“Charles,” hearing his name made him cry even harder, “what happened?”
“He…he was coming to see you. He’d…he said he knew what Jace had done. He was coming to tell you. Oh God, Taryn,” he whimpered.
“Charles,” I said softly, my heart breaking. I sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. The bed sheet pooled around my waist, as I sat there, phone to my ear, waiting for Geezer to respond.
“I tried calling your cell, but I don’t think it’s turned o
n…it was a car accident.” It was the car accident we passed, the one that made me feel so uneasy.
I’d turned it off—I didn’t want to see how many times Mandy would call. I thought it would be ok.
I didn’t say anything. I held my breath. My heart was pounding in my ears.
“He’s…Brian…he’s…”
He’s dead.
I already knew.
“He’s dead, Taryn.”
I sat there. I couldn’t speak and it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Geezer was crying, whimpering like a child, and I just sat there. I didn’t have it in me to comfort him. I saw my reflection in the mirror—I was empty of all emotion. I turned it off, just shut it off so I couldn’t feel anything. I should know better, last night was the perfect example of what burying your memories and emotions can do to you But I just couldn’t feel right now. I wanted to be shut off—from everything .
Tray sat up and took the phone away.
He lifted it to his ear and asked, “Hello?”
I had to hear it all over again.
I heard Geezer tell Tray. And a moment later, after a quick conversation, Tray reached around and replaced the phone.
I sat there.
“Taryn,” Tray spoke.
I felt nothing.
“Taryn,” he tried again.
Still nothing. Time was frozen as was I.
Then I felt Tray’s fingers at my arm. He was pulling me up. And I stood there while he touched me, a cool slide of air hit me and then—I was dressed again.
He’d changed me. While I stood there, staring dumbly, as he knelt before me, his hands at my feet, trying to get my shoes on.
I stared at his back. I saw how large it was, muscular, strong. I saw the muscles bulge, slightly, with every movement he made, every turn he took.
Every reach he made.
He was standing before me, a bag slung over his shoulder. He had all the bags then and he grasped my elbow, pulling me with him. I blinked.
We were on the elevator.
My eyes closed.
We were at the front desk.