Page 24 of Spar
A snort was the only response, so Chris kept the truck moving along the highway.
The sun was setting as they arrived in Sweetbriar. Chris headed through town, his thoughts on Tori. He had hoped she’d text him during the day to ask about Travis, or hell, just to see howhewas doing, but it had been radio silence.
He ached to get home and see her. How quickly he had associated her as part of his home. When she moved back to her apartment,ifshe moved back, the place wouldn’t be the same. He wasn’t letting her go without a fight.
He pulled in the driveway and stared ahead at the dark house. If she was there, the house showed no signs of it. He was starting to get a bad feeling, none of which he could attribute to the shitty day or the uncertainty of having Travis live with him.
That was something he needed to talk to Tori about. It was his house, but he wouldn’t let Travis stay if it made Tori uncomfortable. Charlie had space at the downtown house, but he didn’t want to ask him to take on that kind of responsibility when he was just getting settled.
“We’re here,” Chris said, turning off the engine.
“Let’s go,” Charlie said, opening Travis’ door and motioning for him to get out.
“Am I being escorted to my cell?” Travis quipped with a grin that quickly faded as he stepped out of the truck and winced in pain.
Charlie curled his lips in a snarl. “You ungrateful—”
“Easy, you two. Let’s just get inside. Charlie, why don’t you stay here tonight, and we can figure out everything else tomorrow?”
“That sounds heartwarming,” Travis said through gritted teeth.
Charlie swore under his breath but wrapped an arm around Travis and helped him into the house.
Tori downed thelast of her margarita and slumped forward onto the bar.
“And the worst part is, I still want his sexy ass. Did I mention how sexy he is? Seriously sexy.”
“You might have mentioned it,” Claire said, sliding a water in front of her. “Drink that water, and then let’s get you home.”
“Home. Ha! I’m homeless. A homeless drunk who got played. Again. So sexy.”
“Alright, let’s go,” Claire said, waving Jake and his friend and fellow police officer, Frank, over from a table across the room.
Jake and Frank were off duty, but looked the part of menacing public servants, from their matching SBPD t-shirts to the way they carried themselves — alert, attentive, and jumping to action at the slightest indication they were needed.
Tori didn’t bother waving them off as they flanked her out of Cliff’s bar and into Claire’s car parked out front.
“Need any help getting her to Chris’?” Jake said, eyeing a slumped-over Tori in the passenger seat. “We’re happy to follow you and assist if you want.”
“I got it from here, boys. Thank you.” Claire blew Jake a kiss as she drove away.
“Alright, missy, we’rehere,” Claire chirped happily.
Tori groaned as she looked out over the dash to the big house lit up in front of her. Chris was home, and here she was, an unwelcome guest, showing up sloppy drunk. If she wasn’t still feeling the effects of the last margarita, she might have been embarrassed. Instead, she felt self-righteous. She had just enough liquid courage to go in there and tell him exactly what she thought of him and his sneaking off after the most incredible sex of her life. She frowned. Maybe she’d leave that last part out. No sense inflating his ego any more.
“Honey, I’m ho-o-ome,” Tori crooned as she flung open the front door.
“Sweet, you hired strippers.”
The deep voice stopped her in her tracks. Not Chris. He had company, and not just any company. His brothers. Chris was nowhere to be seen. Perfect. This day was ending as badly as it had started.
Tori pulled her coat tight around her, covering as much skin as she could. Maybe she’d gone a little overboard in borrowing one of Claire’s dresses for the night. Her best friend’s wardrobe was more daring than her own, and she felt exposed in the short, tight, strapless dress.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you— What the hell happened to you?” Tori said, finally getting a good look at Travis’ bruised face.
“You should see the other guy,” Travis said with a wink.
Tori stumbled in her stilettos and caught herself on the kitchen island.
