Page 66 of Take The Risk

“Knock! Knock!” Alex thrust open the door, allowing the light to spill in from the hallway, making me squawk in surprise. I jerked, crashing into a couple of folded tables with a cry.

“Jesus Christ, Alex!” Ty snapped, pulling me to him.

“Oops.” She ducked her head. Flicking her gaze back down the hall, she came into the room. “You better scram. Mommy’s looking for you.”

Cady-Jo.

“Crap,” Ty cursed, his hand moving up and down my back. Unconsciously, I leaned into him. My heart had accepted his explanation and not even realized there were a few more issues we had to resolve.

A sound caught Alex’s attention, and she looked to see what it was. “Time to go, Hammerhead.” She stepped into the room, grabbing Ty’s arm and pulling him to the door. Ty griped, trying to get her to let go of him. Alex was deceptively strong and managed to pull him away from me, which made me stumble for a second. “Go!” She slammed the door in his face when he tried to stay.

Turning back to me, she took in my slightly disheveled state. “You’re welcome.”

“Welcome? For what?”

“For fixing things between the two of you.” She moved to me, pulling a comb out of her purse.

“What are you talking about?” They weren’t fixed. If anything, things just got even more complicated. Ty may have explained about last weekend, but what about the rest of the week?

Frowning, she carefully combed my hair. “He didn’t tell you about his jealousy over Aaron? His phone being damaged, which blocked you and a few other people? Or how he’s going to spend the rest of his life living to serve my every whim for not killing him?”

No, he definitely didn’t. Thankfully, Alex was in a giving mood and gave up all the details while she helped me get myself back together.

My mind spun with the new information, emotions shifting and twisting inside of me. Last week hadn’t been what I thought it was at all. It didn’t take away the pain I still felt, but I started to feel a little better.

When we got back to the table, I saw Ty back in his seat with a certain someone once again pressed against his side, her smile wide, and hearts all but popping out of her eyes.

It was then I realized that there was one thing that hadn’t been explained. And with my past, it was the one thing that felt like someone had reached into my stomach and was playing with my insides.

Chapter 25

​It was five minutes before Alex and Phoebe emerged from the back.

​I didn’t know how the hell she did it, but Alex had slyly maneuvered everyone around like a chess master, making it so not only did I have to drive Olivia home, thanks for that, Mom, but I also now had Phoebe in the backseat of my truck.

​The way Alex played it, making it seem completely natural that she, Preston, whom no one was sad to see go, and Prescott had to head back to the city urgently, didn’t have anyone so much as batting an eye. That included my mother, who hugged her and told her to drive safe, heading for Helen’s car, with Erik playing designated driver.

​City streets passed as we drove to Olivia’s. Every chance I could, I looked at Phoebe in my rearview mirror. With her face turned to look out the window, I wondered what she was thinking. I’d come to recognize her daydreaming face once I knew about her writing. And the look on her face was not that.

​Tension radiated between us, and I couldn’t put my finger on why until her gaze flicked to Olivia, only to fall to her lap, unaware I was watching her in that moment.

​Olivia was completely oblivious, chatting away about the night, the weekend, oh, and if I wanted to have dinner with her tomorrow?

​“I have plans.” The most important part of those plans was making sure Phoebe understood I absolutely did not want Olivia. Signaling, I turned down our street, driving past my apartment to her building at the end of the street.

​“Oh.” She deflated. “Hey! Shouldn’t we drop Phoebe off first?” She finally clued in we were at her apartment, not Phoebe’s place across town.

​Showtime. “Wade needs me to pick up Bones.” The excuse I’d prepared slid off my tongue. I didn’t lie as a rule, and I knew Olivia wouldn’t question it too much. I often had to grab Bones for Wade if he was working a double shift or something came up and he wouldn’t be home. Wade didn’t want him doing his doggy business in his house.

​I’d make sure I let Bones out, just so what I said wasn’t a complete lie. I’d already texted Wade, letting him know and asking him to cover for me. He would, no questions asked.

​“Oh, well…I could come with you to get him. I haven’t seen Bones in years!” She brightened, clearly pleased she’d outmaneuvered me. It was beyond clear she wanted to make it so she and I could be alone, something I definitely didn’t want, and something she’d been trying to achieve since last Sunday.

​Now, being alone with my little scribbler was something I was all too desperate for.

​“Naw. I’m going to hang out there and chat with Wade about some work things when he gets off.” It also wasn’t unheard of for me to crash at Wade’s until he rolled in. “I’ll just drop you off and then Phoebe. Her house is two streets away from Wade’s anyway,” I reminded Olivia. “Then head to get Bones.”

​“Oh…”