Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(61)
MY PHONE WENT off non-stop after I left Kacey’s. I refused to listen to any more lies, so I threw my phone across the seat and sped down the road. I had to get away. Once I got home, I rushed inside straight to my room and packed as many things as I could fit in my duffle bag. There was no way in hell I could stay in town knowing Kacey would be everywhere I went. She even worked at the gym now. What was I going to do?
Her betrayal hit deep and I wasn’t going to give Kyle the satisfaction of knowing it broke me. Once I had my bags loaded in my truck, I started out of my driveway, but was blocked in when a little silver Honda pulled in.
Fuck my life. It was Bree.
I rolled my window down when she approached looking all pissed with her lip curled, and wearing a pair of Bugs Bunny pajama pants with a white tank top. “Let me guess . . . you were in on it too?” I snapped.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared up at me, tapping her foot. “Don’t give me that bullshit, Tyler. I didn’t know any more than you did. You need to stop running, and talk to Kacey.”
“Why? So she can feed me more lies?”
“Really? So that’s how this is going to go?” she scoffed, narrowing her gaze. “How is it that I can find out the truth just a few minutes ago and understand where she’s coming from? Can you blame her for wanting to keep her life a secret? Look where she comes from, Tyler. You may not believe her, but I sure as hell do. She’s been my best friend for the past year and never once did she tell me about her brother.
“Kacey just wanted to escape from the hell he put her through. Whatever Kyle said, it’s a bunch of horse shit. If you remember correctly, she tried to stay away from you . . . you were the one who pursued her. You know what else? I’m the one who dragged her to your gym that day. Why don’t you let that sink in for a while before you start acting like an ass?”
Turning on her heel, she stalked off, got in her car and sped out of my driveway.
I couldn’t listen to anymore bullshit. Reaching for my phone, I dialed my father’s number and waited on him to pick up. “Son, where are you?” he asked, answering the phone.
“I’m at the house, but I’m going to take off for a while.” I put my truck in gear and started out of the driveway. I had a long drive ahead of me.
“Running away from your problems isn’t the answer, Tyler, but if you feel it’s what you need to do, then go. I trust you’ll work hard this week to get ready for your fight.”
Gripping the steering wheel tight, I imagined it was Kyle’s neck in my grasp. “You have nothing to worry about. I’ll make sure I’m more than ready.”
I hung up the phone and sped down the highway, the start of my nine hour drive to Santa Rosa. I had friends there who could help me and I was going to need it.
SINCE TYLER WOULDN’T answer my calls, I grew desperate and sought him out, stopping first at his house and then at the gym. When I walked in, everything was normal, people were working out and enjoying their day just like usual. My life, however, was crashing all around me. I didn’t know whether to come or go.
“Are you going to work, or are you just going to stand there?”
I turned around and there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, was Tyler’s father. He was dressed in a pair of black and gold fighting shorts with a plain white T-shirt drenched in sweat. He and Tyler looked so much alike, I wanted to burst into tears where I stood. They had the same blond hair and cut, even though Steven’s was showing some gray. They also had the same body type, tall and muscular. Luckily, I held the tears back and peered over at the empty desk . . . my desk.
“I didn’t know if I was going to be allowed back.” I whispered. “I need to find Tyler.”
Sighing, Steven reached for one of the clean hand towels we always had stacked neatly on the desk. “He’s not here, Kacey. I don’t think he’ll be back for a while.”
“What do you mean he won’t be back for a while?” I gasped.
Steven shrugged his shoulders. “He called and said he wanted to get away. I trust that he’s making the right decision. He knows what he needs.”
“So I guess you know what happened?” I asked nervously, hanging my head. I didn’t want to see the accusation in his gray eyes. I saw enough of it already in Tyler’s.
“Yes, I was here when Tyler found out. I don’t know the whole story, but I do know that you’re not a bad person, Kacey. Anyone who talks to you can see that.”
“Tyler can’t,” I noted sadly. “He let me go without letting me explain.”
“Listen,” he murmured softly. “Tyler is just like me when it comes to his temper. He’s quick to act before thinking. Sometimes I don’t know how Mary puts up with me. However, my son is smart. He needs his space right now to sort everything out. You’re just going to have to let him go and hope he comes back to you.”
That’s what I’m afraid of— he won’t come back.
Two Days Later
I HAD JUST gotten done with my morning run when I noticed Kyle’s red and black sport bike sitting in the driveway. It was Wednesday morning and I still hadn’t seen or heard from Tyler. I tried his phone twice and it went straight to voicemail both times. Even Bree seemed to be acting weird every time I talked to her, which made no sense. I felt like I was losing everyone, except my damn brother, who’s incessant badgering was about to drive me insane.