Keeping You Away (Ex-Con Duet 1)

“Hey, Tyler. It’s Eric. We used to work for Victoria O’Leary together. I need to talk to you as soon as possible.” He lingers, then lets out a breath. “It’s important.”

The message ends, and I play it again. There’s an edginess in his voice, and the confident air he used to have is gone. Eric was an asshole, and I couldn’t stand him. I stuff my phone in my pocket, my head spinning with reasons as to why he’d be calling me. However, it doesn’t matter because my mind is already made.

I’m not calling him back. Fuck that, and fuck him. I don’t want to be a part of whatever he’s gotten himself into. I bury the thoughts and go back to the living room.

“What’s wrong?” Everleigh asks, muting the TV.

I shake my head. “It’s nothing.”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Nah. What were we talking about before?” I can’t remember because the only thing that’s in my head right now is Eric’s alarming voice. Whatever he wants feels like a trap, and I don’t want anything to do with the family ever again.

“Gemma,” she says. “We were talking about Gemma.”

I chuckle. “No, we weren’t.”

I’d actually remember that.

“Well, I was going to talk about Gemma. You said women act uncomfortable around you, so I just thought I’d ask how things are at the shop with you two working together.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I grin. “She pretends I’m not there, so it’s going as expected.”

“Not surprising. What about Jerry? I’m sure he’s happy you’re there.”

“He’s a good boss. Doesn’t micromanage. Gives me tasks and lets me figure it out without hovering. It’s a godsend of a position in this godforsaken town.” I throw her a wink.

“If it doesn’t work out, you can always come work for me,” she sing-songs.

I roll my eyes. “Shut up and keep dreamin’.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

“But seriously, it’s nice to feel like I have a purpose again and something else to focus on.”

“Any more surprise visits from Gemma’s fiancé?” Everleigh asks, and I stiffen. Though the blood seems to move quicker through my veins, I keep my breath steady, not wanting her to notice the slightest change in my behavior. I overcompensate and put my feet up on the coffee table as if I’m uninterested.

“Nope.” I shrug, keeping my opinions about the guy to myself because they wouldn’t be very nice.

“I only ask because Gemma mentioned you two met at the garage the other day.”

“Yep,” I confirm.

“Between you and me, I don’t think Gemma’s ready to marry the guy. She’s my best friend, so I’ll support her no matter what, but I’m wondering if she’ll go through with it or not.”

Stay. Calm. “Wow, that’s pretty bad, Ev,” I say, keeping my eyes on the TV.

“I know, I know, but seriously! They’ve been engaged for eighteen months and just recently set a date. If you’re madly in love with someone, you don’t wait that long unless there’s a good reason—like a death in the family, or someone’s sick, or you’re saving up money—and those are definitely not the reasons.” My throat tightens as she rambles on. I feel bad talking about Gemma like this, but it seems my sister needs to vent to someone, so I let her continue. “She’s stalling. At first, I thought it was nerves, and some of it still might be, but there are other issues now.” Everleigh drinks half the glass of wine she must’ve poured when I was in the bathroom. In about five minutes, she’s going to have loose lips and tell me everything I already suspected.

“Gemma’s a grown ass woman and can make her own decisions. Marriage used to be a big deal to her, so I doubt she’d jump into a relationship just to do it,” I tell her, though I’m not convinced either after meeting the guy.

Everleigh finishes her drink, then leans back against the couch and looks at me. I can feel her eyes peeling back my flesh as though she’s ready to open me up and dissect my thoughts.

“Do you still have feelings for her? Like you used to?” She narrows her eyes as if she already knows my answer.

“What’s it matter? Even if I do, it wouldn’t change anything. She’s planning a wedding, and I won’t ruin that. After fucking up her life enough already, I promised myself I’d stay away.”

Everleigh grins. “You didn’t say no.”

“I didn’t say yes, either,” I counter. “I’m Switzerland with my answer, completely neutral,” I say.

“Oh bullshit.” She scowls. “You’ve been an opinionated badass my whole life. You aren’t fooling me.”

“Nope, I mean it. She can marry the Prince of England for all I care, and I wouldn’t say a thing.”

Everleigh snorts. “That’s not dramatic at all. Plus, how would she meet a prince in small-town Alabama?”

“I don’t know, you tell me. You’re the one who watches all those Lifetime and Hallmark movies.”