He stares at us expectantly, like he’s waiting for us both to act surprised or impressed. “God, tough crowd,” he laughs. “I get it though. You small town girls don’t know about cars, because you’re only exposed to guys who aren’t worth more than a Prius. Then I show up talking about how I’m looking at houses worth six mill up on the point, blowing your minds. I know, I know,” he continues, waving his hand between me and Jana, “it’s a lot to take in. You’re probably thinking I’m out of your league, but at least for tonight, you’re wrong. I’m all about spontaneity, and you two beautiful babes are out here looking for a good time, am I right?”
“No, you’re not fuckin’ right.”
I don’t need to turn to see who said that. My body already knows the answer. I swallow nervously as Tyler stops next to me. Ugh, what is wrong with me? He’s been with Rita. That’s like… well, I don’t know off the top of my head, but I can tell you it’s not anything good.
“Hey, Farmer Frank,” Scooter sneers. “I’m guessing one of these babes belongs to you?”
Jana snort-laughs at the question. “We aren’t property or animals and his name’s not Frank,” she snickers.
“She’s right,” Tyler says. “It’s Chief.”
“Chief?” Scooter scoffs. “Like a fucking dog?”
A shit-eating grin spreads across Tyler’s face. “No, not like a fucking dog. Like Chief of Police, actually. Of this very island, in fact.”
Scooter’s eyes widen and he swallows audibly as he steps back. “Jesus, man. Settle. I was just saying hi.”
“Well, you’ve said it. I’d suggest you take your ass up to the bar and order a plain Coke. You’re giving me a possibly-too-drunk-to-drive vibe.”
“I had one whiskey on the rocks,” Scooter hastily assures him.
“See that it’s your last for the night,” Tyler orders. “I have a feeling you wouldn’t enjoy spending the night in one of my cells. The thread count of the sheets is probably minus-four.”
Scooter retreats much the way a roach would if you sprayed it with poison. Either he’s the type that’s easily forgotten or the fact that I’m edgy because Tyler is standing next to me is addling my brain. I’m thinking it’s probably a mixture of both.
“You didn’t need to swoop in for the save, but thanks,” Jana laughs.
He lifts his chin at her in acknowledgement. “Knew you had it, but I’m keyed up after dealing with Rita.” Turning to me, he says, “I’m really, really fucking sorry about that.”
I get why he’s saying that; I do. But I feel like I need to make it clear to him—and to Rita—that I can take care of myself where she is concerned. And from here on out, I need to lockdown my desire for him. That Rita’s involved ought to make it a hell of a lot easier.
I shrug like it’s no big thing. “Don’t worry about me. I haven’t taken anything she’s said seriously since I was a teenager. Her little verbal jabs are garbage in and garbage out. She is what she is.”
Which, for the record, is a horrible human being.
His brow furrows. “It was fucked up. She shouldn’t have talked to you like that. Nothing you can say will change the fact that yeah, I’m concerned about your feelings. I’d need my head examined if I wasn’t.”
“Don’t be. This isn’t high school—I’m not about to start rocking in a corner because someone whose opinion I neither care about or want likes to get her kicks by leaving a trail of insults in her wake. That’s her problem. And, I guess, yours too. I want no part of it.”
His head rears back as though I’ve shocked him.
“No, you’re reading that—”
“I’ve got to run to the bathroom,” I announce, cutting him off. “It’d be great if we could not talk about Rita anymore. I came to have fun, and talking about or thinking of her doesn’t qualify as a good time.”
Turning on my heel, I walk away without waiting for him to respond. Before I’m out of earshot, I hear Jana say, “Well Ty, you done fucked that up.”
My initial reaction is to agree with her, but I know I need to step back and see tonight through a different lens. It’s better I found out about Rita now than two weeks from now, when I might have liked him more.
When I get back from the bathroom, things are different. For starters, I choose to sit on the other side of the table with Jana. Reese and Ben show up less than a minute later, which is good, because they keep conversation flowing. I ignore the way Tyler keeps looking across the table at me as I settle into a side conversation with Jana.
“You see what I mean now about the hot guy ratio, right?”