Page 10 of The Sidekick

“She wants us to bring you home,” Ira glances around as if a roach might come out of the walls and attack him.

I don’t bother saying anything as I finish my water and go back for thirds, this time determined not to turn back around. Politeness can take a hike today.

“Have you eaten?” Felix asks.

I can’t remember when I ate last, and the thought of food now makes me nauseous.

My alarm starts going off in the bedroom, saving me from having to answer. Crap, I need to check if Trevor has called. What if he opened the bar without me? My thoughts make no sense. I’m just a waitress. He has staff he can rely on.

No one follows me into the bedroom and the temptation to close the door and move my spindly dresser in front of it is almost overwhelming. The thought of following through with it exhausts me enough to change my mind.

I’m just pressing stop when my phone begins to vibrate. Trevor is calling me instead. I immediately pick it up.

“Hello?” My voice sounds tired and washed out, surprising me.

“Tera,” he sounds so relieved that I question why. Did he expect an army of ninjas to have assaulted me?

“Yes?”

“Uh, it’s Trevor.”

“Yeah,” I reply hesitantly. He’s acting as if I’ve never spoken to him before. I wish the weirdness would stop already.

“Me and Max are downstairs with some food. We brought you your car. We wanted to call and give you a heads up before we tried your door.”

Great. My hot, super sweet boss is downstairs with the surly hot busboy cataloging all the zoning violations outside. Just wait until they get inside. This should be fun.

“Ok,” I hang up and then wonder why I did that. I should have told him to go back home or asked if he was up to date on his tetanus shots. Maybe leave the surly busboy in his truck. I didn’t even say goodbye.

“Who was that?” Ira asks as I return to the kitchen and finish glass number three. He sounds irritated, making me want to scream at him to leave my apartment and leave me alone. They aren’t my bodyguards. They’re Andi’s. They have no say in my life. I do a couple of deep breathing exercises to stem the urge.

“My boss,” I finally answer, filling the cup again. I’m not even thirsty anymore. I just need something to do that isn’t staring at everyone.

“Oh, is he opening back up already?” Alec asks.

I shrug again, watching the water fill the cup.

“You’re not seriously considering going back there,” Blaze snaps, half angry and half disbelieving.

“Tera?” Trevor’s voice comes from the front door, sounding stern. “Why is your door open?”

“Because we’re packing her things and getting her out of here,” Blaze and Felix stand side by side, blocking the door from my sight. I’m not sure which one spoke, but I’m betting it was Blaze.

“And you are?” A low, angry voice asks with enough menace to raise the hairs on the back of my neck.

“That’s our question. Who are you, and what are you doing here?” Ira steps up just behind Felix. There isn’t enough room in the hallway for all three to stand side by side.

“Are you ok, Tera?” Trevor’s voice calls out, and I realize that dark tone is his.

“It’s Trevor, guys,” Alec’s exasperated voice cuts across the tension. “Her boss? He’s probably been worried sick. I doubt she answered for him if she hasn’t been answering her phone for Andi.”

“That’s funny, she answered him pretty quick just now,” Blaze’s tone is mocking as he steps forward.

“Back off,” a different, enraged voice says, and I stand there watching everyone’s backs because I can’t see anything else. I’m a bystander to this drama and don’t even get a good view.

“We just wanted to check on her,” Trevor’s voice is very soft but edged with brewing violence. “We brought her food.”

Ira nods, “Good. I don’t think she’s been eating.” He grabs one of the brother’s arms and pulls him into the living room. The other one backs into the mini hallway leading to my bedroom, and Trevor and Max get revealed.

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