Tyler stares at me in silence for a few seconds, his eyes searching mine. “You’d do that for me?”
I nod, smiling. “You were kind of a big deal to me for a large part of my teenage years, you know that right?”
Ty’s grin widens, and he winks. “You’re referring to when you were crazy obsessed with me?”
I roll my eyes at him. “I wouldn’t say obsessed, more like a little crush.”
Tyler chuckles, arching a brow. “Whatever you say, Tay.” He surprises me when he steps forward and throws his arms around me, hugging me.
“I’ve never had many people fighting my corner in my life. It means a lot that you’re helping me, but I can’t take your money.” He pulls back from me, but our shoes are still touching.
“Yes, you can. You can pay it me back one day, when you get on your feet. I want you to promise me Tyler that when this debt is paid, you’ll not do anymore work for Doyle? That you’ll concentrate on building a future for yourself.”
Tyler smiles down at me. “You think I have prospects, Taylor?”
“I know you do,” I tell him sincerely.
The sound of someone clearing their throat, pulls both our attention and I turn my head to find Grayson and Dom standing in the doorway, their arms loaded with bags.
“Are we interrupting something?” Grayson asks, burning holes into Tyler’s face.
Ty smiles tightly. “Not at all, Taylor and I were just chatting about old times.”
I glare at Tyler; he just has to stir the pot at every opportunity. “Tyler was just thanking me for letting him stay here, that’s all.”
“Pretty sure he did that last night,” Grayson grumbles under his breath as he drops his bags on to worktop.
Tyler eyes Grayson and gestures to the backyard. “I’m going to go for a smoke.”
Grayson’s frosty glare follows Tyler’s back until he’s outside and the doors closed. He turns his attention to me, a deep frown marring his face.
“Say what you like, but he’s still interested in you,” Grayson comments.
I bat his comment away with my hand. “No, he isn’t.’
“He is,” agrees Dom, who is busy unpacking. He stops and looks over at my shocked face. “Sorry, but he definitely wants in your pants.”
I scoff and shake my head. “You’re both being ridiculous. Tyler knows the score. He knows I’m not interested.”
Grayson and Dom share a look that says they’re not having a word of it. “I’m not even going to justify this conversation any longer.” I hold my hand out. “Pass me the pizzas and I’ll get them in the oven.”
Chapter 10
THREE HOURS LATER, everyone is dressed to kill and ready to hit town. It’s cold out tonight, so I’ve opted for black pleather trousers, heels and a pale pink wrap top.
“You’re sure you’ll be okay here on your own?” I ask Tyler, who is sitting on the sofa with a can of lager in his hands.
He raises his can. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got lager and food and x-box. What more do I need?”
I chew on my lip. “Okay, but you’ll ring if anyone turns up?”
He nods. “Yep.”
“He said he’s fine, Ev,” Grayson says, taking my hand in his. “Come on, everyone’s waiting to go.”
Tyler shoo’s us with his hand. “Go, I’m good. Have a good night.”
I allow Grayson to pull me outside where the others are waiting. I feel bad leaving him in the house alone when we are all going off having a good time.
“He’s a big boy who can take care of himself,” Grayson whispers into my ear as he places an arm around my waist.
I nod my head. “I know.” I plaster on a smile. “Okay, let’s go.”
We meet Courtney and Jake at the tram station. They are busy locking lips when we arrive and Owen wolf whistles. “Get a room.”
Jake and Courtney pull apart, and she pulls her tongue out at Owen. They are already used to his humour.
Twenty minutes later we reach town and pile off the tram. We head to the northern quarter first and hit a few bars before we take a taxi to a club. The place is busy when we arrive, but we don’t queue for long thanks to Courtney’s cousin working the bar there, who has got us on the guest list. She’s even reserved a booth for us. The girls and I pour over the cocktail menu and make our choices, leaving the guys to head off and get our drinks.
“Those two guys over there are staring at you,” Ems tells me, nudging my arm. I follow her eyes to where two guys stand over by the seating area on the other side of the dance floor. They look about early twenties and one has a tattoo all the way up his neck. They both look away when they catch us watching them.
“I think they are looking at all of us, and so they should,” I say with a shrug of my shoulders. “We are all looking gorgeous tonight, ladies.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Grayson says as he slides into the seat beside me and hands me my cocktail. He hands Ems water, and she pouts at him.
I roll my eyes at him. “Grayson, she’s sixteen.”
“And?” he replies flatly. His tone of voice tells me nothing will change his mind. I wink at Ems, I will grab her a drink later when he is distracted. We sip on our cocktails and then Courtney insists us girls hit the dance floor. We weave through until we find a spot and start dancing. It felt good after the horror of the last couple of months to just let our hair down and be teenagers, having fun. We dance until my bladder screams at me for release. I shout into Ems ear that I’m going to the bathroom and leave
