Sixteen

Well, this isn't how I wanted to spend my day.

Perhaps Kendall was right after all. Taylor does have the balls to come after me. Although being taken out of the house in handcuffs might have been a little excessive. I wanted to ask what the hell was going on, but he slapped me with the ‘Anything you say may be used as evidence.' And I knew if I said Nancy was a pig headed cunt face who can't find her asshole in the light of day, it would be used against me.

I will say I might be cut out for the prison life. I've been here for hours, and I haven't cracked. I'm not going down without a fight; that note doesn't prove anything. I've had witnesses who can vouch for the fact that Nancy has been harassing me for years. I'm sure most businesses in town can attest to Nancy harassing them.

Taylor, the prick, wouldn't give me my phone call. I need to cancel dinner with Silas.

I slam my hand on the bars. "Taylor, you asshole. Give me my phone call."

"Teagan, I'll tell you once more. You don't get that privilege."

"You don't understand. I need to call someone. It's life or death."

He sets his palms flat on his desk, tilting his head to the ceiling. "Jesus, Teagan. I highly doubt it. What can possibly be worse than you sitting in a cell?"

"I need to cancel a date." I tilt my head, smile and wiggle my brows.

He glares at me. "Seriously?"

"I know dates are a difficult subject for you, Taylor. But let me explain them to you—"

"I know what a fucking date is." He cuts me off.

I raise my hands in surrender. "Okay, buck. Don't have to chew my head off. I didn't think cops knew how to date is all, since you lack a sense of humour and all."

"What's the number?"

"It's in my phone. I don't know the number off hand."

He grabs my phone and shakes his head. "You should have a passcode. What's the dudes name?"

"I don't need a passcode. I got nothing to hide. His name is Silas. But it's saved under Sunshine."

I watch him pick up the landline and start dialling. My heart leaps out of my chest when he starts speaking.

"Taylor, you prick. I asked for the phone call, not you," I scream.

"Yep, that would be her. I'll tell her the message." Taylor grins. He won't be grinning for long once I get my hands around his neck.

"Your lover says he'll be here in twenty. Hold tight, and don't turn into a psycho."

I smack the bars before sitting on the cold metal bench. I don't want Silas to come here. The whole point of cancelling was to avoid him. Now he'll think I am a psycho once he finds out what I did. Threatening Nancy might not have been my most brilliant move, but now she knows I'm not one to be messed with on the other side of these stupid bars, perhaps. Once I'm free, it's game on.

The chilly bench is freezing my ass off. It must've been at least twenty minutes by now. What's taking Silas so long? Taylor glances at me and shakes his head. He knows I won't try to fight this, and I haven't even asked for a lawyer. The more I think about it. I technically didn't write the note. Kendall did. There is no evidence that I threatened Nancy. It's Kendall's word against mine.

"I'm looking for Teagan Moore."

"Your Silas?" Taylor sounds shocked.

"I am. Is there a problem?" Silas responded with irritation.

I wish I could see what was going on. From the way Silas sounds, it isn't good. I don't need his ass getting arrested. Taylor's shadow falls upon me, and I rise.

"Well? Am I getting freed?"

"You didn't need to be locked up. All you had to do was answer a few questions, Teagan. You made it worse for yourself."

"I didn't do shit, you remember that. And don't act like I don't know where you live and who your mom is."

"Is that a threat?"

"Okay. I think what Teagan means. Is thank you, officer. I would love to head home." Silas grabs the bar and narrows his eyes at me. "Don't you, Dimples."

I take a deep inhale and loudly exhale. "Yeah, what he said."

"Teagan. Get a lawyer. As a friend and not a cop, Nancy isn't one to mess with. It'll be far more serious if I have to arrest you again."

"Nancy can—"

"Nothing, Dimples," Silas says in a stern voice.

Taylor unlocks the door, and I'm free. "I want a restraining order on Nancy. I don't trust her."

Taylor ignores me and walks away.

"That isn't how restraining orders work, Dimples. You need proof that she's threatening you, and you have nothing. Come on, we still have time for our date, and you need to fill me in on your criminal activity."

"It's not a date. It's dinner. And no criminal activity was performed. Don't be a drama queen. Leave that to Taylor."

"Get her out of my sight." Taylor passes me my purse and points to the exit.

"I'm rating my stay a one star; the service was horrible. Couldn't even provide a snack."

As Silas chuckles, he casually slings his arm around me, pulling me in snugly against his side as we leave the police station.

"Teagan, for now on. Leave the criminal acts to the professionals."

"Criminal. As in." I point to him. "You? "

He keeps walking without speaking, which doesn't help my curiosity. I'm like a cat now, and I need to know everything.

"Silas, what did you do in the city?" I ask cautiously.

He digs his fingers into my shoulder. "Teagan, don't push, please. If I wanted to tell you about my past, I would've. When I'm ready, let me tell you."

"Sorry, I can't help it. I'm a pusher."

"I know you are, don't change."

He never lets go of me the entire walk back to my house. Every once in a while, I would catch him watching me from the corner of his eye. God only knows what he's thinking. But if it's him with the criminal past, I feel he can't judge me.

"Silas?"

"Yes, Teagan."

"You didn't kill anyone, did you?"

"No, love. I didn't kill anyone." He presses a kiss on my forehead.

Not murder, maybe break and entry or stealing. The list is endless. It's going to drive me mad, not knowing what Silas did. Does he still do it? When he disappeared for days, he never told me where he went. This is what I mean by not knowing who he is.

I'm not sure I want someone in my life who can't open up; friends are supposed to trust one another. You're an adult; why do you have to lie or hide the truth? I'm not asking much in return, just a sliver of who you are. But I feel like Silas is hiding so much more. It hurts just thinking about not having Silas in my life. Even though I've only known him for a couple of weeks, it feels like a lifetime.

"What's wrong, Teagan?"

"Just trying to figure out dinner. Since I've been in lock up, what I originally planned won't work." Small lies don't count.

"We can always order something from The Lucky Dragon if you want. I could go for some wonton soup."

"You want the little brain dumpling?"

"Let's do it." He steers me across the street toward Mr. Li & Min. They are going to have a fun time when I walk in and order something that involves an extra person. I can already see Min gasping and Mr. Li rolling his eyes at her.

The bell over the door dings, and Mr. Li's head snaps in our direction. A small smile spreads across his lips when he sees Silas' arm still draped around my shoulder.

"Miss Teagan, how are you?"

"Been better, Mr. Li, been better. How are you and Min? "

He rolls his eyes and waves me off. "Don't worry about us. We good. Business good."

"Do not speak for me." Min pokes her head out of the kitchen, causing Silas to chuckle and say something under his breath, but I couldn't quite make out what it was. "Teagan, I'll get your order. And for the gentleman?"

"Oh, we're together." I watch her eyes go wide.

"A meal for two? Oh, it's a celebration." She claps her hands and moves back into the kitchen.

"Is she always like this?" Silas asks.

"No," Mr. Li answers. "Teagan has always gotten meals for one, always alone."

Silas looks at me, but I try to ignore the look. I've seen that pitying look before, which says, I feel sorry for you because you can never find anyone to do things with. I've had that look directed at me one too many times. I don't want to see it coming from the one person that I genuinely care about.