Page 25 of Let Me Keep You

Tyler looks at me, and my breath hitches. For a moment, I think he’s going to walk away, but then he sits down in front of me next to Everleigh.

He avoids eye contact, but I’m well aware of how close he really is. I can’t help but notice how his shirt hugs him in all the right places. When he reaches for his beer, his biceps peek from under his sleeves, and I force myself to look away.

For just ten minutes, I wish we could talk about our past. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening any time soon.

Maybe he’s forgotten it all, but I haven’t.

The pain he caused still runs deep, but maybe now that he’s back, I’ll finally get some closure. At least that’s what I’m hoping for, so I can move on for good.

The silence draws on, and my cheeks heat as I finish my margarita. Having him here with us is suddenly awkward, and I try to think of something to talk about, but my mind goes blank. Maybe I shouldn’t have spoken up and invited him to join us, but once the words were out of my mouth, there was no going back.

“So…” Everleigh looks at us with a mischievous grin. “How about a round of whiskey?”

“The hard stuff, huh?” Tyler chuckles, then empties his mug in a big gulp.

“Only for my favorite people in the world,” she sing-songs. It’s gonna take the hard stuff for me to get through tonight.

Everleigh calls the waitress over and orders double shots for all of us. When they come, Everleigh holds hers up. “To my amazing brother, Tyler. For kicking ass and taking names.” She looks around the table, then we clink our glasses together, and the liquid burns going down. When the server returns to clear the table, I order another margarita with an extra shot of tequila.

The only way I can be this close to Tyler is if I’m inebriated. Hopefully I don’t say anything stupid, like the other day in the lobby when I told him I’d waited years for him.

The more hours that pass, the drunker we get, except for Tyler. He’s switched to water and doesn’t join in on our conversation but listens.

Everleigh’s two shots away from reliving our early twenties, and I can’t stop laughing at everything she says. Katie has the giggles too, and I don’t even remember what was so funny when we ordered another round.

“And look how sexy they look in these new dresses,” Everleigh beams, swiping through her photos and showing Tyler the pictures.

“I mean, look at Gemma in that summer dress. She could be on the cover of Vogue, not modeling my clothes in small-town Alabama.”

I shake my head, not wanting the attention.

“And Katie. Jesus, girl, you’re a MILF if I ever saw one. Still don’t know why a man hasn’t made an honest woman out of her yet.” Everleigh talks loud when she’s drunk, and right now, the whole bar can hear her.

Tyler laughs as he shushes her. “Looks like you found the perfect people to guilt into helping you.”

This makes Katie and me snort.

“First comes guilt, second comes threats. It’s easier to just give in right away.”

“So, what you’re saying is, Everleigh hasn’t changed one bit since I left?”

“Are you kidding me? Not much has changed here at all,” I say, smiling. “Everleigh’s the same smartass she’s always been.”

Tyler looks at me. “You have.”

My mouth falls open, and it’s like everything around us disappears. “No, I haven’t.”

Then I replay what’s happened since he’s been gone, and I realize he’s right. I’m not the same naïve eighteen-year-old girl who thought he could rope the moon.

He arches a challenging brow. “Sure about that?”

I shrug. “Well, maybe a little.”

Everleigh butts in. “We’re all more mature and doing pretty good in life. Katie has a son. I have a business. And Gemma has a fiancé.”

“And I have a record! Yay me!” Tyler adds sarcastically.

I’m relieved when more alcohol arrives, but I’m at the point where I can’t feel my lips. I stand to go to the restroom, and the room rocks sideways. Regardless, I keep going, and that’s when it’s confirmed that I’m trashed. At least the edge is gone, though it’s starting to mess with my emotions and thoughts, which can’t be a good thing for me right now.