Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

EMILY

Tristan was quiet as we left the Mahoneys. When we got in his car, he didn't start it, just leaned his head back on the seat and stared out the window.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. That was intense, though." He reached for my hand. "Thank you for holding my hand through this."

The shock of his touch sent ripples of electricity down my spine. "It's my pleasure."

He let go of me. "You were pretty quiet in there. Are you still okay with this process? It must be a lot for you, too-reliving those memories."

"It's actually been nice getting to know him all over again." Sadness about Jacob wasn't the problem. I'd been struggling with my lingering feelings for Tristan.

"How have you been feeling lately?" he asked.

"In what way?"

"In every way. Mentally, I guess. I've been so caught up in learning about Jacob that I haven't checked in with you."

I shrugged. "Coming back to Shady Hills wasn't necessarily good for my mental health at first. I was afraid moving back to my mother's would bring painful memories. But I'm getting used to it. It's been easier than I expected."

"Where would you like to be living?"

"That's the thing." I shrugged. "I don't know. There's no specific place that comes to mind. But strangely, having you here, showing you some of the places that remind me of happier times, has helped me appreciate Shady Hills more."

"Well, I'm glad." He perked up. "Speaking of which, the guys are going to this local bar tonight for karaoke. I was gonna skip out, but I might reconsider if you'd be willing to come with?"

This was the first time he'd suggested we hang out beyond Jacob-related stuff. There was nothing I wanted more than time with him. But I wasn't sure that was the best idea. "I don't know..."

"Come on. We could both use a night out after today. It'll be fun."

The thought of hanging out with Tristan gave me butterflies, and that was exactly the kind of reaction I was trying to avoid. Still, he was right; I could use a night out. Ethan was away, too, working on an out-of-state construction project with his dad. He wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

But the deciding factor? The pout on Tristan's face. That made it impossible to say no. I sighed. You couldn't get much safer than a karaoke bar. It wasn't like he and I would be alone.

"Okay. Why not?"

***

As expected, the guys were mobbed at Tim's Bar, but Atticus and Ronan seemed to soak it up as they always did. Tristan's bandmates had been photographed all over town lately, causing a frenzy at Shady Hills establishments and flirting with the locals.

The bar was soon packed for karaoke night. I wasn't sure if it was always this way in the middle of the week, or if people were calling their friends to come down once they realized Delirious Jones was here.

When it was Tristan's turn to take the stage, the crowd went wild.

He spoke seductively into the mic. "Anything in particular you want me to sing?"

I could practically feel panties melting all over the room as the screams rang out.

"It can't be one of my songs," he said. "Something vintage…"

"Song about robbing the cradle?" a drunk Ronan heckled.

I pretended not to hear that. Dickhead.

The crowd's chattering faded as Tristan began crooning Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."

I wondered if choosing that song was intentional-or maybe subconscious. A small-town girl and boy searching for something more in life; maybe it reminded him of Jacob and all his hopes and dreams that never came to be.

I was certain these patrons had never seen such heart and soul poured into a performance at this little old place. Imagine going to a karaoke bar and getting a free concert with Tristan Daltrey.

As he belted out the song, I hung on every word, every note. I missed watching him perform live. And maybe it was the break from touring, but his voice didn't crack at all.

As the song ended, Tristan was met with thunderous applause. When he returned to the table, I got the sudden urge to wrap my arms around him, smell his hair...kiss him. I missed touching him. He was so close lately, yet so far away.

Almost immediately after he sat down, another set of arms wrapped around him, though. They seemed to come out of nowhere. Long black hair covered his face as the woman went in for a kiss. "Surprise!" she said.

Nazarene .

His girlfriend.

A look of genuine shock crossed his face. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to surprise you." She had a slight French accent. "Hope it was a good surprise?"

"How did you know I was here?" he asked.

"I texted Ronan. He told me where you would be."

Maybe it was my imagination, but Tristan's rigid body language said he wasn't too thrilled at her sudden appearance. Or maybe that's what I wanted to believe.

"Naz…" He turned to me. "This is Emily."

"Emily. It's so nice to meet you. Tristan has told me all about you."

He has?

Tristan nodded. "I told her about your relationship to Jacob and how you had come on the tour to find me."

Hardly all about me, then. Surely she wouldn't be so nice if she knew the truth. "Nice to meet you," I said, holding out my hand.

With Tristan's beautiful, tall girlfriend here, the tone shifted for the rest of the evening. I had to endure her sitting on his lap, basically all over him. His eyes wandered over to me at times, and he wasn't really returning her affection. It continued to seem like he was uncomfortable or holding back for my sake.

The worst part was when Tristan went over to the bar to buy a round of drinks, and I was forced to make conversation with her. Apparently, Nazarene planned to stay in town for two weeks. She asked me all sorts of questions about my life. When I told her I had a boyfriend, she suggested that "the four of us" go out.

When Tristan returned to the table, Nazarene took the drink he'd brought her. "I was just telling Emily we should go to breakfast with her and her boyfriend sometime this week."

Tristan nearly choked on his drink. "Oh yeah?"

Given that I had to endure her in town for two weeks, maybe it was a good idea to embrace reality. It would also be a good reminder of which man I belonged to. Despite my heart continuing to flutter for Tristan, I was with Ethan now. So, I agreed to breakfast, knowing that despite my sense that Tristan was against the idea, he wouldn't say no.

***

Later that night, I was back home in my bed when I got a text around 2 AM. It wasn't unusual for Ethan to text me goodnight, especially when he was out of town.

But when I looked over at my phone, the text was from Tristan.

Tristan: I'm sorry if Nazarene showing up made you uncomfortable tonight. I had no idea she was going to come here.

I deflected.

Emily: She's really beautiful.

Tristan: We don't have to do breakfast. I wasn't sure if you said yes because you felt pressured.

Figured he was trying to get out of it. But I was determined to face the fire. It would be just the wake-up call both he and I needed.

Emily: No, I think it's fine.

Tristan: Only if you want to.

Emily: You don't need to apologize for her being here. It makes sense that your girlfriend would visit you.

The dots moved around as he formed a response. Despite what I'd typed, I seethed with jealousy and hurt. But I'd made my own bed after crossing the line with him in the first place. And I probably shouldn't have gone out with him tonight.

Tristan: I just don't want to upset you. I've disturbed your peace here enough as it is.

I wasn't going to respond, but a minute later he sent another text.

Tristan: You mean a lot to me.

My chest constricted. You mean a lot to me, too.

But I wouldn't let myself reciprocate. I typed as simple a text as I could conjure.

Emily: It's all good.

Then I shut off my phone and placed it in my bedside drawer before any further texts from him could keep me up all night.