maybe I should just keep my distance, at least until Graham and Hayley get back. But when I walk in the house and see Tyler with his back to me, in nothing but dark jeans, washing up all the dirty plates I stacked up on the side this morning, I feel justified in wanting to make him feel included while he’s here. He’s making a real effort, and I just wish James would do the same.

  “Well, Hayley sure raised you right.” I say as I walk in the kitchen, making a point of closing my mouth to hide the surprise.

  Tyler turns and there’s something in his eyes that I didn’t mean to put there. Hurt, regret, I don’t know, I can’t make it out.

  “Hayley didn’t raise me at all, abuela. Funnily enough, I learnt to wash up all on my own. Clever boy, huh?”

  Hayley didn’t raise him? I don’t understand. She’s his mother, isn’t she? Getting fed little tiny jigsaw pieces of Tyler’s life slowly just fuels my impatience.

  Tyler chuckles. “You think too much. Here, you dry.” He throws the tea towel at me, and I take my place next to him drying the plates while he carries on washing. I really want to ask him about his childhood, and what he meant by Hayley not raising him. I’ve never had to think so much about talking to people. Usually I just blurt out exactly what’s running through my mind. But I hold back when I talk to Tyler.

  “Again, you got something to say, just say it. If I get pissed, that’s my problem not yours. Just make sure you keep your nose out of my business.”

  “What have you got against James?”

  He sighs and lifts out a couple of dishes onto the drainer. “I said, nose out. Just leave it.”

  I frown. “It’s not me being nosy. He’s my boyfriend. This is my house, and I don’t like tension. I just don’t know what the problem is between the two of you.”

  He stiffens, and presses his lips together, but there’s still a hint of playfulness in his voice that I’m thankful for.

  “Look, I put up with you because you’re hot. And if I drown out your incessant nagging, I can just look at the pretty picture. Your Prince Charming, I do not want to talk about. Got it? And if you carry on, I’m leaving.”

  Ugh, he has such a way with words. I’d be insulted if I hadn’t already learnt he masks real feelings with asshole tendencies.

  I pick a plate up to dry it and see food still stuck round the edges. I try and scrape it off but it doesn’t move.

  “Tyler!” I huff, “If you’re going to wash, can you at least do it properly, look!” I shove the plate under his face and he leans in closer to inspect it. He frowns in concentration and I don’t know why but I feel like laughing so hard. Before I think about how pissed off he’s going to be, I reach into the sink, cup my hand full of water and launch it right at the side of his head. I step back, and he looks at me wide-eyed. His hair is dripping, a droplet of water runs from his eyebrow and down the side of the face. He looks ridiculous. I need to laugh. I bite my lip and bring my wet wrist up to shield my mouth, while I laugh into it. He shakes out his hair and runs his hand through it. His mouth curls. My eyes glance at his hand which disappears into the sink full of water, and his eyes flash with mischief. He has bigger hands than I do, therefore more water. Why would I think this would end any differently? I try to reason with him.

  “You haven’t got a shirt on. I’m still in my work clothes. You can’t.”

  “Oh, I can abuela.”

  It only takes a split second for the water to come flying through the air, drenching my clothes and my hair. I scream and run round the other side of the kitchen island, laughing at my own stupidity.

  “I don’t know why I fucking bother.”

  I stop giggling and brush the water out my face as I look up in time to see James’ darkened blue eyes switching from me to Tyler and back again, full of hurt and disappointment. The huge bouquet of pink roses lands at my feet in a puddle of water.

  Then he’s gone, and my heart sinks. Of course he’d see that. And of course it would upset him. I look at Tyler who’s turned his back to me now and sigh as I pick up the bouquet and leave it on the table. I’ll put them in a vase after I’ve spoken to James. I shake out my clothes a little, and pad upstairs to try and do some damage control.

  He’s by the window in the bedroom undoing his shirt as I walk in.

  “Can you not just see things from my point of view for a second?” He walks to the wardrobe and pulls out a fresh shirt with such force that the hangers clang together noisily, and one falls to the bottom of the wardrobe. He slams the door shut and pulls the shirt over his shoulders, his fingers working the buttons quicker than I’ve ever seen before.

  “He’s the reason my dad stayed away for four years. He gave him the perfect little life in Spain, forgetting about me and my mum. My dad’s life was all about Hayley and Tyler. I thought all this time that my dad was just so hurt he couldn’t bear to be back here. In our old house. Seeing mum every day in me, and in our life and maybe it was that at first. But then, he…” he nods his head towards the door, and I realise his voice is so loud now that Tyler can probably hear. “…and his mother, made him so fucking happy, that he forgot about me. And now you’re forgetting about me too.”

  That’s not the case at all. James is everything to me. But none of this is Tyler’s fault. Graham’s a grown man, he made his own choices.

  “How could I forget about you? I love you. I moved into your house. I’m here.” I don’t know what else I can say, apart from telling him I won’t speak to Tyler anymore. But I can’t do that. Anything but that.

  “Yeah well, it doesn’t feel like it.” He picks up his wallet and keys from the bed and walks out the door, and I’m left still standing there dripping wet, staring after him.

  I text Cassie and she and Jess are already at the bar, so I change into an electric blue strapless dress, and curl my hair. I drag my heels because I don’t really feel like going out now. If I hadn’t already texted Tyler earlier this morning and told him about this evening, I’d probably end up staying in with Ben and Jerry. He wasn’t sure if he was going to go out, he said he had some things to do, but he may stop by for a drink. So I can hardly let him show up and not be there. Especially as now it’s caused all this extra hassle.

  Tyler’s not home so I order a taxi and within ten minutes I’m walking into Encore, to the sound of Pitbull and Enrique and the beat lifts me slightly. I need to hang out with my besties and have a bit of time way from men even though I’m sure they won’t be long.

  “Hey hun.” Cassie hugs me and I squeeze her back, needing the connection a little longer. I place my hand on Jess’ arm in greeting. I did only see her a couple of hours ago.

  “Hi.” I slump into a comfy velvet chair and feel the cool material pulling me in further. I just want to sink into it and curl up.

  “You look like you need a drink. We’re on the vino. You wanna share? I’ll grab another glass.” Jess asks and I nod my head enthusiastically, before she bounces across the room to the bar.

  “You have the exact same worn out look as James. He’s with Blake at his house. Drowning his sorrows with beer at the moment.”

  I thought that would be where he went. They’re always there for each other. I’m glad he has someone to look out for him.

  “It’s just this whole Tyler thing. It’s getting really bad. Something’s got to change because we can’t keep going the way we are. I feel like I’m being pulled in two different directions.”

  Cassie nods, and rests her elbow on the arm of the chair. She fiddles with the little buttons on her top which means she wants to say something.

  “I just…Don’t take this the wrong way Laurel, but why do you even feel like that? I’m not being a bitch, just trying to understand. Surely, James should come first
?”

  I have thought about that over and over again. And I just don’t feel like including Tyler is putting James last. It just feels like the right thing to do. I want to help him.

  “I know what you’re saying. But you haven’t been there Cass. Honestly, there are things that I’m just trying to piece together about Tyler. Things that have clearly happened to him, truthfully I just think he needs someone.” I shrug, and shake my head as I try to stop tears by assessing my nails. “I just want to help. I never had any brothers or sisters. You know how that hurt my mum and dad. And me. Maybe…Maybe I could have one now.” I swipe my eyes before the tears can drop, and shake myself. “Sorry. It’s stupid. I don’t know why it’s so important to me. It just is.”

  “Okay.” She says quietly. “I get it. I just wanted to understand. It’s hard when he comes to talk to me too. And he’s been such a great friend to me. I don’t like seeing you both like this.”

  “Here you are.” Jess places a glass in front of me and fills it right up. She picks up her glass, taking a sip then nearly spits it back out.

  “Oh my God.” She shrieks. “Don’t look now but hottie at two o’clock. Fuck, look at those muscles.” I glance up at Jess and she’s got her bottom lip firmly between her teeth.

  “Holy shit, who is that?” Cassie’s voice is little more than a stunned whisper. She’s staring with her jaw dropped open, the same dazed expression as Jess.

  I think I know who’s just walked in but before I turn, I peer at the other women in the bar, and every single one is either openly staring, or trying their best to conceal their staring from the men they’re with. Even some of the guys have stopped what they’re doing to watch. The air in the room is now charged with some entirely different, something this town has never quite felt before. It’s electric. I move in my seat to see if I was right and smile when I realise I was.

  His white t-shirt, black leather jacket and tight black jeans are clinging to him in the worst, best, dirtiest way possible. His hair is a dark sexy mess on top of his head, and he might possibly have the most arrogant swagger I’ve seen since James.

  James. My boyfriend who is not going to be a happy bunny.

  Tyler’s eyes dart across the room and rake over everything and everyone inside the bar. A small, self-important smile passes over his face as he eyes all the females with their heads turned in his direction. The smile gets wider as his eyes stop at me, and my stomach fills with a mix of excitement that I asked and he actually came, and dread for the evening ahead.

  “You know him?” Jess leans in and hisses into my ear. Her voice is full of disbelief and I know why. Guys around here don’t look like him. He’s not the normal, preppy, Abercrombie type that lives in this little town. He’s much more dangerous than that. I see it in his stare, the way he moves and the tattoos on his chest that peek over the top of his t-shirt. I wonder what they say. I should have paid attention earlier when he had his shirt off, but the last thing I want is for him to get the wrong impression about me. I realise Jess and Cassie are still looking between us and I haven’t answered her yet. I swallow hard to get my jaw moving.

  “He…” I get out my seat and down the rest of my wine, “may be my brother-in-law one day.” Jess’ jaw drops again and I chuckle as I put the glass down on the table and walk over to meet Tyler.

  “So, I know you said this town is small, but really? Have I got two heads?” He asks doubtfully.

  “I don’t think it’s your head that they’re looking at.” I point out, gesturing to the many sets of eyes that are perusing his body all the way down to the floor and back up again. His eyes shine with amusement and the cocky half smile brings me back down from the clouds.

  “Oh, really. What is it then?”

  “Your clothes, obviously.” I grin, because we both know that it’s not the clothes. Unless you count the body in the clothes.

  “It’s gotta be the whole biker thing you got going on. Girls round here prefer their guys to drive Mercs or BMWs. Not bikes.” He pauses, and flicks his eyes to the table I just got up from, then back at me.

  “Sugar, I don’t think your friends agree.” He nods towards to Cassie and Jess who are still watching him like they want to eat him whole.

  “Oh don’t pay attention to them. They just like new and shiny. It’ll wear off.”

  I turn around subtly, and give them both a frown that says knock it off. Thankfully Cassie’s the first to snap out of it, and she nudges Jess with her elbow. They straighten in their chairs and put their heads together, talking quietly.

  Good one, girls. I roll my eyes and grab hold of Tyler’s arm, steering him in the direction of the table.

  “Tyler, this is Cassie. She’s one of my best friends.” He kisses her cheek. “And married.” I add, when I see the interested look on his face. He chuckles and I smile.

  “And this is my friend and work colleague, Jess.”

  “Hi.” Jess’ greeting is tame compared to how she was reacting when she first saw him. She settles back in the chair and eyes him carefully over her glass.

  “I’m going to get a drink, would you ladies like one?”

  “We’re good thanks. We’ve still got the bottle.” He nods, peels off his leather jacket that just leaves the perfectly moulded white t-shirt, throws it over the chair and saunters up to the bar. All he has to do is lean against the bar for two seconds before he’s got a female at his side, giggling away.

  “Oh my God, Laurel. You never mentioned how hot he was. How could you keep that from us? He’s got the whole Kellan Lutz thing going on.”

  “Ooh I love Kellan! He has that whole beefcake teddy bear vibe. You just want to be the one he cuddles with at night.” They start laughing and I shake my head.

  “You’ve got your own beefcake, Mrs Richards,” I remind her. A slow smile spreads across Cassie’s face and she sighs dreamily.

  “Yeah I have. He’s a hottie too. Speaking of the devil…” Her words stop as she looks behind me and I turn my head to see Blake and James on the other side of the room.

  James

  I lock eyes with Laurel as soon as I walk in the bar.

  “You going to be okay tonight?” Blake asks, and I scan the room and see Tyler at the bar with a brunette pressed against his side. Maybe I could go and talk to her while he’s distracted.

  “Yeah, I’m not going to let him keep me away. These are my friends in here.”

  The bar’s busy, and there are people crowded around Tyler and the girl he’s with. I don’t know what they’re doing, waiting, wanting, wishing, who the fuck knows?

  “Drink?”

  I slap him on the back, “Yeah mate, whatever you’re having.” My attention goes back to Laurel. She’s laughing with Jess and Cassie then her eyes go to her phone. She reads the text then lifts her eyes to Tyler and smiles. What the fuck has he just texted her? She leans to whisper to Jess then stands. As she straightens her dress, my eyes skim her ass and legs before finding Tyler again. He’s looking thoroughly bored with the female who’s kind of cornered him into the side of the bar. Laurel struts up to him, her hands gesture all over the place in anger at both of them. He looks shocked and sorry, and tries to calm her down, but the brunette next to him huffs and walk away after cursing at him. I can hear the words from over here and they aren’t pretty.

  Fucking hell. Now she’s pretending to be his fucking girlfriend. I don’t think I can deal with this shit tonight. It feels like she’s trying to piss me off on purpose. Why else would she be acting like this? She knows how I feel about it. Actually I don’t know exactly how I feel about it. Him. I just feel…conflicted. It’s pathetic I know. I feel pathetic. And when I see him making her laugh, I feel jealous. As soon as we got together, Ryan backed off. He’s a good friend. To both of us. But Tyler has no loyalties to me. And he’s not backing off. The feelings are so raw inside I just feel like I need to punch something.

  “Here you go.” Ryan places two beers down on the bar, and I eye them thought
fully. I’m thinking I need something harder.

  “Two Jagerbombs.”

  Blake moans. “Why are we drinking that shit? What’s wrong with this?”

  “Situation calls for it. Stop being a pussy.”

  We take the shots off Ryan and knock them back. Fuck, now I know why I don’t do shots regularly. I wince at the taste and chase it with my beer.

  “Ack. That’s gross.” Blake shoots the glass over to Ryan who chuckles and leans against the side.

  “You keeping away from the girls tonight?”

  “Yep, boys only. Women ain’t nothing but trouble.”

  He slings the tea towel over his shoulder and starts to pour us both another shot.

  “I’ll let you drink to that shit on me! ‘Cause it’s too damn true. Here…” He places another two in front of us and this time I clink my glass against Blake’s then down it.

  Another hour of guy talk and I’ve had too many shots I’ve lost count. But they’re easing the pain slightly. Stopping me from feeling things so much. That is until my attention gets pulled away to the other side of the bar, where Cassie, Jess and Laurel are all sat down with Tyler, laughing their asses off. I don’t care, I keep telling myself. I don’t care that she’s smiling at him. I don’t care he’s leant back with a cocky as all hell grin. I look over towards the door. I don’t care Shannon’s strutting her way up to me right now, biting her slutty little lip. I don’t care.

  “Hey gorgeous. All alone? Want some company?”

  I snort into my next shot and down it quickly. This is me not caring.

  I gesture to Blake standing right next to me and Ryan on the other side of the bar leaning against it, talking to him. “Does it look like I’m all alone?” I say sarcastically, expecting her to leave. My tone doesn’t seem to faze her. She just shrugs.