Page 71 of Tiny's Law

At my puzzled expression, he smirks. “We were so good together, no?”

I shake my head, goosebumps rising along my arms. Not the good kind of goosebumps. Ben’s grip on the side of my face is not one of care or intimacy. He isn’t holding my face like a past lover who misses someone. He has a forceful grip that tells me that missing me is the last thing he feels.

“You’re hurting me, Ben.”

“Oh, sorry,” he smiles sheepishly as if he truly is sorry. Loosening his grip, he trails the backs of his fingers where he was just squeezing me, almost like he’s trying to soothe the new ache caused by his own hand.

“Can you just tell me what you’re doing here? Please?” I ask, my voice shaky.

He backs up and grips the edges of his suit, buttoning his blazer back together. “I just came to say hi.”

“You came all the way here to say hi?”

“I was in town.”

“For?”

“What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t come on a little trip with my brother to support him while he wins his wife back?”

It doesn’t escape me that he voices it as an absolute, not a possibility.

I choke on the spit I try to swallow and let my gaze fall to the hardwood floor. “Matt’s here?”

“What?” Ben smiles sinisterly. “You afraid he’s going to tell your new little fuck toy how much of a whore you are?”

I let out a squeak and meet his cruel stare once again.

I knew Ben was upset about our breakup at the time, but I didn’t realize he thought of me that way. Well, considering he’s truly convinced that I slept with his brother, it makes sense.

It doesn’t surprise me that he believes him over me. Ben always lived up his brother’s ass, living out his whole life for Matt’s approval.

He laughs, and it sounds silly, but the laugh that comes out of him is straight evil. It’s like one of those laughs from a movie villain when his plan is all coming together.

It causes more goosebumps to rise on my skin and dread to pool deep in my belly.

What if Matt has already made it to Tiny? What if he says something to him that will make him believe his lies over me? What do I do then?

“I’ll be around, sweetheart.”

Nausea rises in my throat at the old pet name, and I force out a breath as the alarm chirps with his departure.

I don’t know how long I stand there, panicking at the thought of Tiny being disgusted with me once again. My phone chirps from my bag, shaking off my momentary stupor, and I find Tiny’s smiling face on my screen.

Sliding my finger across it to accept the call, I bring the cold device to my ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, honey.” I exhale harshly at his easy tone. Okay. Matt hasn’t gotten to him yet.

I curse internally when my voice still shakes. “Hey, what’s up?”

“I was just seeing if you still wanted to come for dinner. Evie went out, so it’ll just be mom and I. It’ll be good. You two can talk.”

I clear my throat and force a smile, even though he can’t see it. “I’d love to. I’m going to go home and shower, then I’ll be there.”

“Actually, can I come pick you up?” I smile at the thought of riding on the back of his bike again. After Ben’s little impromptu visit, a freeing ride with the wind in my hair might actually be nice.

“That sounds good. Can you pick me up in an hour?”

He chuckles. “I’ll give you thirty minutes.”

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