Page 84 of Love on Deck

I could see that. My hands went up in surrender. “I’ll call later.”

Lauren ignored me, steering her sister toward the elevator. I watched them walk away, disappearing behind the sliding doors, my eyes glued to Lauren’s face.

She didn’t look at me once.

* * *

Tucker’s entire truck rattled when I slammed the door.

“Hey,” he said, closing his own door softly. We’d reached my apartment complex and parked in the garage beneath the building. My blood still hummed from the scene I’d witnessed in Lauren’s lobby and the implications that stacked on top of it. I needed to call Kevin. The man was probably in need of a little emotional support or a sparring partner at the gym. I could provide either of those things.

“Sorry,” I muttered. I led the way silently toward the elevators.

“Did something go down in Arcadia?” Tucker asked.

I stepped into the elevator and scrubbed a hand over my face. “I made a promise to Lauren, and I couldn’t keep it. She has a right to be mad.”

“But you’re the one slamming doors.”

“I have a right to be mad at myself.” I shook my head. I told him about finding Amelia waiting in the lobby and the lack of closure it had given me and Lauren.

Tucker gave a low whistle when we reached my floor, then followed me toward my apartment. “That has to be a record in short marriages.”

“We don’t know what happened. They could be completely fine and her ring could be getting cleaned or something.”

“Do you really think that’s the case?” he asked, his eyebrow lifted.

I tossed my keys in the bowl on the coffee table and dropped on the sofa, lowering my face into my hands. She had said it’s over. “No.”

Tucker took the recliner, watching me. “Are you happy here?”

“Of course I am.”

He put his hands up. “Fine. Lie to me.”

“I screwed up with my girlfriend, and my best friend’s marriage of less than a week could be on the rocks. Both of those things are not normal. This is not a typical weekend for me, Tuck.”

“Maybe not, but I haven’t seen you as relaxed as you were last night in ages. There was something about you that was just different. You haven’t been that chill in years.”

Years? A little dramatic. “Maybe that has more to do with the girl I was with and less to do with where we were.”

“I’m guessing it was probably both, but if you want to disagree with me that’s your prerogative.”

“All I want right now is to get back into my own clothes and find out what’s going on with Kevin.”

Tucker stood. “I can take a hint. But don’t be a stranger, man. I want you around. We all do.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“You say that like you weren’t just kicking me out.”

“I don’t want you to hang with me in the shower, but I still have an Xbox. You can stay as long as you want.”

Tucker looked out the window. “Nah, I need to get home. I only slept like two hours before getting called in last night. If I don’t head out soon, it won’t be safe to drive anymore.”

“Take a nap here. We can grab dinner or something before you leave.” My breath stalled a little. It hadn’t occurred to me how badly I wanted Tucker to remain until he was leaving. It had been years since I wrecked him at Super Smash Bros. I really wanted to smash attack a Donkey Kong right now.

Indecision passed over his face. Then it clouded again. “I really need to get home. I told Aunt Marnie I could paint her porch swing today. I should start sanding it at least.”

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