Page 91 of Deeper

She deserved more from me. I should have been a better friend. I should have stayed away. But I couldn’t. I can’t. I hope, no matter what happens, that Tatum meant what she said earlier about sticking by my side.

“I’m sorry, Tatum.” I lean down to kiss her cheek and then move my lips to her ear. The words I speak next are hushed, a plea only meant for her, “Call Callen. Tell him I need him. If you’ll really stand by me through anything, then do that for me. If not, then I’ll understand you’re done with me. Either way, it’s okay.”

I write Callen’s number on a napkin for Tatum and stand from the chair I was seated in as the officers move closer.

“Rylan Pierce, we need you to come with us,” the officer leading the pack says.

“Am I under arrest?” I can’t look at Tatum as I say the words.

“Should you be?” The same officer arches a brow in my direction.

“You tell me,” I counter.

“No, but we need to ask you a few questions. We can do that here or down at the station; it’s up to you.”

“Lead the way,” I offer.

The man who spoke turns and takes point, but the other two officers fall in line behind me, boxing me in. Whispers break out among the shop once more as I exit. It’s ironic that now is when I’m being brought in for questioning. Right after Callen gave me his conditions about us going forward. Right after I decided to be honest but before I got the chance.

My timing was too little, too late.

I’m escorted into the back of a police car while onlookers going about their day stop to be nosy. The stench of human excrements knocks me back. I’m sure the drunks and hardened criminals who took this ride before me soiled these cloth seats, and they are soaked in everything from sweat to vomit. I hold my breath.

I told Callen I didn’t care about the consequences of my actions. I told him I wasn’t worried about him covering my tracks from the law. I told him I didn’t care about what happened to me. Problem is, I’ve changed my mind. Even though I’m not being arrested, I’m still in the back of a police car, on the way to the station. I guess the joke’s on me.

Consequences have weight and meaning now that I finally have reasons to live again.

Two reasons actually. And those reasons are Callen and Tatum.

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