Page 45 of Unrest
I felt myself freeze as the air stuck in my lungs and I stared.
“Two . . . one! Happy New Year!”
In seeming slow motion, Linette turned to Ry, her cigarette raised, and kissed him right on the lips. It was only a second, not even long enough for tongue or anything big, but it was enough to make me press my hand to my stomach as the worst case of green monster in history tore through my body, shredding me in a fury.
Rylen’s eyes focused on her with surprise, but she just gave him a sly smile before slinking over to Tater and hugging him. Rylen found my eyes again through the crowd, my heart pounding, pounding, pounding.
I couldn’t do this again. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.
“Did she really just kiss him?” Remy asked.
As Linette made her way around my group of guys, hugging them, sometimes pecking them on the lips, and then clobbering Tall Mark when he grabbed her ass, I moved toward them, possessiveness rearing its wild head.
“Amber . . .” Remy’s voice held warning. “What are you doing?” She followed behind me as I sewed a path through the crowd. By the time I got to the other side, Linette had moved to another group, greeting them just as happily.
I tapped her shoulder and she turned to me, her head pulling back in surprise. I must have looked unfriendly, because she snubbed out her cigarette and crossed her arms.
“Can I help you, Tate?” She had to raise her voice in the super loud room.
“Yeah,” I told her. “Stay away from Rylen.” Oh, my God. I couldn’t believe I’d just said that.
Her eyes narrowed to fighting slits. I felt Remy behind me, her hand clutching the fabric of the back of my shirt, like she was prepared to pull me away.
“Who? Airman Fite? And why should I do that? Oh, right. You’re like his sister or something. Well, he’s a big boy. No need to protect him.”
“I’mnothis sister,” I snarled. “His wife died one week ago. He’s still grieving!”
She slanted her face closer to mine. “I know his story better than you think I do. He spilled his guts when I questioned him. He needed to get it all out, and I let him.” She swished her long bangs out of her eyes and focused on me with precision. “None of us is guaranteed a full life anymore. Every one of us is mourning someone, and we don’t have years to get over it. Sometimes the best way to heal is to move on. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
She turned her back to my face and I stepped away, almost knocking Remy over. She pulled me away.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” Remy hissed. “You just totally gave her ammunition against you, you know that, right?” She faced me, crossing her arms. “Now she’s going to hate you and go after Rylen with all she’s got. You need to hurry and go after him yourself!”
My jaw fell open.
“I meant what I said!” I told her. “It’s disrespectful to ‘go after’ him right now. She doesn’t know him like I do. If he hooks up with someone this soon after Livia’s death, hewillfeel guilty. That’s how he works.”
“Well, Linette is not going to stop, regardless of how he works. So either you have to trust that he will make the right decision and turn her down, which no guy I know would do, or you have to step in and claim him once and for all.”
I swallowed hard as moisture filled my face. “He told her . . .” I took a deep breath that rattled my chest. “He told her I’m like a sister.”
It would always be the thing that held me back. The thorn in my side. That fear of rejection—of ruining the sweet relationship we had by trying for something more if there was a possibility he didn’t see me the way I saw him.
“There you guys are!” Matt grabbed Remy and picked her up off her feet, spinning her and making her squeal. “Happy New Year!”
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Texas Harry’s bearded smile. I hugged him, and passed out hugs to all the other guys, ending with my brother. His hug was weak. I cleared my throat and let him go. He was glaring at Remy and Matt as they talked.
“How’s it going at work?” I asked. “Out there at night?”
He shrugged. “Fine, I guess. Not much to see but snow.” Yeah, he wasn’t interested in talking. He kept glancing at Remy.
“You can talk to her,” I said.
“She’s busy. And it’s better if we don’t.”
“Why? It’s okay to care, Tater—”
“No,” he cut me off. “It’s not.” His jaw set. Stubborn ass.
