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Chapter Ten
Ellie
Isawhimfromacross the crowd. My stomach knotted. I’d known he was here, had avoided him when Wren and Atlas had walked over as he helped Knox and Annabelle pass out fliers. I just thought he would’ve left with the horses.
I downed the last of my beer in one go. “Want another?” A deep voice rumbled in my ear.
Sighing, I handed Callen my empty can. He took it, turning toward the beer tent. I wasn’t totally sure how I ended up alone with Callen Hunter, but it seemed it was destined to be. Wren and Atlas had gone home to put the baby in bed, but I wasn’t ready to leave. Not yet. I had the aide stay for a few more hours after my work shift and she was getting Daddy settled for the night. I wanted to enjoy being away a little longer.
I didn’t realize that meant Callen would creep up out of nowhere. But he was buying the beer so who was I to complain?
The live band on the raised platform at the end of the street was really good. I swayed to the rhythm as I waited for my drink. Even though I tried not to, my eyes found him again. He was closer, leaning against the wall of the bar that had set up the outside beer tent.
He held my gaze and I couldn’t seem to break it. Last time I’d seen him he’d been so angry. His heated words had haunted me the last few days.
I won’t stand here and watch you hate yourself.
I swallowed hard. He didn’t look angry now, though. His lip curled into his signature half smile that was both boyish and flirtatious. My pulse pounded.
And then a heavy arm dropped over my shoulders and a cold beer was pushed into my hands. Ty’s smile vanished. His eyes narrowed, jaw tightening. He glared as Callen pulled me into the side of his body.
“Wanna dance?” he asked, his breath heavy with the stench of beer and peanuts.
I continued to stare at Ty. The angry, possessive look on his face suddenly ignited my own temper. He had no right to be mad. He had no right to act like he was any better than Callen was. He sure as hell had no right to act like he had any say in who I could be with.
I turned, pressing a hand to Callen’s chest as I leaned into him. “I’d love to dance,” I said with a forced smile.
Callen grinned. He pulled me so close to him every part of my body was touching his. I resisted the urge to pull away as we started to move to the beat. I couldn’t even enjoy the music because his hands roamed places I definitely didn’t want them to. Yet, I didn’t stop him. Instead, I smiled and laughed and acted like I was having the time of my life because maybe, if I was good enough at pretending, it would become true.
I danced with Callen for two more beers, and only then was it finally bearable. I started not to care about his hands or the rough feel of his palms on my skin. The music became my focus and I pretended it was just me and the band and the beer in my hand.
Then Callen stepped away, mumbling that he had to pee and I stumbled without him holding me up. The crowd enjoying the band in the street had grown and I started wading through it, looking for the beer tent. I had almost made it when my gaze snagged on him again…but this time, Ty wasn’t alone.
A cute, thin girl stood by his side, so close their bodies almost touched as she pushed back her shiny, short blonde hair. My stomach plummeted and I thought I might throw up as he leaned in and whispered something into her ear. She laughed and I turned away abruptly, suddenly needing to just…get away.
Tyson Ranes was no stranger to the ladies. I’d seen him with so many women I couldn’t count. I had no idea why seeing him with someone now made me feel so…so off.
My eyes caught on Knox standing near Ty and the girl. He wasn’t looking at me, his stare was trained on the band. Embarrassment engulfed me. How long had Knox been here? Had he seen me making a fool of myself dancing with Callen? I was thankful he seemed engrossed in the performance. Knox was really into music and this genre seemed like it suited him perfectly. I hoped it had taken his attention away from the mess that I was.
I need to get out of here.
I stumbled through the crowd until it started to thin. The bars and music and beer tents faded behind me. I veered off, squeezing into a small alleyway between two tall shops on Main Street.
I braced myself against the rough brick wall, pressing my hands to my chest above my wild beating heart. I was being ridiculous. I tried to tell myself over and over to calm down, but I couldn’t. Instead, tears slipped down my cheeks. It was embarrassing, but I couldn’t make them stop as the buzz from all the beer made me wobbly and unsteady on my feet.
What the hell was I doing? Drinking beer and dancing with a man I hated. A man who probably fucked my car up and cost me precious money I didn’t have. Why did I feel the need to be like this?
The tears rushed over me until my chest spasmed with sobs. God, I hated this. I hated being this way. I hated everything I was choosing to be.
“Ellie?” His voice snapped me out of my misery. My head whipped toward him. He was standing at the entrance to the alley, staring at me with wide, concerned eyes.
Ty took a step toward me and I pushed off the wall, backing away. My teeth clenched.
“Go away,” I spat. I didn’t want him here. I didn’t want him seeing me like this. I swiped at the tears, but it didn’t help. There were always more in their wake.
Ty took another step. His expression morphed from concern, to anger. “Did someone hurt you?” He almost growled the words and I froze. Hurt me? He was worried that Callen had hurt me? Even though he hadn’t said the name, that’s what was insinuated.
I easily let my misery fade into fury. I saw red as I closed the space between us. “Hurt me?” I fisted my hands, bringing them up and slamming them against his chest. It was nothing but hard muscle. “No one but you, Tyson Ranes, has hurt me in a very long time.” I beat my fists against his chest, letting out my anger. Letting out my hurt.
