Chapter Seventeen

Tatum

After the game, I catch up with Everly outside the locker room while she waits for Hayes.

"I think we're going out to Whiskey Sinner's tonight to celebrate their win, if you want to join us."

"Whiskey Sinner's?"

"It's a local bar where the guys like to hang out. It's pretty low-key. I'll probably just wear jeans and a sweater with my Vans. They play music and serve drinks."

"Dancing?"

"You like to dance?" Hallyn and Ava join us, still in their dance uniforms.

"I mean, not like the two of you." I laugh. "Back home, we had a bar where I'd go dancing with my friends sometimes."

Memories like these make me nostalgic for home. I miss the comfort of being somewhere familiar before the rumors and people turned against me. I long for nights like those at Broken Saddle, where I could enjoy the music with my friends and forget the drama.

Beckham and Hayes are the first to leave the locker room, followed by Colter and Reed. Reed catches my eye, but he deliberately hangs back, making a point to avoid giving any impressions to the rest of the group of what's going on between us.

"I was tellin' Tate about everyone going out to Whiskey Sinner's tonight and invited her to join us."

My eyes flash over to Reed, and he smiles at the news.

"Hell yeah, Lucy. It's about time we get you out on the town. You didn't stick around out at Greencastle for very long."

I drag my lip between my teeth and shrug. "Long week between school and the bakery. I guess I wasn't feeling up to it."

Hayes slings his arm over my shoulders and grins at Everly. "Well, you better be up for it tonight. If I can convince Everly to come out with me, I sure as hell am not letting you bail."

"We're a packaged deal now." Everly smirks. "Now you know Hayes won't accept no for an answer."

Beckham and Hallyn head for the door, with Colter and Ava following.

"You want to ride with us?" Everly asks, motioning to Hayes.

"Umm… I was thinking of getting a lift from Reed if you don't mind. I left my stuff in his car earlier. We're all heading to the same place anyway."

Everly bites her lip, trying to hide her smile from Hayes. "Sounds good to me. We'll see ya back there."

Once they leave, I turn toward Reed. He's leaning against the wall across from me, his smirk curling his lips.

"You know," he says, "sooner or later, they're gonna start asking questions."

I shrug. "You better come up with a convincing story, then."

Reed winces and nods. "We'll figure it out. Let's go." He motions toward the door.

When we walk into the house ten minutes later, everyone is hanging out in the living room. I excuse myself to head upstairs and get changed. When Everly mentioned dancing and Reed clarified in the car it's line dancing, I was even more excited about the night out.

I spend an hour choosing what to wear, curling my hair, and adding a little makeup. Normally, I keep my hair down since my caramel-brown locks are stick straight. My mom taught me how to curl my hair when I was younger, though, and whenever I go out, I like to add some curls.

I keep my makeup light, for the most part, aside from some subtle brown eye shadow to tie in my shirt and boots. When I join everyone in the kitchen, Hallyn and Ava are dressed up in heels while Everly is in her sweater and Vans.

"Oh, look out, boys, she's goin' out tonight," Ava sings, and Hallyn joins in with a whistle as I saunter into the dining room.

I roll my eyes. "What you don't realize is this is a staple back in Rixton."

"Well, girl, you look good in those boots. You're gonna have the boys droolin' and foolin' trying to get your attention," Ava teases.

"All right, all right," Beckham interjects. "Lucy, you look great tonight. I'm glad you're lettin' loose and comin' out with us."

Hayes glances between Reed and me, who I notice hasn't taken his eyes off me since I entered the room.

"Why don't you two ride with us?" Hayes suggests, pointing at Reed and me.

Reed studies me for a moment. We both know saying no would only spark more questions.

"Sounds good to me." I grab my purse and sling the strap over my shoulder. "I guess let's go."

We flowed out of the house, splitting into two trucks —Hayes's truck and Colter's. Everly climbs in the front with Hayes while Reed and I take the backseat. The cab is dim, lit only by the dashboard lights.

Reed slides his hand across the seat between us, his palm finding its place on my thigh.

My gaze flicks from him over to Hayes, who's listening intently to Everly's story about a fight between two fans at the game earlier. One guy ended up pouring his beer on the other, which led to a punch that knocked me to the ground.

I'm used to the rowdy crowds at hockey games, something Everly found shocking the first time she watched them play.

"You look good in those boots," Reed whispers, his mouth dipping close to my ear.

I turn to look at him, my mouth curling in a smile. "So do you."

His eyes darken, flicking between mine down to my lips.

My phone vibrates in my purse, and I pull it out to see an unfamiliar number.

"Can you turn the radio down for a minute? I don't know who this is," I ask.

Everly leans forward to lower the volume. I can feel Reed's intense gaze on me when I answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Mmm, there she is," a low voice drawls, and my body tenses. "My sweet Juliet, I've missed you."

The mention of the nickname Wells gave me sends chills down my spine. The last time I heard it, I was being dragged into a storm of his family drama. I ignored my brother and cousin and even my mom's pleas to break things off with him.

I paid dearly for that mistake.

"How did you get this number?" I blurt out.

"What? That's all I get? You don't miss me too? I'm disappointed to hear it."

"What the hell do you want, Wells?"

"I'm glad you asked." I flick my gaze over to Reed, who's visibly tense.

His jaw is clenched, his eyes burning into the phone in my hand. The cab is silent, so he must be able to hear the other side of the call.

"When are you going to quit playing these childish games and come home?"

"What?" I snap. "Why do you care what I'm doing?"

"Where are you now anyway?"

"I'm not telling you that, and it doesn't matter," I say through gritted teeth. "I'm done speaking with you."

"Don't you wanna know why I called?"

My fingers tighten on the phone. "Spit it out already."

"You should be careful. I don't like the way you're speaking to me. Haven't you learned what happens when you push my buttons?"

I end the call abruptly, dropping the phone in my lap. Tears well up in my eyes. I should've hung up the moment I recognized his voice, but like always, he twists his words and uses my fear to pull me back in.

"Why did you hang up? He didn't tell you why he called." Reed's tone is gruff.

"He wasn't going to tell me," I blurt out, narrowing my gaze on Reed. "Don't you get it?"

"Who was it?" Hayes asks.

Reed and I both say his name at the same time. Hayes glances at me in the rearview mirror as he pulls into the parking lot.

Part of the lights on the sign hanging on the front of the building are burnt out, so it reads "Whiskey Sin" instead. Fitting, considering I'm going to need a couple of shots of whiskey tonight.

"I need to call my brother," I mutter as Hayes pulls into a spot and shifts his truck into park.

The phone rings twice before Talon answers.

"What's up, Sis?" His gruff voice is deep and familiar.

"Have you given anyone my new number?"

"What? No! Why would I? I told you I wouldn't when you changed it."

"Well, somehow it got out. Wells called me."

"Motherfucker," he growls. "Did you answer it? What did he say?"

"I didn't recognize the number he called from. I still have his number saved and blocked on this phone, so he knew to call me from one I didn't recognize. I answered. He didn't say much—more of his stupid song and dance."

"You didn't tell him you were in Braysen, did you?"

"No, but he asked me where I was, so I don't think he knows where I am either."

Everly turns in her seat to face me. I hold my hand up, mouthing for her to go ahead. I don't have to look at Reed to know there's no chance in hell he's leaving me out here alone.

Hayes seems to second-guess it before Reed tells him he'll hang back until I finish, and they head inside. Everly promises she'll have a shot ready for me, and I smile.

"Do you want me to come there?" Talon asks after the door shuts, leaving me and Reed in the truck alone. Concern is evident in his voice.

"No, there's no sense in you coming all the way here when he doesn't know where I am. I'm fine, just shaken up from having all this brought up again and hearing his voice. I had hoped the last time would've been the end of it."

"Well, I'm sure I'll see the fucker around, and I'll make sure to warn him to leave you the fuck alone."

"Don't, Talon. Please. I just want to drop it and hope he'll do the same. Doesn't he have a girlfriend now anyway? Why is he still worried about me?"

"I don't know, Sis. I'm not gonna let him continue his shit, though."

"Just let it go."

"He's a spoiled little bitch. Maybe if he got his ass handed to him, he'd learn his lesson. Apparently, the last time didn't sink in."

"The last time? What the hell does that mean?"

"Nothing, Sis. I'll let you go. Beckham said they were going to Whiskey Sinner's tonight, and you were joining them. I'm glad you're getting out and having fun."

Reed's hand finds its way to my thigh again, and I cover it with mine.

"All right, I'll talk to you tomorrow."

We exchange "love you's" and "goodbyes" before the call ends. Talon might be the grumpiest man I know, but he's as sweet as sugar underneath. He just doesn't let it show to most people. I'm one of those exceptions.

I shove my phone in my purse. You could cut the tension in the truck with a knife. The weight of the questions Reed wants to ask but doesn't hangs in the air.

"So when you left Rixton, no one but your brother knew where you were going?"

I shake my head. "No one."

"What happened to your other friends? I know you said you're friends with Kara, but what about the others I saw you with at the game?"

"Another casualty in Wells's path to destroy my life."

Reed winces. "It's like the girl you left behind, she's gone."

"She's gone, but I'm still her. I just chose to leave the baggage that came along with the past back in Rixton. I didn't want to keep carrying it with me."

"Hey." Reed shifts closer, gripping my chin gently between his thumb and forefinger. He turns my head until our eyes meet. "You remember what I told you the other night?"

I nod. "You'll never let anyone hurt me."

"That's right. So he can try to get in your head and torment you, but I won't let him succeed. He can't hurt you. I won't let him continue to try to destroy your life."

"You say that, but he comes from a successful family with a lot of money. He's used to getting his way, and everyone turns a blind eye to his behavior."

"I don't care who the fuck he is," Reed growls. "He doesn't know who I am, either. He doesn't know the shit I'm capable of."

I narrow my eyes, intrigued. "And what's that?"

"If he tries to hurt you again, I'll be his worst fuckin' nightmare."