Before I can respond, Tyler turns around and comes face to face with him, keeping a tight hold on my hand. He looks back at me. “You know this guy?”

I look at both men, unsure if I should use straight honesty with this situation or not. I choose to stick with the vague truth.

“Yeah,” I answer after one of the longest pauses of my life. I swallow uncomfortably, wishing I still had my beer to help ease down the lump that’s formed in my throat. I keep my eyes on Tyler before continuing. “He’s my brother’s best friend.”

“Jesus Christ. Are you going to introduce me to your parents next?” He tugs me toward him. “Come on. I wanna get outta here.”

Luke steps in front of him, raising an eyebrow. “What’s the rush? The party is just getting started.”

“Luke,” I warn, gaining his attention fleetingly. “Mind your own business.”

“Like you mind yours?” he asks, already having returned his attention to Tyler. They’re both similar in size, but the intimidation Luke has radiating off him right now is enough to make a bigger man recoil. Tyler doesn’t falter as Luke steps closer, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, or a bad thing.

“No priors. No traffic citations. Not even a fucking parking ticket. I’m gonna be honest, that shit doesn’t sit well with me.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Tyler asks.

I suddenly feel dizzy as I realize why Luke knows that information. Either Ben told him after he searched for the bogus name I gave him, or Luke did some research of his own. And this interrogation could easily ruin my chances with Tyler, especially if he finds out he has two cops investigating him.

So I act fast, stepping in between the two of them with my back to Luke. “Can you just give me a minute with him?” I ask Tyler, trying to sound irritated instead of panicked.

A deep crease sets in his forehead as he frowns before stepping back. “Whatever. Make it fast.”

I turn and grab Luke by the arm, pulling him several feet away until Tyler is out of earshot. I spot Leah, fixated on us from her log, and that aggravates me further. He’s concerned about me, but only after he locks down a pussy for the evening. Good to know his priorities are in check.

“You need to back off. I am leaving with this guy and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

He looks down at me, arrogant smirk in place. “There’s a lot I can do about it.”

I take several deep breaths through my nose as I try and keep myself from losing it completely. But I’m right there. I’m always right there with Luke; on the edge of an emotion I don’t want to feel.

“What I’m about to do, and who I do it with, is none of your business. I don’t need to explain myself to you, my brother, Reed—nobody! So go back to my desperate looking cousin, and stop acting like you actually care.”

Tyler catches our attention as he comes up to my side, grabbing my hand and pulling me in the direction of the cars. “Time’s up. We’re going.”

Luke grabs my elbow and puts himself between Tyler and me, getting up in the other man’s face. “You’re going. She stays with me.”

I see red, tearing myself free of both of them and shoving my hands against Luke’s chest. I push against him as hard as I can, meeting his resistance. “Stop it! God, just leave me alone!”

He drops his head until I feel his breath against my face. “Don’t do something stupid right now.”

“Why not? I’m so good at doing shit I end up regretting.” I motion at him with a sweeping hand. “Case in point.”

“You’re a fucking brat.”

“And you’re ruining my life!” My voice breaks at the end of my response as I step closer to that familiar edge, fighting back my tears. I drop my head, concealing how he affects me. Please, don’t lose it right now.

“Yeah?” he questions, prompting me to lift my gaze. “Well, now you know what it feels like.” He steps back, keeping his eyes on me. “Ruin your own life, Tessa. Do whatever you want. I don’t give a shit, and soon, I won’t even have to watch.” He turns then, not giving either one of us another look before he walks away toward the parking area.

The air leaves my lungs in a loud rush.

“What a fucking loser. And what was with the parking ticket stuff?” Tyler asks next to me.

I decide against giving him any information on that and dismiss his questioning with a shrug.

He grabs my hand again. “Let’s go, before you introduce me to anyone else.”

I watch Luke fade in between the vehicles ahead of us as we walk away from the crowd, following his direction. You’re ruining my life. That’s funny. I wanted to say, “You’ve ruined my life”, but I think deep down I know there isn’t an end to this torture in sight. Not when he acts like that around me.

Protective.

Caring.

Like I actually mean something to him.

“Where are you parked?”

I glance up at Tyler, not having realized we’d reached the parking area. I force a smile and point down the row of cars. “Right over there. I’m the silver RAV4.” I drop my hand and look up at him. “Where do you wanna go?”

“Your place,” he states, his voice clear. “That’s what we both want, right?”

Yes.

The word is right there, tickling my lips, but I’m suddenly having difficulty affirming the one goal I had for the evening. He senses my apprehension and tilts his head with a soft grin as he cradles my face in his hands.