Page 47 of Heart Sick Hate

“What was that?” Fel spins the moment Crew disappears down the hallway.

“What was what?” I rearrange the stack again.

“Echo.” Fel leans in close, planting a hand on the magazines to stop me from fidgeting. “Spill.”

I look up at her and am reminded why I’ve been avoiding Maren these past few days. She didn’t ask me what happened when Crew showed up at the bar last week, but I see the questions brewing in her eyes.

“Come on, we’re friends. You can tell me.” Fel cocks an eyebrow.

“Things have been weird.”

“As in—him showing up at the bar and threatening some guy for touching you?”

I narrow my gaze. “Maren told you?”

Fel shrugs. I shouldn’t be surprised, those two are tied at the hip.

“Okay, yes, he showed up. But that’s it. We haven’t really spoken since then.”

“You work together.”

“You know these guys.” My gaze trails to the hallway that leads to our individual rooms at the shop. “I can avoid them if I want to. They keep to themselves, and when they don’t, they’re grumpy assholes.”

“Fair enough. At least now there’s two of us to try and balance them out.” She smiles, and I’m thankful to have her hanging around the shop because she makes dealing with the guys more bearable.

“And I appreciate that, but I promise, I’m fine.” I roll my shoulders back. “Crew was just checking on me for Rhett. That’s all.”

So many lies it’s getting harder to keep track of them.

“Whatever you say.” She winks, clearly not believing me. “Doesn’t matter, I’ve got a solution to help you forget. We’re having a housewarming party tonight, and you’re invited.”

“Jude’s idea?” I joke.

She laughs. If it were up to him, the grumpy jerk would hide Fel away all to himself, and we’d never see either of them again.

“It will be fun.” She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Maren will be there with a couple of friends. You have to come.”

“You know I’ll be there.”

“Good.” She backs up and claps with excitement. “I’m going to find Jude and then take off, but let me know if you need anything?”

“Will do.” I pop a piece of gum in my mouth. “I’ve got an appointment at ten, so I better set up.”

At least tattooing is something to take my mind off the unresolved tension between me and Crew. A reason to hide behind a closed door and drown my thoughts in ink for a few hours. Because tonight is a collision waiting to happen. I haven’t been to Jude and Fel’s building since the night I knocked on the door across the hall. Since the night Crew sent my brain into a tailspin.

And I have a feeling going back will lead to nothing good.

I’m thankful Jude and Fel aren’tpeoplepeople because their party is small, consisting of the group that works at the shop and a few of Maren’s friends. Add in the fact that there’s plenty of weed to go around, and I’m floating until Crew finishes up with his last client for the night and arrives.

I knew he’d be here, there’s no avoiding him, but it doesn’t make it any less awkward when his eyes land on where Rhett’s arm is draped around my shoulders. We’re sitting on the couch directly in his line of vision when he walks through the door, and I don’t miss that his jaw clenches as he takes in our closeness.

If only he could read my mind, he’d know I’m crawling out of my skin. Rhett might be my friend, but I don’t like being touched by most people. It makes past trauma and insecurity blur. And I once more sink into that dark hole in my mind that’s easier to exist in when I can’t handle what’s happening on the outside.

Crew doesn’t stop and say anything as he walks past. Instead, he heads straight for the island and accepts a shot from one of Maren’s beautiful blonde friends. Her hair’s up in a high ponytail showing off her bare shoulders in her strapless top. And when her hand grazes Crew’s arm as she leans her hip against the counter to talk to him, I’m surprised I don’t vomit.

“Are you done with that yet?” Rhett unwraps his arm from around me, and his gaze falls to the joint pinched between my thumb and finger.

He doesn’t like when I smoke pot. Something he made clear right after he told me he’d rather not be here at all.

---