The front door opens as I reach the top step and Theo steps forward, crossing his arms over his chest. I stop, meeting his gaze.
“Thank you for coming,” he grunts and I nod.
“Of course. I’d do anything for her.”
He shakes his head, taking a step toward me. “No, there is none of that shit. You are the first man she’s trusted, maybe ever, and you shredded her heart so you are here to keep her safe and that’s it.”
“I can’t walk away from her.”
He steps up to me, getting in my face with the same look Tate gets when she’s pissed. “You better figure it out or I will put you in a box. I’m not playing around and you better not either.”
“I get that you’re trying to protect her, Theo, but she is the love of my life and I’m never going to stop trying to win her back.”
He lets out a sardonic laugh, taking a step back as he shoves his hands into his jean pockets. “The love of your life, huh? Man, if this is how you treat someone you love…”
“I made a mistake,” I admit, glancing up. My eyes meet Tate’s in the foyer. Her expression is vacant as she stares at me and I realize just how much work I have to do to get her back. I would rather she rage and scream at me right now. “Tate…”
She arches a single brow before slowly turning and walking back to the couch where she flops down and grabs her book. I will her to look up at me, just once to let me know that I’ve still got a fighting chance but her gaze stays locked on her book, looking completely unaffected by my presence. Hopelessness weighs down on me as I rack my brain for a way to express my remorse.
“I’m serious,” Theo says, dragging my attention back to him but it’s half-hearted as I keep glancing over at Tate, hoping to catch her looking at me. “You will not hurt my sister again.”
I nod. “You’re right, I won’t but not because I’m going to leave her alone. I will win her back and I’ll spend the rest of our lives making this up to her.”
He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “You know what, Dude. You do you. Right now, Tate is five times scarier than I could ever be. It’s your fucking funeral.”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Yeah,” he muses, nodding. “Or you’ll be dead. I know which one I’m hoping for.”
Without another word, he turns back into the house and stops in front of the couch. “Hey, T, I’ve got to get on the road.”
She smiles and my chest aches like a bitch. I wish she’d smile at me like that.
“I know. Please drive carefully in the dark, okay? And call me as soon as you get back to Charleston.”
He nods. “I will.”
She stands up and they wrap their arms around each other, seemingly in their own little world as they say good-bye to each other. Finally, he pulls away and grabs his bag from the floor.
“Hang in there, ‘kay? And call me the second anything happens. I’m going to be a nervous wreck worrying about you.”
She rolls her eyes. “Right back at you. Just because you’re in Charleston doesn’t mean he won’t come looking for you.”
“I can take care of myself,” he assures her and she growls at him.
“If you didn’t have to leave right now, I’d kick your ass for saying that.”
He laughs, giving her another hug before he walks to the door and turns to me.
“Lincoln.”
I nod. “Theo.”
“Hope I don’t see you again,” he states, flashing a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes but I ignore it. Fighting with Theo will only make it harder to work things out with Tate.
She walks him to the door, watches him get in his car and drive away before shutting the door and locking up for the night. She turns and walks past me like I’m not even here, sitting down on the couch again. As she opens her book, I study her, wondering how I can break through her icy exterior.
“Tate?” I call to her and she glances up, an expectant expression on her face. All I can do is stare at her with my mouth hanging open for a moment before I get control of myself. “Can we talk?”
“About?” She glances back down at her book and turns the page as I run my hand through my hair. Who is this woman?
“Us. I want to talk about us.”
She meets my eyes again and the rage shining back at me almost makes me stumble back. Theo was right – she’s terrifying right now.
“There is no us.” She stands up and tosses her book down on the coffee table. “I’m going to bed. Lock the back door, please.”
“Tate!” I yell at her retreating back, but she doesn’t even acknowledge me as she disappears into the bedroom and shuts the door behind her. Collapsing in the dining room chair, I bury my head in my hands and try to force myself to think. How the hell am I going to fix this?
Sighing, I stand up and go into the kitchen, locking the back door before I work my way around the house, checking each and every window to make sure it’s locked up tight before I pull the curtains closed. There’s no need to make this any easier for her father. Once I’m convinced that everything is secure, I drag my tired body over to the couch and rub my thigh.
Jesus. Getting shot, no matter how minimal, really takes it out of you. I’ve spent the last four days feeling like an old man as I hobbled around the clubhouse and this is just a flesh wound. Of course, none of the guys were willing to help me either since they are all firmly on “team Tate”, as Smith put it. I’d gladly take another bullet to the thigh just to get her to talk to me, though. My phone rings and I dig it out of my pocket.
“Hey, Rodriguez, what’s up?”
He sighs. “Just wanted to let you know that I took care of everything for you.”
After Tate shot me and the police carted me off to the hospital in handcuffs, I called Rodriguez and explained everything to him. He pulled some strings and was able to make it all go away. It should be easy since Tate probably won’t pursue pressing charges now that she knows the truth. Or maybe she will. What the hell do I know?
“Thanks for that, man. I owe you.”
“Yeah, well, I’m gonna call that favor in now. I want in on this case.”
I glance down the hallway to Tate’s closed bedroom door. “Why?”
“I handled her mother’s car accident and I need to know what y’all do.”
I nod, sighing. “All right. I’m sure Blaze will appreciate the help. Just give him a call tomorrow but tread lightly. This whole thing is complicated and personal for a lot of people.”
“How’s Tate?” he asks and I drop my head to the back of the couch.
“Fucking furious.”
He laughs. “Yeah, she didn’t really seem like the shrinking violet type when I met her.”
“You have no idea, dude,” I tell him, barking out a laugh as I try to imagine Tate ever being shy or timid.
“All right, I’ll give Blaze a call tomorrow and get up to speed.”
I nod. “Sounds good. Talk to you later.”
After we hang up, I pull up the camera feed on my phone and click on the master bedroom. Tate’s curled up under the blankets in the middle of her bed and as far as I can tell, she’s out cold. Unable to stay away from her any longer, I kick off my boots and creep down the hallway to her room. I hold my breath as the door slowly opens, revealing her serene face bathed in moonlight. Yep, she’s passed out. Lord knows, if she were still awake, I’d be missing half my face by now.