Truly Mine (6 page)

My face flashes hot, like fire hot—not because of Katie, but because Truly is walking in the door at this very moment.
What the fuck?
Instinctively, I jerk away from Katie, spin my stool around, and plant my face in the palms of my hands.

“What’s wrong, Tyler?” Katie whines.

Slowly, I scrub my face and then catch the bartender as he passes. “Shot of Jameson, please.”

Katie asks again, “What’s wrong?”

What the fuck am I supposed to say?
I just shake my head and look forward. This is so reminiscent of years ago. Only then, I didn’t care if Truly saw me with someone else.

The bartender slides the shot to me, and I pass him a ten-dollar bill. I quickly throw the shot down and slide the glass back to him, motioning for another. He pours it just as Truly takes a seat next to Cory.

As soon as Cory realizes who she is, he spins around on his stool and pulls her into a hug. “Well, speak of the devil!”

From the look that Truly has on her face and the way she’s looking at Katie and me, I have a good feeling Truly’s about to finish where she left off earlier. She’s going to torture me even more for pissing her off all those years ago.

Cory calls the bartender over to get Truly a drink, and I block out whatever it is they are discussing and throw down the second shot.

Truly leans behind Cory and looks at me. “Hi, Tyler. Long time no see, huh?”

I keep facing forward, only looking at her through the mirror behind the bar. In my peripheral vision, I see Katie turn and look between Truly and me.

“Yeah. Been a few hours now, hasn’t it?”

She meets my eyes in the mirror and then looks at Katie. “Right. Who’s your friend?” Truly’s tone of voice is matter-of-fact, as if she is on a mission.

Katie is clearly confused as all hell.

I take in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Truly, this is Katie. Katie, Truly.”

I’m still looking straight ahead and not at either of them. I’m not familiar with whatever this is that I’m feeling. It’s some semblance of guilt, I guess, even though I am doing nothing wrong. I’m certainly not dating Katie, and Truly apparently doesn’t care for me.

Why do I feel like I’ve just been caught doing something wrong?

Cory watches the exchange, clearly amused.

The next twenty minutes, Truly asks Cory all about his wife and two daughters and his job. I offer the appropriate reaction when something funny is said, but otherwise, I stay out of their conversation. Thankfully, Katie was distracted with a phone call and disappeared.

Just about the time I’m feeling at ease with Truly being here, Katie joins us again.

She takes her seat next to me and then leans forward so that she can see around me. “I haven’t seen you around. You’re not from town, are you?” Katie asks.

The bartender appears in front of Truly.

Keeping her eyes trained on him, she orders another beer before answering Katie in a factual tone, “I am from town, but I haven’t been back in a while. I’m just here to handle some business.” She turns and finally looks at Katie. “Is there anything else you’d like to know about me?”

I silently beg Katie not to answer that question.

“Oh, I see. Are you and Tyler old friends?” Katie continues her interrogation.

If she had any sense, she would stop.

I can sense that Truly is looking at me now.

It takes me a moment to return her stare, and as soon as I make eye contact with her, she speaks, “Well, we used to fuck.”

Katie’s jaw drops, and Cory chokes in an attempt to not spit his beer across the bar. I just take a deep breath and grin, wondering what the hell she’ll say next. I was definitely right. She is going to have a little more fun before she disappears again. I finally just close my eyes and try not to bust out laughing. It’s not even funny, but I have a bad habit of laughing at the most inappropriate times. And right now, I don’t know what else to do.

Truly looks to Katie and keeps a straight face as she continues her explanation, “A lot.” She takes a drink of the longneck bottle in front of her, not ever breaking eye contact with her. “I’m pretty sure he wants to fuck me tonight.”

Oh my God, Truly!

Truly shrugs her shoulders. “I mean, I could be wrong.” Looking my way, she boldly asks, “Am I right, Ty?”

I’m speechless. Seriously fucking speechless. This is not what I expected from her. This isn’t the passive girl that I used to know. The girl who never cared about who I was with as long as I made time for her is not…this woman. This woman is aggressive and a little intimidating, to be honest.

I’m convinced that she’s just trying to prove a point, but I haven’t the slightest clue how to respond to her question.

If I were to be honest, I would say,
Yes, of course, I want to fuck your brains out
.
I want to make you sore from the inside out. I want to be sore along with you.

But if I want to act my age, I guess I would tell her that I only wanted to spend the evening catching up on what she’s been doing all these years.

Before I get the chance to answer, Katie opens her mouth and says, “You and a few others, sweetie. Tyler is quite the playboy. I don’t think his bed ever gets cold these days.”

I’ve noticed a funny thing about women as they get older. While they are smarter and more beautiful than ever, they are also spiteful and sometimes downright evil if you give them a reason to be. I see it all the time with my sisters. They take no shit from anyone as they’ve gotten older. They say what they think and leave little to be assumed.

I’m pretty sure the girls are having the equivalent of a male pissing match. It’s hot, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like being in the middle of it. But Katie’s attempt to cockblock me is a waste of her time and energy because I plan to take advantage of this situation.

After giving Katie a look, letting her know I’m not pleased with her comment, I stand from my barstool and approach Truly from behind. Placing my hands on her hips, I twist her around so that she’s facing me.

“You are absolutely one hundred percent right, Tru. How about we get out of here?” I know she’s doing this for Katie’s benefit only, but I’m dead serious.

Oddly, I’m reading her like a book tonight. The intense look she gives me is her asking me to confirm that I understand her actions are for show only. I raise my eyebrows, taunting her. She’s not getting off that easily. She might be playing games, but I’m not.

Finally, she wraps her arms around my neck and lays her head on my shoulder, looking toward Cory and Katie.

“All yours, baby.”

Oh, yeah, I do like the sound of that.

“Bye, Cory.” She reaches out and pulls Cory into our embrace.

“Man, the more things change, the more they stay the same. You lucky bastard.” After a quick rib shot in my side, he plants a kiss on Truly’s cheek and then turns right back to his beer. “Girl, it’d better not be so damn long before I hear from you again.”

Katie, on the other hand, is not so pleased. She turns the opposite way, not paying any attention to us.

Sliding my hands around to Truly’s back, I pull her off the barstool and lower her to her feet. Knowing that I only have seconds of this little game left, I take her hand in mine and weave our fingers together. Then, I pull her to my side and lead her out of the bar.

She turns between us and yells over her shoulder to Cory as we leave, “It won’t be. I promise. Take care of those girls of yours.”

I can’t help but lean in and kiss her forehead since it is right in front of me now. Her hair smells so fucking good.

As I fully expect, the moment our feet hit the sidewalk, she pulls away from me and walks quickly toward her car.

“I apologize. That was incredibly juvenile.” She continues walking until she reaches her driver’s door.

I stay on the sidewalk, trying not to look as desperate as I feel. I’d like to grab her, throw her in my truck, and take her home with me. “What was that all about, Truly? What were you trying to prove in there?”

Turning to face me, she walks to the front of her car and stops. “I don’t know, Tyler.” She looks amused. “I really don’t know. It was ridiculous. The minute I passed the city limit sign, I lost my damn mind.” She turns and walks back to get into her car. “I hope I didn’t mess anything up for you in there.”

Opening her car door, she stares into my eyes. There’s something about the way she’s looking at me, like she wants me to beg.

As she lowers herself into the seat, I rush to her. Just before her car door closes, I grab hold of the handle. I kneel down so that I’m eye level with her.

Taking her hand in both of mine, I tell her the honest-to-God truth, “She’s the local barfly. I can assure you, I’m not interested in her. Don’t leave like this, please. I don’t give a damn about that woman. If you’re here to prove something, then stay. Visit with me now since we both know you’re not coming back here again.”

She presses a button, and her car hums to life.

“Truly, stay.”

She lays her head back on the seat, looking up at the ceiling of her car.

“You have nothing to prove—to me or anyone else,” I remind her.

Turning her head toward me, she takes a deep breath. “It isn’t you or that woman or Cory or any damn person in this town that I want to prove something to. It’s me. I guess I was proving to myself that I could get you to choose me—just once. Even if it is twenty years later and I’m too damn old to really give a shit. Stupid, I know.”

I stand, bringing Truly’s hand with me, and I plead with her, “Please just come for a ride with me. Let’s talk. And not in a parking lot.”

“We’re not teenagers anymore, Tyler. What do you want to do? Go park at the river like we did last time?” She laughs. “We’re a little old for that, don’t you think?”

It gives me an idea. “Yes, let’s do just that. I haven’t been there in years. For old time’s sake.” I tug on her hand.

“You’re kidding, right? What I’m doing is getting some food and going back to my motel room.”

“I’ll feed you. At least let me do that. Please.”

“There’s nowhere to eat in this town. I can’t believe there’s still not a single place to eat here.”

“Yeah, well, we like it this way. It’s small-town living. I’ll take you to my place. I have food.”

“I don’t think so, Tyler.”

“I guess I could always just go back to your motel with you. We could catch up…and stuff.” I smile, wishing she would choose this option but knowing there is no way in hell she will.

I kneel down again. “I know you’re going to leave here, and I’ll be lucky to see you in another ten years.” I take her chin in my hand and bring her face close to mine. “I haven’t had enough of your smart mouth yet. Humor me, Truly. Just give me a few hours.” I think she’s starting to cave, so I give her the sweetest, most innocent look I can muster.

“Ugh, Tyler!” She pulls her hand away from me. She presses the button once again, and her engine cuts off. “I’m hungry.”

“We’ll go to my house, and I’ll feed you. I’m actually a decent cook.” I wink at her, trying to keep her mood playful.

“We will not,” she states matter-of-factly.

I hang my head and pause. She’s exhausting.

“Okay then.” I lift my head and point to the glass window in front of us where the bar name is displayed. “Perdue’s. Best food in town. Come inside, and at least let me buy you a birthday dinner.”

She scrunches her nose and looks at me with disgust after she reads the line under Perdue’s. “
Warm Beer and Lousy Food?”

“Yeah, It’s awful.” I nod my head and wink as I hold my hand out motioning for her to join me.

She reaches to the passenger seat to collect her purse. Then, she turns toward me, and those gorgeous legs exit the car.

“I get it. You don’t trust yourself to be alone with me, Truly.”

“Alone? With you? Um…it’s not that I don’t trust myself. I just don’t want to,” she challenges me, raising her eyebrows.

I shrug my shoulders and laugh. Fighting the urge to touch her as we walk back into the bar, I can’t help but wonder what the night will bring. I’m foolish to think I’ll have her the way I want her, but that doesn’t stop me.

When we enter the bar, she walks toward Cory and Katie, who are still sitting right where we left them. I reach out and hook my arm around hers, twirling her around so that she’s facing me.

I shake my head and take her hand, leading her into the dining section of the bar. “I want you all to myself.”

She doesn’t protest.

“Okay, it’s your birthday. Let’s celebrate.” I pull her chair out for her and she sits just as the waitress approaches us.

“What can I get you guys to drink?”

I nod my head, encouraging Truly to order first.

She looks down at her menu as she orders. “Um…can I have a diet soda and a killer burger with fries please?”

After I order two shots the bartender turns and rushes off.

“It’s late. I have to be up early to pack my things and drop off the documents we found.” She turns to look out the window at the few cars passing down Main Street. “I have to be home tomorrow evening. I can’t be out all night.”

“Okay then, let’s pick up your things from the motel, and you can just stay at my place.” I have to try.

That suggestion immediately sends her head spinning in my direction. “You’re out of your mind, Tyler.”

“Wait. Hear me out. I have a spare room. You’ll be comfortable, and you’ll be in town. That way, you can meet with Dara and head out early.” I’m grasping at straws, and I know it.

“Not happening, Tyler.”

“Well, it was worth a try.” I sigh.

When the waitress brings Truly her fiesta burger and fries, she also sets the two shots in front of me that I ordered. I slide one across the table to Truly.

“Happy birthday, Tru.” I hold my shot up and wait for her to swallow the fry she shoved in her mouth.

She finally holds the shot up and taps it against mine. “Thanks, Ty,” she says before we throw our shots down.

“I’m glad you stayed,” I add.

“You do understand that we’re not teenagers anymore, right?” She shoves another fry in her mouth. “Nothing’s happening this time, Ty.”