Neighbor Dearest(46)
“I’m sorry.”
That was all he said before exiting the ladies’ room.
And that was that.
Five minutes later, I rejoined them over at the bar. Damien was back to his angry, guarded self. It was as if the bathroom incident hadn’t happened. Everything was back to normal—until a knock on my apartment door later that night.
It wasn’t whom I might have expected.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SO FUCKED
The view through my peephole revealed a distorted version of Tyler.
What was he doing here in the middle of the night?
My stomach was in knots. The guys had left me at my door a half-hour ago. I’d changed into my pajamas and washed off my make up. He knew I was in here, so it wasn’t like I could pretend I wasn’t home. Sucking a deep breath in, I opened the door.
“Tyler. What are you doing here?”
“Can I come in?”
“Um…sure.”
As he brushed by me, he said, “Damien just jumped in the shower, so I figured it was safe to knock on your door without him hearing me. He fucking hears everything.”
“Yeah,” I chuckled nervously. “Supersonic hearing.”
“For real.”
His eyes landed on the large hickey at the base of my neck. “Jesus Christ. Is that what I think it is?”
There was no sense in denying it. “Yes.”
Damien’s sucking on my neck in the club bathroom had left a humongous bruise.
His eyes widened. “Did Damien do that to you?”
“Yes.”
“How did I miss that?”
“Well, it was dark. You couldn’t really see until now.”
“No, I mean, how did it happen?”
“You don’t know how it happened?”
He laughed. “Okay, wiseass…when did it happen?” He shut his eyes and then snapped his fingers when he seemed to realize the answer. “The bathroom. You went, and he followed. I feel like a dumbass now.”
“What brings you by, Tyler?”
“This is the first opportunity I’ve had to get you alone tonight.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I said, “It’s late.”
“I know.”
Ty’s demeanor seemed more serious compared to earlier tonight and markedly less flirtatious.
Not knowing what to say, I asked, “Can I get you some water or something?”
“No. I’m good.”
“Okay.”
He walked into the living room. “Can I sit?”
“Sure.”
Making himself comfortable on the couch, he asked, “Why are you really leaving?” When I didn’t immediately answer, he said, “Maybe I should rephrase that. You’re moving because of Damien, correct?”
I hesitated then said, “Yes.”
He nodded in silence. What he said next floored me.
“I’ve never betrayed my brother’s trust, but I’m about to for his own good.”
“What are you—”
“My brother is in love with you.”
My heart started to beat faster as I processed his words.
Did he really just say what I think he said?
I shook my head. “No, he’s not.”
“He is.”
“Why would you say that? He doesn’t even want to date me.”
He leaned his arms into his legs as he looked up at me. “He’s crazy about you. I’ve known about it for a while, but I really saw it with my own eyes tonight.”
My heart continued to pound, wanting so badly for him to be right. “If you really believe that, then why were you, you know…”
He lifted his brow. “Flirting like hell with you all night?”
“Yes.”
“It was an act. I was trying to prove a point. Don’t get me wrong. You’re a beautiful girl. But I would never go after someone my brother has true feelings for. Never. Deep down, he knows that, too.”
“Why did he seem so threatened by you, then?”
“He knew what I was up to. What upset him was that he was afraid you might actually like me and that he’d have to witness it.”
Wracking my brain to make sense of this conversation, I needed him to back up. “You said you were trying to prove a point. I’m sorry, but I don’t get it. Can you please explain?”
“I was trying to show him that he’s not actually able to handle letting you go. He’s been trying to push you away. That’s not what he really wants.”
“Why?” I cried out. “Why is he trying to push me away?”
“Damien thinks you’d be better off without him.”
“I don’t understand.”
Tyler paused and looked up at the ceiling for a while in an attempt to gather his thoughts. “There’s something you don’t know, Chelsea. But I can’t be the one to tell you. It’s not my place. He needs to explain it to you. All I can say is that it’s nothing to be afraid of, and it’s nothing that would make you see him in a negative light. You would not be putting yourself in any kind of danger in being with him. It’s nothing like that. He just truly feels that he can’t get involved with you, even though that pains him.”