I had to smile at his loyalty. “Nah, it’s okay. I know they freak you the fuck out.”
“I can handle it.”
“No. Go and get some rest. If she leaves, she’s only going to come here anyway, and I’ve got it covered. Just call me in the morning. If she hasn’t turned up here by then, go back to the hospital and wait it out a bit.”
Jimmy sighed. “Sure thing.”
I hung up and sat waiting in the car for a little while longer before I thought it was time to get checked into a hotel. I could get a couple hours sleep, then come back.
I drove to the Marriot and tried to book into the penthouse suite. It was already taken, so I booked the next best room. The moment I got into my room, I took the shower and went straight to bed. I set my alarm for five the next morning, then passed out.
I was up even before my alarm went off. I jumped back in the shower and dressed in loose jeans and navy shirt. By the time I left to drive to Tyler’s house, the sun had started to rise.
There was no movement when I got there. No lights, no cars, no nothing. Everything was just how I left it last night. The only conclusion I could come up with was she stayed at the hospital all night, but why? She said “he is sick”. Who? I had an inkling, but I didn’t want to even think about that right now without seeing it for myself. To me, it seemed strange that she would stay the whole night at a hospital unless this person meant more to her than I wanted to even comprehend. The thought made me physically sick.
After a couple hours of sitting there, Jimmy called to say that he was back outside the hospital. It wasn’t long after that he called again to say Tyler, looking tired and upset, had exited the hospital alone. She was also looking around like she knew someone was watching.
“She’s getting into a car.”
My heart rate picked up. “Follow her, Jimmy. If she comes here, you can leave, but let me know if she changes course and goes someplace else.”
“Sure thing.”
Jimmy hung up and I sat there, waiting. All I could do was sit, wait, and hope she was coming here and that she lived alone.
It seemed like hours before I saw a Jeep drive up her driveway, then she got out and went inside. In those few seconds I saw her, my heart stood still. She looked thinner than I remembered and that hurt. I had always loved Tyler’s curves, but it seemed like she had lost them. A sudden flash popped in my mind of me sitting her on my knee and feeding her junk food until she popped. The thought made my dick strain against my jeans. It didn’t take much for my dick to come back to fucking life again. I thought I had lost him there for a while.
Shortly after she walked into her house, my phone rang. I picked it up. “Jimmy, thanks.”
“No sweat. I take it she’s at home now?”
“Yeah, she’s just gone in.” I looked over at the house and all was still quiet inside.
“Do you need me for anything now?”
“No, mate. I got this. You’ve done enough for me, Jimmy. Go home and get some rest. You’ve earned it.”
Jimmy laughed. “Fuck, that’s twice in a row. Are you going fucking soft on me now?”
I gritted my teeth. “Don’t push your luck, Jimmy. I know where you live.”
Jimmy laughed again. “Sorry, boss. I’ll wait to hear from you then. Good luck.”
I sighed. “Thanks, Jimmy. I think I’ll need it.”
We hung up and I spent the next fifteen minutes or so wondering what to do. I had spent the last four years desperate to find Tyler and now that I have, I’m stuck to the fucking seat.
Shaking my head, I told myself to stop being such a pussy. As I made my move to open the door, I saw a car approaching from behind me. I watched and waited as the sedan drove past and pulled into Tyler’s driveway. Some twat with khaki trousers and white shirt got out of the car and knocked on the front door. I could feel my blood boiling, but felt better in the knowledge that he was knocking because it told me one thing. He didn’t fucking live there.
Tyler, looking as beautiful as ever with her long, bouncing blonde hair and figure-hugging dress, opened the door. She leaned forward, kissed him on the lips, and they both went inside.
I had to leave. If I didn’t, I’d march up to that fucking door and throw that fucker through the window. The more I thought about it, the more pumped I was getting, and I knew I couldn’t go in there with guns blazing. Tyler would never forgive me. I didn’t know if she ever would for what I did to her in the past anyway, but acting like a dick now wouldn’t help matters.
So I did something I thought I would never do. I left. I did a U-turn and went back to the hotel. I would stay there a while and come back later. And when I did, that fucker better be gone.