Page 85 of No Rules

“You’ll never guess,” she continues, ignoring my remark. “I saw a redhead who works here and who looks like you like two peas in a pod, but I promise you she has an ass bigger than yours.”

I purse my lips, knowing full well that she’s talking about one and the same person. Me. “Come on,” I continue, trying to help her up. “Let’s go, you’ve enjoyed the evening enough.”

“Noooo,” she whines, resisting with all her weight. “I won’t go.”

Out of breath, I stand up and look around. Buck is waiting behind the counter, silently asking if I need help. I shake my head and pick up Yeleen’s cell phone.

“Look, I’ll call Trey.”

Yeleen wraps her hand around my wrist and now looks at me with a panicked look on her face. “No, no, no. He’s going to see I’m a mess. You can’t.”

Her pleading tone stops me. I curse and grab my own cell phone.

“Don’t call Trey,” she begs me again, rocking dangerously in her seat.

“I’m not doing that, silly,” I articulate softly. I bring my cell phone to my ear. A ring, then a second. Maybe I shouldn’t have called him. He’s probably busy or at a party. I’m about to hang up, but then a deep voice rings in my ear.

“Iris? Is there a problem?”

Hearing the concern in Tucker’s voice warms my chest for some reason. I don’t answer, my mouth half-open.

“Or maybe you missed me?” he says in a charming voice.

“Don’t take your desires for reality,” I joke.

His deep laughter reaches me. Everything is silent around him. There is only his voice. Maybe he was working on our report about the Mikael Larey case? His trial is in about ten days, after all.

“Listen, I’m at High Peaks Bar with Yeleen. I need you to pick her up.”

His laughter stops immediately. I’m about to explain the situation, to answer his questions, but only one sentence comes to me before he hangs up. “I’m on my way.”

This guy is really an enigma. He’s got a heavy attitude sometimes, but he doesn’t hesitate for a second to come pick up his friend in the middle of the night. Who are you, Tucker Bomley?

I wait for the next fifteen minutes next to Yeleen, who half-stands up trying to grab one of my red hair strands off my shoulder.

“Are you really a redhead or is it a wig?”

I raise an eyebrow, wondering if she is serious.

“I have another question,” she continues. “Is your pubic hair red or blond? I think I heard it was blonde but…”

I’m about to burst out laughing, but I stop when I see Tucker standing three feet away, watching us.

I stand up hurriedly but can’t help but glance at him. I hold back a smile when I notice the pillow mark on his cheek. He looks back at me, his eyes locked on mine for a few seconds. I swallow my saliva with difficulty and let my eyes continue their way to his large torso molded in a simple gray T-shirt. He runs a hand over his short black beard and walks over to Yeleen, breaking our connection.

“And here’s my calamity,” he murmurs as he leans toward her.

“Tuckeeer,” Yeleen squeals as he pulls her up from the seat, looping his arm under hers to straighten her out in a smooth motion.

He quickly understands that she has indeed drunk too much and drags her towards the exit while I get her purse and follow them. Tucker’s pick-up truck takes up two parking spaces because it was parked so hastily.

“I notice that your ability to park is still not improving,” I laugh behind his back.

I hear a grunt in response. He struggles to get Yeleen into the vehicle. She clings to the door and focuses on me.

“I’m being kidnapped, help me,” she yells with another burst of laughter.

I don’t move an inch, already imagining the hangover she’s going to have when she wakes up.

---