Get.
Back.
Here.
Now.
“We gotta go, Linc. We’re being summoned. Grab Tag and meet me outside.” I squeezed Carla’s shoulder. “Call me if anything else happens.”
“You know I will.” Her smile slipped seconds after forming.
I walked out of Indulge and trudged across the parking lot, my cell gripped tightly in my hand. The need to call Chelsea overwhelmed me, and even though I tried to talk myself out of it, I swiped the screen and scrolled through my recent call log.
With all my focus on the small device, I wasn’t paying attention to the car that pulled into the lot, inching closer to me as I continued toward my SUV. And by the time I noticed, it was too late.
I saw the barrel of a gun, then another and another, three occupants of the vehicle all pointing their weapons at me. There was no time to do anything except release one breath only to pull another into my lungs.
The loud popping sound of the guns discharging was deafening, the bullets slicing through the air and whizzing all around me like a scene I’d only seen in movies. Unfortunately, one of those bullets ripped through my flesh and knocked me to the ground in a haze of confusion and burning pain. They said one’s life was supposed to flash in front of their eyes during a traumatic event, but the only image in mine was Chelsea.
Her laughing.
Her yelling and throwing shit at me.
Her squirming beneath me.
The squeal of the tires pricked my ears and pushed away all memories of the woman who’d rejected me. As I lay there in the dirt, my breathing evening out after the sudden attack, I heard Linc shouting my name, but I couldn’t answer.
I couldn’t do anything other than succumb to the blackness creeping in on both sides.
16
“So, are you gonna ever tell me what happened between you two? What did you tell him?” Riley crossed her legs, leaning further into the couch. It seemed our favorite place to have chats was on sofas. Her eyes danced over my face, widening several times during the silence after her questions.
“What do you think I told him?” I finally answered, only to ask a question in response.
“Knowing you as well as I do, I think you shot yourself in the foot. You’re too damn proud and stubborn for your own good.” She reached forward and grabbed her glass of ice tea off the coffee table, taking a swig before putting it down. “I don’t know why you torture yourself, Chels. You’re awesome. You deserve to be happy.”
“What makes you think I’m not happy?” My bottom lip slipped between my teeth, nibbling as a way of distraction. But it didn’t last long because my bestie was all over me.
“Because, like I said, I know you.” She scooted next to me, taking my hand in hers. “I love you like a sister. I just wish you could lower your walls enough to let someone in.”
“I have you.” My attempt at humor failed.
“I mean it. You can’t continue to let your father and Sam close you off to having a meaningful relationship.” I tugged on my hand, but she only strengthened her hold. “Stop being so pig-headed and give the guy a chance.”
“Why? So I can be disappointed again? I already know how everything will turn out in the end. No, thank you.” When I pulled on my hand again, she released me, shaking her head, and looking more like a disappointed parent than a supportive best friend.
“You won’t know unless you try.”
“I don’t need to put my hand on a hot stove to know I’d get burned,” I countered, frustrated because our conversation kept going ’round and ’round, my words wasted on an even more stubborn person.
“Are you tellin’ me you’re never gonna let anyone get close? Like ever? You’re content to grow old without anyone by your side? So, marriage and kids are off the table for good?”
“Whoa,” I said, jerking my head back in surprise. “Where is all this comin’ from? I’m only twenty-two. I’m not even thinking that far ahead. I just wanna have fun and live in the moment.”
“Yeah? How’s that goin’ for you?” Riley hopped off the couch and strode toward the kitchen before giving me a chance to respond. Not that anything I’d say would tamp down her flash of annoyance toward me.
“I don’t need this,” I mumbled to myself, following Riley toward the other room, snatching my purse and keys on the way. “I’m leaving,” I shouted, more than annoyed that we couldn’t have a civil conversation.
“No, you’re not,” she answered back, reappearing with a bag of chips. “We’re not finished yet. You’ve been clamming up on me for months about Ace and I’m not standing for it anymore.” Her tone was harsh, but when I saw the ghost of a smile tilt her mouth, I relaxed, albeit marginally.
My lips parted and I sucked in a pull of air, but before I could give life to my words, Maddie appeared from around the corner. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her bangs swept to the side. She wore a pair of jersey shorts and a camisole, her frame filling out a little since I’d first seen her. Riley told me everything that happened with her before she came to be with her brother. I’d been jealous when I thought Ace had flirted with her at the salon but learned afterward, he was only checking on her.
“Hey, Maddie,” I greeted, all hostility I held toward her gone the moment I heard about what she’d endured.
“Hi, Chelsea. How are you?” Such a loaded question.
“She’s confused.” Riley answered for me, dragging me back to the couch and plopping the bag of saltiness between us.
“I’m not confused.”
“About what?” Maddie sat in the chair beside us.
“About Ace.” My bestie couldn’t help herself, her gums flapping even though I shot her a look like I wanted to slap her.
“I like Ace. He’s such a nice guy.” Lincoln’s woman looked all starry-eyed at the mention of Ace, and for a second, I thought maybe she was interested. But as the ludicrous thought formed, I dismissed it. I’d seen the way she looked at Riley’s brother. The only interest she held was toward him and no one else.
“He is a nice guy, isn’t he?” Riley laughed when I tossed the pillow at her, snatching the chips before she could and tearing into them. I stuffed my mouth because otherwise, I’d have a few choice words to share with her.
“And he thinks the world of you,” Maddie continued, smiling at me when I turned to look at her.
“He does think the world of her, doesn’t he?” my bestie parroted, grinning like a fool.
With a mouth full of salty goodness, I mumbled, “Another topic, please.”
“Not a chance.” Riley snatched the bag from me, took a handful and passed it to Maddie. Both looked at me expectantly, but I wasn’t saying another word about the guy in question.
Because neither of them were going to relent, I brought up something I thought would swing their attention, especially Maddie.
“I hear you and Linc are moving in together.” I settled into the couch, crossing my legs, then my arms over my chest. My body language was defensive, protective, but the security of my position helped comfort me.
Her eyes lit up. “We’re supposed to go look at a place today, but I haven’t heard back from him yet. I think he’s just busy.”