Page 21 of Too Safe

Don’t? Don’t what?

All the joy coursing through me a moment ago saps out of me when I register the dread in his eyes. Instead of the confident smile I expected from him, his face is drawn, and his brow is furrowed. That’s when it clicks. Locke isn’t here for me.

I’m still trying to make sense of the situation when Kendrick takes a menacing step forward, getting right up in my face.

“You sawnothing,” he growls.

And now my hackles are raised.

Is this sourpuss pissed off that I caught him at a medical spa? Is he worried I’ll tell people he likes to indulge in expensive-ass facials? I have no interest whatsoever in Kendrick’s business. Up until a minute ago, I thought he was accompanying Locke to seeme.

Blinking away my annoyance, I turn to Locke. But he looks like he wants to be anywhere but here.

“What the hell is going on?” I demand. “Why are you here?”

In response, Kendrick swears under his breath, pulls out his phone, and pounds out a message with far more aggression than necessary.

“Dude,” Locke tries, snapping out of whatever mental anguish he was just experiencing. He swipes at Kendrick’s phone, but the other man recoils and dodges the attempt without even glancing up. “Kendrick. Seriously. It’s fine. She didn’t see shit. She didn’t even know we were going to be here, did you, Joey?”

I look between the men, utterly confused. Shaking my head, I answer. “No. I didn’t see either of your names on the schedule.”

Kendrick’s head snaps up, and he bares his teeth. Shit. Another strike for Joey.

“Youactuallywork here?” he challenges.

I stare back, frowning. Why the hell is he being so hostile? Cold and grouchy is one thing, but this reaction is totally unexpected, and frankly, unnecessary. Glancing back at the door, I crack my knuckles.

“Look, I have to get back in there before they notice I’m gone.”

Kendrick scoffs, his tongue in his cheek as he shakes his head. “This isn’t gonna fly, Nicky.” His warning is for Locke, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me.

My cheeks heat under his glare, and I take a step back.

He’s clearly pissed off. And yet I still have no idea what I did to contribute to his big bad mood.

“Kendrick,” Locke practically pleads. “Don’t do this.”

His words are coated in emotion. Queasiness sets in when I realize he’s desperate.

For what, I have no idea. And maybe I don’t want to know.

Kendrick’s phone dings, startling me.

And to think I was excited. When I spotted them, I assumed they were here to visit me. Now I can’t shake the impending sense of dread swirling around us in the humid night air.

Kendrick glances at his screen, then nods once to Locke. “It’s already done.”

With that, he turns and stalks over to his car, leaving Locke and me staring at each other.

Before I can formulate a question, Kendrick lays on the horn. Locke whips his head toward the car, then looks back at me. His face is pained, his expression filled with remorse.

“Fuck. I’m sorry, Joey. I’m so fucking sorry. I’ll call you.”

And just like that, he’s gone.

I stand in the parking lot, dumbfounded. When I finally remember where I am and what I’m supposed to be doing, I hurry back into the building, holding back tears.

What the hell was that?

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