He continues, “I’d hate to see one of my close friends get hurt, and I don’t want to see my little sister heartbroken.”
“I know.” I meet his eyes.
Though he laughs, he adds, “And I don't want to have to punch your face in if you were the cause of it.”
I roll my eyes but agree with the sentiment.
“I wouldn’t do anything to make you that pissed,” I confirm with Everleigh front and center in my mind. We’ve grown close, and I can’t deny that. She makes me laugh and doesn’t let me stay inside my shell for too long without calling me out. I wish I could make her happy, but I’ve never had a serious relationship. And while she makes me want the idea of more, I’d probably mess it up.
Tyler interrupts my thoughts. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re happy here and liking it so far.”
“Yeah. It’s not half as bad as I was anticipating,” I reaffirm with a grin.
Smith waves at Tyler, and he excuses himself.
The air in the room feels thick as I think about everything. Right now, as hard as it is, I know I need to force her away. Everleigh has admitted she has issues when it comes to dating as well.
Hurting her would be one of the biggest regrets of my life right next to betraying my best friend. The thought makes me feel guilty. Everleigh has burrowed herself under my skin, and I don’t know how I’m going to wash the thoughts of her away. But damn, I’m going to have to try.
Needing to get out of here, I leave the gym before my next client arrives.
The temperature has dropped to the fifties. The sweat on my back feels cold in the weather, but I keep walking.
Eventually, I pass the boutique and know Everleigh’s inside working. I'd love to go in and say hello, but I don’t want to give her the wrong impression, not while I’m already questioning everything. Pulling my eyes away, I keep moving forward until I’m standing outside the coffee shop downtown.
Smells of peppermint and chocolate waft through the air when I walk in and scan the menu.
A redheaded woman greets me with a smile.
“Whatcha havin’, sugar?”
“Just a regular coffee.”
She playfully rolls her eyes as if she’s offended. “Out of all those magical drink choices I have, you order that.”
I can tell she’s joking by her tone.
Seconds later, she pours it in a to-go cup, then hands it over.
“Thank you. How much do I owe you?”
“It’s on the house.” She flashes a wink.
I thank her again, then tuck a five-dollar bill in her tip jar.
On the way back to the gym, I take a sip, but it’s too hot to keep drinking.
When I look up, I see the same black Escalade parked on the side of the road. My heart races, and I pick up my pace. If Krystal is behind this, I’m determined to find out. I tightly grip my cup and break into a jog. Twenty feet from it, the engine starts and zooms off.
“What the fuck?” I hiss, convinced I’m being followed.
When I walk inside the gym, my adrenaline courses through my veins as I try to put the pieces together. But I force myself to shake it off before my next client arrives. The lesson goes by quickly, and so do my other sessions. For the rest of the day, I’m unsettled.
The mood sits heavily on my shoulders as I walk home with my eyes wide open. I’m determined to find out who the hell is following me and why.
When I walk in, Sassy immediately greets me with a bark. I let her out, and she runs around until she grows bored.
I take a shower, wanting to clear my mind. When I get out, I check to see if Everleigh is home yet and then see a text from her.
Everleigh: Staying late to put up a new shipment of inventory. Feel free to eat leftovers or make whatever you want!
It’s not out of the ordinary for her to stay a few hours after close. I contemplate waiting for her, but when my stomach growls, I decide to heat some food. As I eat, my mind races with Tyler’s words. The truth of it pierces through me like a knife, and what I know I have to do nearly guts me.
Once I start yawning, I decide to go to bed. There’s a bit of hesitation after I walk into my room, but I force myself to lock the door.
Tyler’s right.
He knows us both better than we know each other.
I lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. The last thing I want to do is hurt her feelings, but it’s inevitably going to happen. I try to push the thoughts away and tell myself it’s what I have to do before I hurt her worse.