Page 75 of Unhinged Magic
I swear the temperature had dropped even further in the space of five minutes. The rest of the group placed their orders with Lola, who tried to make small talk, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t in the mood. I would need to apologize to her on my next shift.
When our drinks arrived, Reid took a sip of his Espresso Martini. “That’s really fucking good. You sure you don’t want some?” He motioned for me to try his.
I smiled. “Thanks, but I’m good with my hot choc.”
Since Wesley’s disappearance, Reid had gone out of his way to support me, always trying to keep my spirits up. It was as if he knew there had been something between Wesley and me, but I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure, and he never let on.
He shook his head. “Your loss.”
I eyed the explosion of goodness before me, the three marshmallows piled on top of a dollop of cream. These were next-level delicious. I sank one into the hot liquid below, knowing how good it would taste melted in my mouth later.
The group continued to chat, avoiding the elephant in the room for my benefit, no doubt, as I took comfort in both the lack of attention and the distraction.
“Here, have another.” Colt, who sat on the other side of me, popped one of his marshmallows on top of my stack. “Think you need it,” he added.
“I assure you, my ass does not.” I said dryly.
“Rough night, eh?”
I drew in a deep breath, wrapping my hands around my hot choc to keep them warm. “You don't say...”
He chuckled at my sarcasm, and I smiled at the sound of it.
Colt swirled his spoon around the inside of his glass, making sure to get every last bit. “You know we’re here for you. Whatever you need.” He nudged me in the side. “Even if it’s hot choc.”
I knew he meant every word. Someday, he would sweep one lucky woman off her feet and treat her like a queen. Lucky for some.
I smiled, holding it together… just. “Thanks, I might take you up on that offer more than you would like.”
He grinned. “Just say the word and I’ll be there.” When we were finished with our drinks, he gathered up the empty glasses on the table, helping the server load them onto her tray. “You guys ready to head off?”
The group agreed it was time to go and went to stand.
Tyler dug his keys out of his pocket. “We’re in separate cars.” He adjusted his jacket, motioning to Scar and me. “I’ll give you guys a lift back,” he offered.
Morgan lifted a hand into the air. “I would take him up on that, it’s starting to rain.”
She was right. In my current state, I hadn’t registered the change of weather. A loud crack tore through the evening’s quiet, lighting the sky with a streak. A moment later, a fat raindrop landed on my cheek. I swiped at it in annoyance. There goes my mascara. If there weren’t already smudges under my eyes, it was only a matter of time.
After saying our goodbyes, we went our separate ways, myself and Scar following Tyler to his van. I jumped inside, shuffling over to the middle seat, tucking my knees into my chest.
Scar kicked her doc martins up on the dash. “Wow, what a night.”
Tyler followed the movement, a muscle flexing in his jaw.
Not another word was spoken as we made our way down the main street of Cutters Cove. She wasn’t wrong. What a night it had turned out to be. I slumped further into my seat, watching the wipers swish over the windscreen, my vision clearing every few seconds only to be sloshed with rain again.
Tyler pulled off the road, a lull of silence filling the van. He ran a hand through his hair, staring up at the house, avoiding eye contact.
Scar rubbed her arms, shivering from the cold. “I’ll let you guys talk,” she said before making a hasty exit from the van.
Folding my arms around myself, I tried to mend the chill sinking into my skin. “I love him,” I said softly, staring out into the haze of ocean spray.
“I don’t like the thought of him touching you.”
A half-laugh, half-cry left me. I turned to look at Tyler as I spoke. “You would say that about any guy that touched me.”
He shook his head, a bemused look written across his face. “What he did…”
