“Four in five people will be involved in a violent situation.” Sensei Melissa stood at the head of the dojo as calm as any other night. “With awareness and forethought, you may be able to avoid that confrontation. But you will not get a choice in your attacker.”
“Hai, Sensei.”
Tyler’s ear searched the chorus of student voices for the one he wanted to hear the loudest. It was absent. During the adrenalin rush that had come from Steve’s forced exit, Tyler’s only concern had been protecting Jaime. That instinct overpowered all his worries. Now he had to resist the urge to look at Jaime and see for himself that the man was all right. Probably because Tyler knew Jaime wouldn’t be all right. He didn’t want to see Jaime hurt. There would be no hiding Tyler’s concern once he saw Jaime hiding behind his wall. But when Tyler searched the class for him, he wasn’t there.
When class was over, they bowed to Sensei Melissa, then the students started to leave. They looked as shaken as Tyler felt from the commotion earlier. He was talking with a few students when Sensei Melissa called Randy, Sarah, and him into her office.
“First, I want to thank you for your quick thinking,” Sensei Melissa addressed Randy and Tyler. “I wasn’t sure how vehemently Steve felt about Jaime. One day he’ll have to learn he cannot make himself better by tearing down others. Although I hate to lose students, the dojo does not need their hatred and narrow-mindedness polluting the other students.”
“Hai, Sensei.”
“What about Jaime?” Tyler asked. Jaime hadn’t shown up for class, and Tyler had a sinking feeling he wasn’t going to.
“Unfortunately, Jaime quit.” Sensei Melissa answered. “I assured him Steve would be dealt with, but he wouldn’t change his mind. I let him know he’s always welcome to return whenever he wants. Not everyone is ready to face their demons.”
“Hai, Sensei.”
There was nothing more to say. Jaime was gone. And Tyler had to accept it.
Chapter 16
The weeks ran into each other. Things at the dojo got back to normal for most of the students. They even had a few new students join to replace the ones they had lost. That was the way of things. People walked into the dojo, and people walked out. The only constant was change. Still, Tyler couldn’t help but feel an empty place Jaime used to fill. His absence wasn’t just noted at the dojo. Everywhere Tyler went reminded him of a memory from his time with Jaime. From the grocery store where they had accidentally bumped into each other to the Chummy’s parking lot where they had shared their first sexual encounter.
Jaime was everywhere and nowhere. While Jaime’s presence lingered, Tyler hadn’t seen the man since the night he’d let Jaime walk away. Tyler kept his longing to himself and kept busy by going out with Erica, Sarah, and Randy. Erica and Tyler had already had the friends talk. He had to be honest with her that he had just gotten out of a relationship and wasn’t ready to get into another one right now. Being with them was a welcome distraction to the memories that just wouldn’t go away and the feelings attached to them.
“I’m so glad to go out somewhere different,” Erica said as she and Sarah led them into the Irish pub on Main Street.
“Sounds good,” Sarah replied. “I’m getting tired of Chummy’s.”
“What’s wrong with Chummy’s?” Randy piped up from beside Tyler.
“Nothing, if you don’t mind beers and wings every night.” Sarah jabbed Randy in the ribs. “You would go there every night, wouldn’t you?”
“You know it,” Randy said proudly.
It was comfortable to sit back and go along with the flow. The four of them got along well and had fun together. Randy no longer gave Tyler those suspicious looks. Tyler never asked about them, and Randy never brought it up. Everything was back to normal except it didn’t change what Tyler had felt—what he still felt for Jaime. He was just learning to live with the hole in his life and heart.
Finn’s had recently opened up. In a small town, a new bar attracted the attention of all the locals. The place was packed, and they ended up at the bar since all the tables were full. Tyler was content to drink his beer while Sarah and Erica prattled away about law school.
“Have you heard from Jaime?” Randy asked.
The question caught Tyler by surprise.
“No, why would I?”
Randy motioned to the other end of the bar where Jaime was ordering a drink. Tyler choked on his beer and started to cough. If Randy hadn’t pointed him out, Tyler might have thought Jaime was a figment of his imagination. He looked exactly as Tyler remembered. The same sweet smile. The same stylish clothes. His hair was a little longer, but he was the quiet and confident Jaime that Tyler remembered. As relieved as Tyler was to see him smiling and flirting with the bartender, Tyler was surprised by how sad it felt to watch him from a distance. He could see what he had lost—thrown away, really. Tyler desperately wanted to talk to Jaime, just to be near him and hear his voice. What he wouldn’t give to see Jaime smile at him one more time.
“You going to say something to him?”
Tyler turned back to look at Randy. There was no way he meant for Tyler to say what was on his mind.
“You know, invite him back to the dojo?” Randy continued.
It was the perfect excuse
