Page 111 of Deeper

Callen

“I love her,” I confess to the only other person who also loves her.

“I know you do.” Her tone is stiff, and she doesn’t look over at me.

Tatum and I stand in the parking lot outside the bar where we’re meeting Rylan.

“And she loves you,” I say.

A small smile lifts her lips this time.

“So, you and I, we have to fix this between us,” I finish.

The smile just as easily dies on her lips.

“Are you going to kill me if I don’t agree?” She braces her hands against her hips, turns to face me, and holds her head up high in defiance.

“I’m sorry you got caught in the middle of this.” I pluck a flower from a bush near us and offer it to her. “Truce?”

“I wasn’t too harsh when I met you, Callen, and my judgment of you was pretty spot-on.” She reaches out and takes the flower from me. “But I believe I was also right about you being exactly what Rylan needs. You get her, all the parts of her. The good, bad, and twisted.”

“And? Where does that leave you and me?”

I’m cautiously optimistic about her response.

“I won’t lie. If you weren’t in Rylan’s life, you probably wouldn’t be someone I’d choose to be around. Our only connection to each other is that we both love that girl. Always be the man that’s good for Rylan, and we won’t have any problems. Truce.”

I nod, and we both walk toward the bar in quiet comfort.

Inside, the place is empty, save for a few day drinkers. We find Rylan at a table near the bar. Her face scrunches up as we sit and relax in the padded seats.

“The two of you came together?” Rylan looks back and forth between us.

I shrug while Tatum answers, “Happy coincidence. The important thing is that there are drinks to be drank.”

“Whatever you say.” Rylan gives me a skeptical look before turning to the waitress and ordering a round for the table.

When we are alone again, Tatum addresses Rylan with a hushed voice, “How does it feel? Now that it’s over, is there any relief?”

I’m surprised by the serious tone in Rylan’s voice as she answers, “There is.”

“Tell us about it, baby.”

There is something off about Rylan tonight.

“I came to Maplefield for revenge. In the beginning, I only wanted to end my pain. I hoped that, when it was all over, I’d be normal, and the rock on my chest would be gone,” she tells us as the waitress brings over our drinks.

Tatum and I don’t say anything in response. Rylan’s speech appears to be headed somewhere.

“I’ve changed but not in the ways I thought I would. Everything I came here to accomplish, I’ve done, but the weight is still there. When I think of Aria, my heart still painfully constricts. I’m responsible for a lot of death.” She subconsciously hides her face from Tatum when she continues, “I don’t regret any of it. I’d do it all over again. I discovered a little piece of who I am when each of those men stopped breathing. I’ll never be normal.”

She and I both. I let Tatum respond because this part of Rylan never bothered me. It never will. It’s part of our attraction to one another. We connect through our ruthlessness.

“You’re my best friend, Rylan, so I won’t lie. I’ll probably never understand your pain or the life you’ve lived, but I’m sure that, despite what you’ve done, you’re a good person. You’ve never been anything but kind to me, and I’ll always give you the same in return. I promise you that, no matter what.”

The girls share a look, and Rylan shows an ounce of relief. All is good. I sit back and take a pull on my beer.

“I know we’re here to celebrate the end of this for you,” Tatum starts, “but I have an announcement of my own.” A smile lights up her face, and nervous energy fills the empty seats around our table. “I’m leaving Maplefield.”

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