Page 56 of Tied to You
“Wise woman,” she says, nodding her head approvingly with a huge grin slapped on her face. I’m practically spoon feeding her tidbits. I need to get out of here before I tell her every sordid detail.
A cold sweat prickles my neck when I hear Mick’s quadbike come to a stop outside. “I need to get ready.” I quickly grab my things, scooping them up.
“Mollie.” Janette’s hand gently rests on mine, sensing my urgency to escape.
I notice her fingers look sore today, her thumb and index finger fixed in position. I look up.
“You have our blessing if you choose Travis.”
She can’t say anything more for the front door swings open, and Mick strides in. “Ladies,” he smiles, hanging his wax jacket on the hook and adjusting his cap. He walks to Janette, kissing her cheek before he looks at the bags in my hands. “Been shopping?”
I look away from Janette, giving Mick a nod. “Yeah. I have a wedding to go to. I best get ready.”
“Need a lift?” he asks, turning to the sink. He turns on the tap, grabbing the soap. “I’m sure Travis can drop you there.”
“He’s busy,” I quickly reply, instantly recoiling. God damn it. I don’t even know what he’s doing.
Janette’s smiling at me again, and Mick’s hand washing slows to almost a complete stop. “That so? Well I can take you. You’ve busted a gut this past week. A night off might do you some good.”
“I can drive. It’s fine. Honestly.” My hands grip my bags tighter. My feet begin to edge away slowly.
“You sure? What about your foot?”
“Yeah, I’m good. My foot’s fine,” I say, ignoring the sudden flare of pain, a reminder that it’s still there.
“Okay, well if you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I make my retreat to my room, slumping to my bed andthrowing myself backward. Jesus. Let’s just get this day done.
Arriving at the wedding, I pull down the narrow lane heading towards the house. I’m stopped by two men, reluctantly rolling down my window as one of them steps toward the car. “Well, well, well, your ears must have been burning.”
“Matthew.” I keep my eyes forward.
He runs his eyes down my body through the open window. “How are you?” He doesn’t care. Not really.
“Alive.” I slowly turn my head.
His face hollows, then there’s a shift in his expression like he just turned everything off. “We were just wondering whether you’d actually show.”
My lips pull into a straight line. “How much money did you lose this time?”
He huffs on a maniacal laugh, then lowers his elbows to rest on the car, his face coming closer to mine. “A lot more than you’re worth.” His dark eyes look around the small space of my car, making a point of it only being me. “No plus one?” He clicks his teeth.
I swallow. “You assume I need one.”
“Well, if you need me later, sweetheart, come and find me. Maybe we can pick up where we left off.”
I cringe. “Where we left off? Matthew, I found you overdosing in Henry’s basement.”
He smiles, but it’s twisted. I see him mentally recalling ‘where we left off’. A party where he had too much cocaine and everything went wrong. He should be thanking me for saving his life and not ratting him out to my father. “Henry’s here with Sarah,” he says with venom.
I smile, flicking my invite to him. He doesn’t check it; his eyes are too busy trying to burn holes through me. “Good for them,” I say honestly, if not a little surprised.
Matthew smirks, waiting for me to bite.
“Let me remind you, that one word from me, and you’ll lose everything.”
He practically snarls knowing I’m right.
