Tyed(38)

We sit on our red bench. It's a hectic day, full of classes, an exam, a study group and on top of things, a shift at Ned's.

I shake my head firmly. "No, dude, thanks. I'm done with that stuff. I started working out and I think the pot really messed with my body. I'm in bad shape."

Plus, Ty loathes the fact that I smoke, and as much as I'd hate to admit it, his opinion matters to me.

Shane almost chokes on his laughter, but he still tucks the blunt back into his special cigarette pack. Good, he's put off too.

"Sure, okay. Don't want to be a bad influence."

"I take it Gemma doesn't mind?" I bump my thigh into his.

Shane wrinkles his nose, like he is trying to remember who the hell Gemma is. "She knows the score." He lifts his gaze back to my face. "What's up with you, B? Seeing anyone?"

This subject is explosive, but I don't want to lie to Shane. Whether he still wants me or not, lying will only make matters worse.

"I'm kind of dating someone, but I still don't know where it's going." Maybe I'm downplaying it, and maybe it's the truth. After all, Ty and I are not officially together. We haven't discussed it yet.

"Do I know him?"

I take a big gulp of my tasteless coffee, then clear my throat. "The MMA guy." I reduce Ty to what he does, and hate myself for it.

He is not the MMA guy. He's the guy who makes me laugh and giggle and see the world with more vivid colors. Oh, yeah, and come twice in twenty minutes, which no one has ever done before.

"Wilder?" Shane’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Dawson is married and Jesse has a girlfriend, and Shane is freaking good at math, so he gets it quickly. He snorts. "Well, that's a random hookup."

Okay, that's good. He is taking it like it's a joke, not like he wants to kill me, or unfriend me, for that matter.

"I get what you're saying,” I say. “We're pretty different."

Shane offers a grim smile. "Ain't that the f*cking truth. So you chose him over me?"

I shake my head. "No. Never. You're my best friend." My voice is high-pitched as I hide behind my coffee cup.

There's an awkward silence before he gets to his feet, offering me his hand, which I take and jump up beside him.

"I don't like what I'm hearing here, at all. This conversation isn't over, Blaire. When is Izzy coming back?" he asks out of nowhere, his voice still laced with annoyance.

"Next Sunday. Why?"

Shane takes a few long strides, walking ahead of me. "Just wanna make sure I never bump into her when he hang out. Thanks for the heads up."

***

It’s five weeks into my relationship with Ty, and Izzy is due to come back from her world tour as an Elizabeth’s Passion Fairy. She’s even gotten her wings and is now one of the signature models of the lingerie label. She’s as proud of her new wings as if she had won a Nobel Peace Prize.

I arrange to pick her up from the airport with Ty, because the drive into SFA is a bitch. I text her a few hours beforehand, warning her not to bring the volatile subject of Shane up.

Hey. So, just so you know, Ty has a weird thing with Shane. He thinks he’s hitting on me, and with Shane's weird-ass behavior lately, he’s probably right too. So please don't mention Shane when we pick you up. It's bad enough to get groped by your BFF out of nowhere. Don't need to deal with more mess than necessary. Thanks, scrawny ass. x.



Ty double-parks outside baggage claim and yanks me by the collar into an eager make-out session. Ever since we had sex, we've been going at it like bunnies. Sex is a new world to me, and I'm eager to explore it from all angles (and positions). It's epic, it's soothing, and it's absolutely mind-blowing. Ty must share my feelings about our sex life, because I almost lose my top, and only come to my senses when I realize his hand is rubbing my sweet spots and I’m about to climax.

“We need to stop before we get arrested.” I let out a moan.

“Tinted windows.” He raps one finger on his side window, his tongue swirling on my earlobe. “Remember?”

How can I forget? It’s so mafia I feel like dying every time I drive in this shiny toy.

My phone rings, and I peel Ty off reluctantly. “Izzy.”

“Babe!”

“Where’s your skinny ass today?”

My sister’s voice pipes triumphantly. “Home.”

I bite back a smile.

“So where the hell are you?” Izzy brings me back to planet earth, showering me with a stream of shouts. “I’m freezing this ass in here! You know I’m too skinny to handle San Fran's summer drizzle!”

“Huh?” I guess my hearing is impaired since all my blood went straight to my crotch from that earlier make-out session. “What do you mean you can’t see me? I’m right here.”

Ty, who is sitting in the driver’s seat, lifts one eyebrow, as if to say Well, she is a model, so she ought to be dumb as dirt, right?

“Hey Blaire, I’m pretty sure I would have seen you if you were out here. Our pink car stands out like a liberal in Mississippi.”

I smack my forehead. “Sorry, Izz. Ty's ride is a black Hummer.” I cringe as I give her further description. "With...skulls and flames and stuff."