Page 26 of The Sidekick

When he speaks, the waitresses perk up like trained dogs. They think his voice is sexy. To be fair, I love it, too, but I’m not in the mood to be charitable right now. Especially when they’ve all propositioned him over and over.

“Even me?” Andi’s tone hushes with surprise and hurt.

“Yeah, even you,” his lip curls as he eyes her with distaste. I can’t even call him on it because I feel the same. All the boys around her bristle at the look.

Max’s eyes meet mine, checking that his behavior is ok, and saying I’m surprised is an understatement. He’s buttering me up for something, clearly.

I shrug, giving him the go-ahead to say his piece however he wants.

His lips twist up with a sinister smile as he begins. “She’s blocked every single one of your numbers. You’re all saved under her contacts with Zs in front of your names, so you’re at the bottom of her list when she opens it, even yours, Andi. You couldn’t control your toys when they talked shit before. Why would we trust you to do it now? If you’re leaving, it’s no problem for us, good riddance. No more tearing her down and laughing while she tries to pick up the pieces.”

I knew he was spying when he took her phone, damn it. He and I are going to talk about this later. I also don’t like him telling things about Tera to them. She might consider it a betrayal of her trust, and I won’t have that. I clear my throat, and Max leans back, satisfied for the moment.

“Come on, guys,” Alec holds his hands up in a peaceful ‘let’s all calm down’ fashion. “We’re here for Tera, not a war. Let’s stop antagonizing each other and start working together.”

This is from the guy ready to walk out two seconds ago. The words make me see red.

They aren’t here for Tera. They’re here for Andi. To appease her hurt feelings and make a show of ‘trying’ to be better.

I wonder if he ever said that when they ripped Tera’s confidence into confetti. Thinking that makes the red tint black on the edges.

“That hurt you feel right now?” I glare at Andi because she is the center of this wheel of bullshit, and she has to know it. “Being cut out? She’s been feeling that for a hell of a lot longer than you have. It’s your turn to stew in it.”

Chapter Ten

Tera

I tried to go out into the main room for a breather, but seeing the chaos it was in reminded me of Joe. Instead, I went into the office to hide and work out my sadness on some innocent pieces of paper.

I’m trying to clean up the filing and feeling a little lost. Both emotionally and intellectually. This filing system makes no sense.

A gentle knock on the open door finally pulls words out of my throat, coated in my confusion.

“Um, why is a 2017 bill with the current paperwork? I’m sure you have a method, but I’m not seeing it. Would you mind explaining so I can do this your way instead of mine? I don’t want to mess anything up.”

It isn’t until I turn with the offending page and folder in each hand that I realize I’m not talking to Trevor. Felix and Blaze stand in the doorway, watching me flounder. My eyes drop to their shoes, but my hand reaches for my phone, finger posed over the volume button just in case. There’s something freeing in knowing I’ll have backup and shame for feeling like I can’t take care of this myself.

One of them clears their throat, as if I’m not paying attention to every move they make in my hyperawareness, my shoulders rising a little more.

“We’re supposed to be cleaning the bathrooms now,” Blaze says, and his tone is confused. “But we have no idea where the cleaning supplies are.”

“Apparently, needing to piss is a crime here, so we got saddled with the punishment,” Felix says. I could swear he sounds just as amused as frustrated over the statement. It feels weird for him to be talking to me in that voice. It’s reserved for people he can tolerate, and I’m not on that list.

I hesitate, looking at the phone. Do I take it with me or leave it behind? Trevor didn’t tell me the protocol here, and I’m even more confused. It’s like I’ve never made my own decisions, which irritates me.

I leave it behind as proof that I can handle this, even when my gut twists with foreboding. I’m being dramatic. They would never physically hurt me. I’m fine.

“This way,” I mutter and slip between them, careful not to touch them with their rude germs.

“You could just tell us where it is,” Blaze says in a disgruntled tone.

I shrug, not bothering to explain that it’s easier for me to show them than try and guide them in the right direction. They won’t listen.

We stop at a hidden door built into the stairs to the second floor, and I open it. I love this tiny room. The walls are close enough that it feels like they’re hugging me as I walk in. Seeing how small it is, Blaze waits in the doorway for me.

I grab a box of gloves, some rags, and cleaner from the built-in shelf, relaxing into the embrace of the walls. It’s like a free hot yoga box in here with no other people. Standing poses only, though.

“…never seen him that angry before,” Pat’s voice drifts from the break room through the wall, barely reaching me.

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