Lawton Ridge Duet Series

Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

TYLER

By her reaction, it’s obvious Gemma had no idea her dad and I had an arrangement. I thought Everleigh would’ve at least told her, but instead, Gemma’s completely blindsided by my arrival.

When I look into her eyes, they still sparkle as bright as they used to. Guilt floods in, but I push it away. I know she’s engaged, but it doesn’t stop the unfiltered thoughts that flood my mind as I study her. Flashes of our past come in waves. The last time I saw Gemma Reid, her hair was longer, darker, and she rarely wore makeup. Now, her hair is cut and curled to her shoulders, her lips are ruby red, and she barely looks over twenty-five. She’s aged well—not that thirty is old—but compared to how she looked at eighteen, she’s a grown woman.

“He didn’t tell you?” I ask when she doesn’t speak.

“Uh, no. He did not, but it’s no big deal.” She waves a hand in the air with a light chuckle. “Probably slipped his mind. He’s constantly on the go these days. Always worrying about his customers.”

Her rambling has me holding back a smile. Gemma was a shy teenager. Even when I spent that summer with her, she was on the quiet side. Now, she seems more confident than before.

“Well, sorry. I won’t take too much of his time.”

“No worries. Just let me grab him.” She walks to the door, and I shamelessly check out her a*s. It’s strange to see her in a tight pencil skirt and blouse. She loved wearing sundresses and running barefoot when we were together. Now she’s all business and looks more tempting than ever.

“Tyler!” Jerry booms the minute he walks into the lobby. He reaches for my hand and shakes it.

“Mr. Reid. Good to see you, sir.”

“You too, son.” He pats me on the back. “Come into my office so we can chat.”

Jerry looks over at Gemma. “Did you offer Tyler a drink?” He glances at me. “Coffee? Water? Coke?”

Before Gemma can respond, I hold up a hand. “No, I’m fine, but thank you.”

Gemma flashes me a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes, and by how she fidgets, I know she’s uncomfortable as hell. I almost feel bad, considering our history, but I need this job and a fresh start. I’ll stay out of her way if that’s what she wants. However, if we’re working together every day, it won’t be easy.

Jerry brings me into the office and shuts the door. “Sit, sit…”

“I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity, Mr. Reid. My past isn’t the best, but I’m a hard worker.” I could elaborate on the bullshit that got me locked up, but he doesn’t seem like the type of guy who cares to hear the whole story.

“Please, call me Jerry. Mr. Reid makes me sound old.”

Leaning back in the chair, I chuckle and nod. “Will do.”

“I have no doubt you’d be a good fit, Tyler. I’ve heard some of the stories and whether they’re true isn’t for me to judge. I just need you to show up on time and not be distracted by your phone all day.”

“That I can definitely do.” I sit up straight. “I’m very disciplined.”

“I know you spent four years in the military, and that’s no easy task. So, I’ll tell ya what, we’ll do a trial run. If you start slacking off or get into trouble, you’re fired. If you come to work with a good attitude and get s**t done, you can stay. Fair?”

“Absolutely. I won’t let you down, Jerry.”

“You can start Monday. Gemma will give you a tour, and then I’ll put you to work. That okay?”

“Fine with me.” That gives me five days to get what I need and settle in.

He stands, and we shake hands again. “Thank you again. I can let myself out,” I say so I can have a minute with Gemma before leaving.

“Alright, see you next week.”

We say goodbye, and I make my way to the lobby. The door slams behind me, and Gemma jumps.

“Jesus!” She drops her cell on the desk and holds a hand to her chest.

“Sorry. Didn’t realize it would be so loud.” I tap my knuckles on the counter and lean over, glancing at her phone screen. “Who’re you texting?”

She quickly flips it over. “None of your business.”

Chuckling, I shrug. “Hope it’s not that Derrick guy you were obsessed with or I’ll really have to kick his a*s into the next county.”

Her eyes widen, and for a long beat, I don’t think she’s going to speak, but then she clears her throat and the corner of her lips tilts up. “That was my sophomore year. How do you even remember his name?”

I’ve never forgotten what she said in the letters she sent me, even years later. It’s something I thought a lot about when I was behind bars. When Liam offered to pack my apartment, I made sure he grabbed them so I didn’t lose them.

“Because I remember that little prick made you cry.”

“Well, I’m a big girl now. And he’s married to Maggie. She owns the salon.”

“Wait.” I hold my hands above my head to imitate big hair. “The girl who looked like she used a can of hairspray every day?”

Gemma laughs, then nods. “Yep.”

“Wow. Guess I have some catching up to do.”

“A lot has changed.” Her gaze locks on mine, and neither of us blinks. The intensity is thick between us. “I’m engaged,” she blurts out, then immediately blushes. “I mean, so you don’t have to go laying anyone out.”

I narrow my eyes at her, wondering if she’s always this socially awkward or if it’s just with me. “I heard.”

“Right. Of course, you did. I’m sure Everleigh told you.”

“She did. Congrats.” I shove my hands into my pockets.

“Thank you. We finally set a date, so I’m in major planning mode now.”

“That’s great. I’m really happy for you, Gemma. You deserve the wedding of your dreams.”

She stares at me as if there’s something on the tip of her tongue. “I waited.”

“What?”

Gemma inhales a sharp breath and looks away before locking her green eyes back on mine. “After you left, I waited. Years, actually.”

I wasn’t expecting her to say that. My throat goes dry, unsure how I should respond, and all I can muster is an apology. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Well, how would you? I never heard from you again.”

Fuck.

The hurt in her tone is undeniable, and this is the last place I expected us to have this conversation.

“Gemma…” I step closer.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It doesn’t matter. I’m over it.”

The bitterness of her tone has me halting. She never got closure. Neither did I, but honestly, it was my own stupid fault.

“We—”

The phone rings and interrupts us before I can tell her that we should talk in private, but she holds up a finger.

“Don’t worry about it. I gotta take this.”

I purse my lips and give her a curt nod. “Alright. See you Monday then.”

She gives a slight wave as she answers the call with a sweet greeting. I make my way out of the shop and blink hard, avoiding the sun.

Fuck. That conversation didn’t go as planned. I hope working there isn’t the worst f*****g idea I’ve ever had. If it all backfires on me, things will end worse than they did the last time I left, and I’ll shatter more than just her heart.

Instead of going home, I stop at Everleigh’s boutique.

“Well, how’d it go?” Everleigh asks as she counts money from the cash register.

“I start Monday.”

She looks up at me. “Did you see Gemma?”

“Yep. Apparently, she had no idea her dad was interviewing me.”

She averts her eyes and purses her lips. “Oh, really? I must’ve forgotten to mention that detail.” She closes the register, then hangs the dresses in her hands on a rack.

“Oh, right. Even though you have an impeccable memory and can remember exact conversations from twenty years ago. I’m sure you just…forgot.”

Everleigh rolls her eyes. “I have selective memory.” Even though she’s younger, she often tries to keep me in line as though she’s my big sister.

“Well, tell me how it went.” She puts her hands on her hips.

“More awkward than when you tried stealing a box of condoms from the store when you were thirteen.” I chuckle at the memory. She was embarrassed the sheriff called and begged me not to tell our grandparents.

“Tyler!” She grabs a balled-up piece of paper and throws it at me. “That was a dare!”

“And you’re lucky Father Tim was there shopping and talked the owners out of pressing charges.”

Everleigh blushes, then buries her face in her hands before meeting my eyes. “Ah, I almost forgot that part.”

“Well, times that by two, and that’s how awkward our interaction was. And now I’m going to see her every day.” I lean against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I’m surprised my phone isn’t blowing up yet, though she might never talk to me again for not warning her.” Everleigh bites into her lower lip, then waves it off. “She’ll get over it.”

I snort. “She blurted out that she was engaged.”

“It’s not like you can miss the massive rock on her finger.” She moves around the store, and I follow her. She stops and hands me a few shirts. “Make yourself useful and hang these on the back wall.”

“I don’t work for you.” I smirk.

She turns and glares. “You’re living in my condo rent-free. Shut up and use your height to hang those up so I don’t have to use my extension pole.”

I nearly choke. “Your stripper pole?”

“Goddammit, Tyler.” Everleigh bursts out laughing, then walks to the corner of the shop. “An extension pole. It’s a garment hook or hanger retriever for clothes that are high up.”

“From now on, I’d go with one of those names instead.”

“You haven’t changed a bit.” She hands me the pole.

“What’s that mean?” I’m more different than she’ll ever realize.

“Means you’re still my annoying big brother.” She points at the wall. “Now put them up there for me, would ya?” She grins, then pats my arm before walking away.

Once I’m done figuring out which shirt goes where and how to balance the hangers properly on this stupid retriever pole, I do exactly what she asked. When I’m finished, I find Everleigh on the other side of the store.

“Gemma said they picked a date for the wedding. When is it?”

“March thirteenth.”

Only seven months away.

“They were engaged a long time before setting one.”

Everleigh nods. “Mm-hmm. He proposed early on, like he wanted to claim her and for everyone to know she was his but wasn’t in a rush to actually get married.”

“Why do you think that is?” I watch as she organizes a shelf of candles.

“Honestly…” She looks over her shoulder at me and frowns. “I think she likes the idea of loving him and having the picture-perfect life, but in reality, she’s second-guessing if it’s the right thing to do. Gemma loves her cottage, and I know it’s been eating at her to give it up, which is why she won’t move in with him.”

“They don’t live together?”

“Nope. He’s been asking for months, and she’s adamant about waiting.”

Interesting.

“So why’s she with him?”

Everleigh goes back to organizing some bracelets by the counter, and I follow her as she walks and talks.

“I have a few theories, but Gemma denies them all.”

“Which are?”

She finally stops and turns, folding her arms over her chest as she studies me. “Why do you care so much? I thought you moved on.”

“I’ll always care for her well-being, even if I’m not in her life, Ev. All I’ve ever wanted is for Gemma to be happy, and if this guy doesn’t make her happy…”

“She tries to be.” She shrugs, and her face falls. “Jerry really likes him and the idea of them getting married.”

“Really? Her dad approves?”

“Oh, totally. He’s over the f*****g moon about them finally setting a date. Robert will be able to take care of her financially, and she’ll always have what she needs. Growing up, they didn’t have much, and Jerry knows she won’t have to worry when they start a family. It makes him happy as Pops eatin’ warm apple pie, and Gemma wants nothing more than to make her dad happy.”

“Do you think that’s why she’s marrying him? To appease Jerry?”

Everleigh goes behind the counter. “I’m not sure, but even if it was, Gemma wouldn’t tell me. I’m only speculating from what I see and hear. She’s not super open about their relationship, but then again, Gemma has always been private.” She gives me a look, and I read between the lines. Gemma didn’t share every detail of our relationship, but Everleigh knew enough to threaten me when I left.

“Wow…” I brush a hand through my hair, trying to process everything.

“Yep. Well, as much as I’m enjoying this brotherly chat, I need to get back to work and open the store.”

“Yeah, I gotta run some errands anyway.”

“What kind of errands?”

“I need to get a checking account, go to the post office and change my address, update my license, and get some new work clothes and shoes.”

She rounds the counter and gives me a hug. “Proud of you.”

I wrap my arms around her. “For what?”

“For coming back home and starting over. I understand things have been hard for you and know being here won’t be easy. I’m proud you came back. I missed you. Our grandparents did too.”

She pushes back, and I smile.

“I know. I missed you guys too,” I admit, then walk toward the door. Before I make it outside, she calls my name, and I turn.

“Can you walk Sassy when you get home?”

Sassy is an American Eskimo dog with way too much energy who also hates me. “Seriously?”

“Please? She loves you!”

“That’s what you call love?” I ask. Everleigh nods eagerly, and I open the door, then wave before walking out.

I wonder if what Everleigh said is true. Why would Gemma marry a man she wasn’t head over heels in love with? Did she really wait years for me?

I think back to one of the letters she wrote her last year of high school. We both knew I’d be returning home soon.

Dear Tyler,

Senior prom is only a week away, but Everleigh and I decided to do a photoshoot yesterday with our dresses and practice our makeup and hair. Since these letters take so long to get to you, I got a few printed so I could show you.

I hope you like them.

Everleigh is going with a guy from our chem class, and although a few people asked me, I turned them all down. I wish you could be my date. The only person who could make it a night to remember forever is you. You know me better than anyone, which is crazy, considering we haven’t seen each other face-to-face in almost four years, but I feel so close to you. There’s literally nothing I haven’t told you. Some of the things I haven’t even told Everleigh or Katie, and they’re my best friends.

I guess it’s safe to say you could ruin me if you wanted. I’ve told you all my secrets.

But I know you well enough to know you’d never do that to me.

As weird as it sounds, I always imagined I’d lose my virginity on prom night. It’s super cliché, but it seems so romantic. Spend the day getting ready for the magical event, take pictures, go to a fancy dinner, dance for hours, then experience s*x for the first time. It’d be the best night of my entire life.

Oh, well.

Promise me things won’t be awkward between us when you come home in a couple of months. I’ve dreamed about the first time we see each other again, and honestly, thinking about it makes me nervous. I told Everleigh we’ve been writing to each other for years, but she has no idea how much or what we talk about. I have a feeling she knows I’ve had a crush on you since seventh grade.

I’ll write you again after prom to tell you how it went.

See you soon,

Gemma

The photos she added inside that letter had every part of my body on alert. My head felt dizzy from staring at them for so long. Gemma wasn’t a kid anymore, and while I knew that, the pictures proved it. Though she didn’t fully admit it, I could read between the lines. I wished like hell I would’ve been able to get home sooner, but I still had six weeks left.

Her letters went from sweet and innocent to deep and emotional over the course of those four years. Gemma had always been on the shy side, but she wasn’t afraid to express how she felt in her letters. Writing her was therapeutic, and I think she wrote me to deal with the teenage emotions she had during high school. It helped me to open up too and allowed me to work on feelings I had about my childhood. I felt comfortable sharing my life with her, how I was handling the military, and my fears of what I’d do after I was done.

In the few letters she sent me after that day, she became even more honest. She admitted that she couldn’t wait to see me, how she hoped we’d spend some time together, and that she wished I’d be her first. She was waiting for me.

I could no longer deny I’d fallen for Gemma Reid. Slowly, the words we shared changed everything, and they were no longer a quick check-in or about town gossip. I spilled my heart to her in my final letter, and the anticipation of seeing her was so strong that I hardly recognized myself.