Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers, #4)(52)

Tyler smirked. “Good luck getting some liquid courage with non-alcoholic beer.” He stood, leaving me alone to order at the bar.

I picked at the last bits of polish left on my nails. Finley had always been the one to make sure I had a regular manicure, even if she had to make an appointment from the other side of the country, but now that I couldn’t afford one, I sort of missed it.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket, and I pulled it out, seeing Finley’s silly, beautiful face. I pressed the red button for the second time that day and put my phone away.

“You’re looking awfully forlorn,” Tyler said, setting a bottle on the table in front of me. “Here. Drink up. Annie told me that Wick had already warned her that if we came in together to remind me not to get kicked out.”

“What an *. He ruined our entire night.”

Tyler breathed out a laugh. “That’s exactly what I said.”

“Really?” I asked, dubious. Tyler nodded. “We are spending way too much time together.”

“I was just thinking we needed more days like today.”

“Tyler…”

“Don’t say it. I know.”

“Ellie?” a high-pitched voice called from across the room. “Oh my God! Ellie!”

I turned to see Paige weaving through tables to get to mine. She bent down and threw her arms around me. Her blue hair was now fuchsia, and she was beautiful as ever. Her tiny features remained soft as she smiled sweetly at me. She was still searching for someone, wearing a cropped tank top and frayed denim shorts to display her tattoos. Her right arm, the blank canvas, was now marked with black lace serving as leaves to a coral-colored rose.

“That’s new,” I said.

She grinned and then pointed to her nose. “So is this.”

I frowned, unable to ignore the thought that Paige was changing too much, too fast. She was already drunk, her eyes were bloodshot, and purple circles darkened the thin skin beneath her lower lashes. She wasn’t more than twenty-two or -three, but already tired of the bullshit life kept throwing at her. We were going in opposite directions, and I wondered if I’d been the last straw. Finley had always said that I ruined people, and I could see the turns Paige was taking, all downhill.

“I’m so glad to see you,” she said, a new nose ring shimmering as it reflected the multi-colored lights above. “I went to your house. José said you took a job and moved out.”

“True.”

“Where? New York City? L.A.?”

“The Rocky Mountain Alpine Hotshot barracks, actually.”

Paige turned her head like a confused puppy. “The what?”

“I’m a photographer for The MountainEar. I’m following the hotshots this summer.”

Paige giggled and nudged my arm. “Seriously. Where did you move to?” Her eyes bounced between Tyler and me, and then recognition lit her expression. “So you’re … living together?”

“Not exactly,” Tyler said. “Unless we say we’re also living with nineteen other guys.”

Paige tightened her bottom lip, but then she tried to relax, forcing a smile. “You couldn’t call?”

“I don’t have your number,” I said.

“Really? I thought I gave it to you.” I shook my head, and she blinked. “Well, I can give it to you now. Where’s your phone?”

“In my pocket.”

Paige shifted her gaze from me to Tyler, and then back. She sat in the chair next to me, her shoulders sagging. “I’ve missed you. You look great. You look happy.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Her eyes glossed over. “What are you doing later?”

“I rode into town with Tyler, actually,” I said, feeling guiltier with each word that came out of Paige’s mouth.

“Oh. Well … I could take you back. I have a car.”

“I’m on call, Paige. I’m really sorry.”

I could see the hurt all over her face, in the way she looked to the floor, the way her mouth twitched.

“You warned me, didn’t you?” She looked up. “I’ve been waiting for you this whole time and you told me not to. So stupid,” she said, shaking her head and looking away. She wiped her cheek quickly.

“Paige,” I said, reaching for her.

She pulled away. “There is only one person who’s a bigger whore than Tyler Maddox in this town.”

“Taylor?” Tyler said. I could hear the amusement in his voice, and my cheeks burned with anger.

“Me,” I said.

Paige laughed once. “You don’t even try to deny it. What does that feel like?”

“Pretty shitty,” I said. “Happy?”

Paige’s face crumbled, and an escaped tear fell down her cheek. “No. Not for a long time.” She stood and walked out, and I grabbed my pointless beer and took a long swig.

“Ignore her,” Tyler said.

“It’s not funny,” I snapped. “There is nothing funny about me using her and casting her aside like everyone else in her life.”

“Whoa. I’m sorry. I thought I was on your side.”

“You should go back to yours,” I said. “People get hurt over here.”