I’m not sure if I should tell Tyler. When Ryan left, Tyler told him to never come back. I don’t know what happened between them. I guess I never asked. Maybe now I should and figure out what happened between the two.
The three of us were best friends and now we’re separated.
Before, we used to always be together. When they first moved in, I met Tyler first. He was so cute and it was love at first sight. Then I met Ryan and I fell in love too. But the love I have for the Scott boys are different. I met Tyler first so that tells me something.
I look down at my phone and pick it up. I should tell Tyler his brother is back and when he comes home, to not act like an asshole.
Me: Ryan’s back
Bay: Ryan’s back
Fuck!
I clench my fists and pound the shit out of my pillows. Why the fuck is my brother back? Dialing her number, I get up from my bed and pace the room. He’s back for a reason and it’s not a good one.
“Pick up, Bay. Pick up.”
“Hello?” She sleepily answers.
“Hey! I’m sorry I was out last night and got a little drunk so that’s why I didn’t respond to your text. Did you talk to Ryan?”
“First, you’re up at four in the morning when it’s seven here? I’m not supposed to be up for another fifteen minutes,” I smile, hearing the smile in her voice. She hates my morning wake up calls. “But everything is fine and yes we talked.”
“What did you talk about?”
“I don’t know,” she pauses and I hear her moving, “just things.”
“Tell me.”
“Fine,” she sighs, “Ryan showed up in my room and we went out for sushi. He didn’t tell me much. Honestly, I think the reason he’s here isn’t a good one. He seems hurt and in a lot of pain. I don’t know, Tyler.”
I’m on high alert. I love my brother and will do anything for him. Part of me blames him for that night and I hate the way he is when he’s with her. He was supposed to be with her and not let her out of his sight. I close my eyes and it comes back to me.
I kiss her forehead and smile, “So have fun tonight and don’t leave Ryan’s side.”
“I know,” she smiles and gets on her tippy toes to kiss my lips. “Have fun tonight with Dr. Powers. This dinner is going to take you places. I’m so proud of you, Ty.”
“Thank you,” I smile back, stroking her arms up and down. “I wish you could come with me tonight. I don’t know how I’m supposed to impress him. I mean, one on one time with Dr. Powers means a lot,” I laugh. I’ve been working my ass off for the past few weeks, perfecting my presentation and now here’s my chance. “I want tonight to go perfectly.”
“It will. And when you’re done,” she kisses me again, “you’ll come to the party and meet us. We’ll have celebratory drinks and then,” she leans in and whispers in my ear, “I’ll let you do naughty things to me.”
God, I love this girl. Tonight’s the night I ask her to marry me. We’re going to spend forever together and nothing will change it.
“Oh, I look forward to tonight Miss Murphy.”
“You can count on tonight being the best night ever, Mr. Scott.”
The night was going well until I got the call that the love of my life was in the hospital and my brother up and left.
“Ty, everything is going to be okay. Don’t worry.”
“I worry because it’s you. You know I don’t trust him. Hell, it’s why we haven’t talked in two fucking years. I want you to stay away from him. You can’t trust him.”
“Well, I think I’m capable of making that decision,” I hear the annoyance in her voice and it’s taking so much of me to not fly back to Rochester and kick his ass. “Stop worrying. You have a lot going on in California and you need to focus. Right now, this is your chance to make a difference in your life, so don’t worry about me.”
I pull the phone away from my ear and press it against my forehead. I need to be calm and not freak out because I don’t want to scare her. I don’t trust my brother and there’s nothing she can say to me that’ll make me change my mind.
“I love you, Bay. Promise me you’ll be safe.”
I hear her sigh and sniff back her tears. Fuck, I hate this shit. “I love you too and yes, I’ll be safe,” she softly says, “I’m going to go, okay? It’s been a long few days and I’m tired.”
“Have a good day, Bay.”
“You too, Ty.”
I hang up the phone and annihilate my bed. There’s anger and frustration inside me. Ryan fucking better not touch what’s mine. I can’t help but remember what he told me before that night.
“So you really love her, huh?”
I look at my brother and smile, “Yeah man. She’s the best thing that’s happened to me. I mean, it’s Bayleigh. Everyone knew we’d be together and now we are. There’s nothing that can happen to make me leave.”
Ryan stares at me and gets up from the bed. “Just don’t hurt her, okay?”
“Yeah, of course not. What’s your deal?”
“Nothing okay.”
Then it dawns on me. “You love Bayleigh.” Ryan doesn’t answer. He sits up straighter and looks down. When I think back to all the times we’ve spent together, I realize I’ve been missing all the signs. The looks he gives her and the tenderness he has for her.
“We’re in love with the same girl and she picked you,” he says without emotion to his voice. “She’s yours.”
Don’t go back there, Ty. She loves you, not him. Shaking myself out of my thoughts I make myself get ready for the day. Training goes pretty well. Later that evening the guys want to hit up a bar for happy hour. It’s a nice place and we’re sitting at a high table, drinking beers, and talking about the firm. I feel someone touching my back and turn around to see Anna. The guys eye me with raised brows. I roll my eyes. Her attempts are annoying.
I met Anna when I first started. She was nice at first. We went on two dates, and then she became clingy and wanted more. She knew about Bayleigh and knew more wasn’t an option. After a few talks, she accepted us as friends. Things were fine, then came the I want you’s and let me make you happy. Needless to say, when I left California without saying another word to her, I was hoping that was the last time I saw her. I didn’t think I’d be back and here I am.
And here she is.
“Hey Tyler,” she says, taking my beer and drinking it, still eye fucking me.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing much. Just wanted to join you guys since we’re all going to be working together.”
“Well, sit here,” I get up from the stool and make room for her, “have a great night guys. See you in the morning.” I leave before she can say anything and feel her eyes on my back. I’m not playing these games or using her for mindless sex. To me, sex is about emotion and feeling the other person’s heart with yours. Yeah, I’m a fucking sap and pussy. That’s fine with me. I know I can get girls and I know I can have sex whenever I want. The problem is, I only want to have sex with one girl. She’s going to make me fight for it and that’s okay too.
I head back to the loft and get ready for bed. It’s still pretty early and I’m anxious to talk to Bayleigh. Sliding under the covers, I pull out my phone and text her.