Page 77 of The Way We Dance

“Knock knock,” I heard his voice as he entered and I smiled up at him. “Damn, you look amazing for a woman that just got shot.”

I was instantly thankful that he was not uptight and sorrowful. I didn't want to lament about last night, I wanted to move forward.

“Hi Mr. Peyton. Please come in.” At this point, I wasn't sure which version of me Mr. Peyton was going to get. I owed him my professionalism, but I was laid in a hospital bed and I was almost one thousand precent sure he knew I slept with his number one tight end.

“Shit, Giselle,” he was coming toward me, looking at me with friendly eyes.

“Right?” I tried to laugh and wave at my leg but it was covered with a blanket.

“Tell me everything.”

“Can I ask how you knew I was here, first?”

He smiled and sat down in the chair next to the bed. “You know the answer to that.”

“Yeah,” I nodded, “I do.”

“He is worried sick, ya know? He came banging on my door last night and told me what happened. He was a shit show but we knew from the detective that you were alive. He still didn't sleep a wink and I didn't either if I’m being honest.”

“I don’t remember much,” I confessed. “The guy entered the studio and Ty was outside talking to his brother. I don’t remember much after that. I just remember waking up on the gurney with a pain in my head and leg.”

He took his hands and wiped over his face a few times before looking back up at me. He didn't speak but I could tell he didn't really know what to say to all that.

“I don’t want to see Ty,” I confessed. “I don’t trust myself around him and I need time to sort this all out.”

He was nodding and biting his lip, looking around the room. Still silent.

“I don’t know if he was a part of all this, but the guy that entered the room told me he was.” Well, there goes my idea of keeping that to myself.

“He wasn't,” Mr. Peyton said quickly. “His brother is a piece of shit but Ty is the younger brother that despite his fortune and fame, still wants his big brother to be his brother.”

“Then how do we really know?”

“You tell me. Do you really think he would do that to you? Be a part of anything that would hurt you?”

“He told you everything, didn’t he?”

Mr. Peyton’s bottom lip frowned a bit in sadness as he nodded, “Yeah he did. And trust me, he didn't want anything to happen to you. He didn't know what was going on. Everything that happened after Ty heard that gunshot has sent him into such a tailspin that I’m not sure even football can heal.”

The details of what actually happened had not yet been explained to me properly. So I scrunched my nose in confusion.

“Ty said he sent the guard away because he saw his brother and decided you two should leave. He felt Mike was harmless enough and was going to ask him what was up before you two left. He lured Ty in with some brotherly love and then told him you had his drugs. Once Ty realized it was a set up, he ran back but the door was locked and he heard the gunshot. Apparently he ran around trying to find someone to call 911. The guy that lives above your studio heard the gunshot and called, though.”

Tears were streaming down as Mr. Peyton relayed what Ty had told him. Ty’s version was sad, painful. If that was how it went for Ty, my heart broke for him as I pictured him running rabid to get help.

“He told the detectives everything. All about Mike and his dealings, everything Mike and him spoke about last night. I haven't heard anything today, but I am willing to bet Mike has a warrant and a APB out on him.”

More tears fell along with relief.

“He really wants to see you, Giselle. But I told him if I got to talk to you, that I would do whatever you asked of me. I will relay whatever you let me.”

I shook my head as more tears fell. “I can’t see him, Mr. Peyton. I love him too much to trust myself around him. I want to heal first. Mentally and physically.”

Mr. Peyton nodded one time and stood up. “You got it.”

“But please don’t tell him that one part,” I added in quickly, hoping he understood I meant the part about loving him. I didn't want to explain why, but luckily he didn't ask. He smiled and leaned down to kiss my cheek before telling me he would be back at another time to check in.

I understood why Ty looked up to him. He was hard nosed and tough, but strong and honorable. I was willing to bet Mr. Peyton never did anything wrong or broke any rules. He was just that type of guy.

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