Red Nights - Shari J. Ryan Page 0,59
I’m crazy.
“I don’t know if I would have jumped to that conclusion,” he says. “But you know her better than I do.” I realize suddenly that I’m accusing my presumed best friend of killing my brother, and I left her on her knees, crying in the middle of a parking lot.
Oh my God…
I want to get off of this tilt-a-whirl and find a safe place to stand so my head can steady until the nausea subsides. “Liss, you’re turning pale,” Tanner says. Are you okay?” I’m so far from being okay. I don’t think I’ll ever find my way back to okay again.
“Tanner, honey,” Mom says, trotting out of the kitchen with another cup of tea.
He takes the tea and thanks her. “You hanging in there?”
She takes him by the elbow and leads him into the other room, speaking softly so I can’t hear what she’s saying. But I don’t need to hear what she’s saying; I assume it’s something along the lines of, “Please look out for Felicity. She’s not doing well. She needs you,” which is the opposite of what I need or want right now.
I sit with Dad during the time it takes Mom to fill Tanner in on whatever she thinks he needs to help with. Tanner has never denied Mom anything. He’ll do whatever she asks this time, too. I should leave while I have the chance, but considering I’ve been such a lousy daughter for the past two weeks, I should at least say good-bye.
Mom looks relieved when she and Tanner come back around the corner into the living room. But he looks apprehensive. “Mom, I have to get going. I’ll keep you up to date on what’s going on with the investigation.” I give Dad a kiss on the cheek and Mom a hug.
“Wait up, Liss. I’ll walk you out to your car.” He follows me to the door. “I’ll give you guys a call later,” Tanner tells them.
When we make it down the driveway, he gives me a quick hug and opens my car door for me. “Hey, I’ve been thinking about something,” he asks. “Who is this guy you’ve been seeing again?
“His name is Hayes.”
“As in Hayes Peyton?” he asks.
“That’s the one.”
He scratches at his chin, his focus frozen on me. I shiver from the look he’s giving me. “And you know all about his connection with Blake, then…right?”
What the hell? “I…uh.” My non-answer tells Tanner all he needs to know.
He runs his fingers through the sides of his hair, turning around and expelling a loud breath. “Shit,” he mutters.
“What?” My heart is creeping into my throat. I don’t know if I can take another revelation.
“Yeah…Hayes knew Blake. Blake sort of stole a girlfriend from him.” I’ve never heard any of this before. “You remember Mel, right?”
“Yes,” I breathe. “Of course.”
“Hayes walked in on them, spouted off a bunch of threats, and then never showed his face again. The whole thing was crazy and uncomfortable. I had a suspicion that he might be the Hayes you mentioned at the bar the other night. A little weird that he shows up out of the blue just days after your brother dies, don’t you think? And now you’re sort of hooked up with him…”
I didn’t know any of this. I’m never getting off of this tilt-a-whirl. It’s the ride from hell, and no matter how much I want to vomit and cry and scream and beg for mercy, I can’t make it stop. And I can’t fucking take any more. “You’re wrong,” is all I can think to say.
Tanner drops his hands over my shoulders. “Liss, I care about you, and I always will, no matter what we are or aren’t. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He pulls me in for another hug. “Do what you think is best. Just keep your eyes open, okay?”
I nod, and that’s all. I need a cigarette—and to get the hell out of here. Away from him. Away from them. Away from everyone.
I climb into my car and shut the door before Tanner can say anything else.
One more surprise, and I just might drive off a cliff.
* * *
I don’t know how long I’ve been driving. I have no idea where I am. I just need to get as far away from everyone as possible.
The sun dips lower into the horizon as I turn off on an exit with a hotel sign. An empty room with no one else around: that’s where I’m sleeping tonight.
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