Page 83 of Trigger

I tookher in my arms and carried her into the darkened bedroom that was surprisinglydevoid of people. I laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket when shereached for my hand.

“Please,don’t leave me. And I despise beef Wellington.”

Ichuckled and joined her on the bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering whenmy life became so complicated. My job… I loved it, and I hated it. Vic wasn’t abad person, but she could be one on a bad day, and it bothered me more than Iwas willing to admit. And Tye Thorsen was like a boomerang, wreaking havoc onevery aspect of my life. He brought turmoil to my workplace, Vic disliked him,and I didn’t know how to feel about him. I didn’t want a partner. I didn’t wanta friend. Partners were a liability, and friendship was tricky, but it seemedthat in him, I got both.

Aftera while, the sounds of music and laughter in the distance faded away. I couldfeel my eyes closing despite my efforts to remain awake, probably due to theamount of alcohol I’d ingested. I drank way too much, hoping it would make mefeel better when only one thing could make me feel better. Well, not a thing. Aperson.

Ididn’t know how long I’d slept when I felt someone collapsing on the bed nextto me. I turned my head, only to see Shelly lying there, pale as a sheet.

“Carter,”she whispered with her eyes closed. “I’m going to puke.”

Ibrushed away a strand of her hair from her forehead. “Can I help?”

“Idon’t know. I feel dizzy. But I always feel dizzy around you.”

“Wouldyou like some water?”

She coveredmy hand with hers.

“I’llbe fine.”

“Youshouldn’t drink so much, Shel. Don’t you know that if a bullet doesn’t kill us,alcohol does?

“Onsome days, it’s what I need to wake up in the morning, Carter.”

Iwondered what got me up in the morning. My job, which I hated every damn day?My family that didn’t want to know me, just as I didn’t want to know them?Vicky Sloane and the future she had mapped out for me?

It wasthe last thing I could remember before falling asleep. What eventually woke meup was the sound of Bruce’s voice.

“Let’swake Shel up, huh? I’ll take her home. I didn’t drink a lot because my ulcerwas acting up.”

“Nah,leave her to sleep it off,” Tye said in a hushed voice. “The bed is big enough.Chief Bibb said it belonged to his cousin, who has six children.”

“Wow.And I thought my three brats were a lot.”

Then theyleft, and I couldn’t hear anything anymore. I was in and out of sleep when thedoor opened and closed. The bed dipped when a large body settled next toShelly. And then… nothing.

***

“Ineed a painkiller before I die,” Vicky croaked, shaking my shoulder. “Carter?”

Iraised my head and looked around the darkened room, feeling groggy. Where wasI? Outside was dawning, judging by the faint light penetrating the shutters.And it was Sunday. Was it Sunday?

“Ihave Advil in my purse,” Shelly whispered. “Let Carter sleep it off. Do youhave a tampon, by the way?”

“Ithink so,” Vicky replied, groaning. “Where is the bathroom? I think I’m goingto puke.”

Afterthey’d left, I rolled over onto my side, only to find myself facing a bluegaze. Turquoise blue this time. The restless irises kept moving over me as ifdeciding where it was the safest to land.

“I’msorry,” Tye whispered, glancing over his shoulder to check if we were alone.“It was a stupid thing to do. I didn’t think about it. If I knew how much itwould upset you—”

“No,”I interrupted him. “It’s fine. I overreacted.”

It wasthe fucking truth, and it was high time for me to say it. Yeah, I would preferit didn’t happen, but it happened, and I had to deal with it like an adult.

“Oh,” Tyemurmured, sounding confused. “So, it’s like… fine?”

“Yeah.I mean, I was upset, but I’m not anymore. To tell you the truth, I just want toput it behind us. In fact… I kinda missed having you around,” I admitted,avoiding his gaze.

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