Page 145 of The Sidekick

“I would have to wade through your admirers to push you anywhere,” I sass back.

His lip curls in frustration, “If they stopped hounding me for a second, I would have introduced myself to you sooner.”

“You look so comfortable with it,” I say in genuine surprise. “I thought maybe it made you feel good.”

“It makes me feel trapped. I don’t want to be rude. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. My Maman raised me better. My sisters would laugh their asses off to see me there, trying my best not to tell them all to fuck off.”

The more frustrated he gets, the more the accent comes out, and I’m charmed despite his words.

“I would say to hire Shade as a guard, but they would tar and feather him,” I giggle. Maybe he should. It might teach my bestie to show some manners.

“Eh,” he shrugs as if he’s totally unconcerned with Shade’s welfare and turns to look out the window. “All clear, Shade.”

“It’s been all clear. You two have been too busy flirting to pay attention,” Shade comes around the hallway corner to glare at us both. He can snark all he wants. I know he was in the hall eavesdropping.

“What’s going on with the jerks?” I immediately turn on him with questions, unable to hide my concern. “They said you were given time off?”

He shakes his head in frustration and turns to go back to his room. My eyes widen at the action. He hasn’t tried to walk away from me like this in a while. We worked past that.

I yank my legs away from Asher to stand up and yell after him, “I don’t run, and you don’t either! That was the deal, remember?”

“Fuck the deal,” he calls over his shoulder in a grim tone I haven’t heard in months.

“You did not just say that, Shade!” I stomp my foot in frustration and hurt. “Do not make me come back there! I will pour a pot of hot coffee on you! I mean… I’d probably stand there and threaten you with it, but the thought counts!”

“What the fuck do you want!?” He yells as he stomps back in, his face flushed with anger. His sudden loss of control comforts me. He’s not blocking himself off. He’s processing whatever this is as best he can.

“I want you to talk to me,” I flop my arms at my sides helplessly. “How am I supposed to be your sidekick when you act like a jerk and keep secrets?”

“Do not yell at her again,” Asher says from the couch. While the words are calm and soft, the look on his face says he’s ten seconds away from throwing Shade into a wall.

“It’s ok. He’s just venting,” I assure him.

Asher’s expression turns grim.

Shade throws himself into one of the side chairs and rubs both of his hands over his face so roughly I wince.

“I’ll grab you some water,” I offer and hurry into the kitchen.

“I don’t want a fucking water, Tera,” he snaps through his hands.

“Here you go,” I hand it to him and sit back on the couch. Asher’s arm wraps around my waist and yanks me back into his body. I don’t think he’s going to let go any time soon, either.

Shade opens the bottle and drains half of it in one sitting before relaxing back.

“It’s a process,” I whisper to Asher as he watches Shade like he’s about to attack. “Water, then talk. I’ve got this down.”

“If he talks to you that way again, I’ll process his face with my fist. I don’t care if he’s a dictator or a silent assassin. No one gets to talk to you like that.” He speaks in a normal tone, not making any effort to defuse the situation.

“Ok, handsome,” I pat his leg and kiss his cheek to smooth things over.

“You guys are gross,” Shade sneers childishly.

“No more of that,” I twist back to face my bestie as well as I can now that I have an arm crossed over my stomach to keep me still. “Tell me what’s happening.”

He glares and grits his teeth for a minute before he slumps back and covers his face with a hand again. I start nodding as his fit-throwing routine winds down, right on schedule.

“When I got to work yesterday, they were in a meeting. They all decided that I needed some time away so I could get myself together and come back focused. My priorities no longer ‘mesh’ with theirs. I’m supposed to be thinking about that and breaking up with you.”

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