Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers #1)(68)
Author: Jamie McGuire

“If you beat him any worse than Travis did, you’ll kill him. So let’s hope he doesn’t show.”

“You can have my apartment while I’m in jail.”

I rolled my eyes. “How about you just not go to jail? I’m kind of liking the way things are.”

He looked up at me. “You are?”

“Immensely.”

“I’ve got a key with your name on it.”

“It’s too early, baby, don’t start,” I groaned.

He sat up. “One of these days I’m going to quit asking, and you’ll miss it.”

“I doubt it.”

“You doubt that I’ll quit asking, or that you’ll miss it.”

“Both.”

He frowned. “That’s not nice.”

I looked at my watch. “We’ve got work in a couple of hours.”

“No, we don’t. I asked off.”

“Okay, then. I have work in a couple of hours.”

“I asked off for both of us.”

My eyebrows pulled together. “Why?”

“Because I’m on call for Trav, and I thought maybe you’d like to come.”

“You can’t take my hours and not ask me, Trenton. And Cal shouldn’t let you pull that shit, either.”

“It’s just one day. It’s not like you need the second job, anyway.”

“I like to work, and it doesn’t matter if I need it or not, you crossed the line. That’s my money, Trenton. Not cool,” I said, standing up. His head fell to the cushions, and then he followed me to the bedroom.

“Okay, then. I’ll call Cal and tell him you’re coming in.”

“No, I’ll call Cal. Since when do you need to talk to my boss for me?” I said, pulling on my jeans and a shirt.

Trenton’s shoulders sagged. “Don’t leave, baby, c’mon. I was looking forward to spending the day with you. I’m sorry.”

I slipped on my shoes and coat, and after tracking down my cell phone, keys, and purse, I headed for the front door.

Trenton pressed his palm against the door. “Don’t leave mad.”

“I’m not mad. I’m f**king furious. This is exactly why I don’t want to move in with you, Trenton. You don’t get to run my life.”

“I’m not trying to run your life! I was trying to do something nice!”

“Okay, but do you understand why I think you crossed the line?”

“No, I think you’re overreacting.”

I sighed. “I’m leaving. Move your hand.”

He didn’t.

“Trenton, please move your hand. I want to go home.”

He winced. “Home. This is your home. You’ve been here all week. You’ve loved it! I don’t know why you’re being so goddamn stubborn about it. You were thinking about moving to Califuckingfornia with the douche canoe in less time than we’ve been together!”

“T.J. lived in his apartment for two years! He was a little more stable!”

Trenton’s mouth fell open, looking like I’d shot him. “Damn, babe. Don’t hold back.”

I cringed. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

He took a step toward me, and I flinched. As bad as the comparison to T.J. wounded him, my tiny reflex hurt him even worse.

He spoke low and slow. “I would never hit you.”

“I know. It was just out of habit . . . I . . .”

He walked away from me, went into the bedroom, and slammed the door. My shoulders jerked up to my ears, and I closed my eyes.

After a few quiet seconds, a loud noise came from behind his door, like he had pushed the dresser over, but I couldn’t tell for sure. I didn’t stick around to find out. I ran out the door and down the stairs and hopped into the Jeep.

With the college kids on break, the shop was dead. As the hours dragged on with no customers, guilt consumed me. Trenton knew we would be bored out of our minds at work, so it made sense to take the day off. Still, I couldn’t apologize for how I felt. I’d worked hard to stand on my own, and there was nothing wrong with wanting to hold onto my independence for as long as I could.

I was sitting on the counter, my legs swinging back and forth. Hazel sat on the couch next to the front doors, filing her nails into claws.

“He made a good point,” she said.

“Which one?” I asked, moping.

“You were going to move in with T.J. Why not Trent? He’s as stable as anyone.”

“Don’t make me feel worse than I already do. I was just mad.”

“He knows.”

“Then why hasn’t he called?”

“Maybe he feels guilty, too. Maybe he’s mortified that you flinched.”

“It was a reflex. I couldn’t control it.”

“He knows. Deep down, he knows. I think you just threw him for a loop. He’s mentioned before that he feels it’s his purpose to protect you, right?”

“That’s what he said.”

“But then he scares you.”

“Not on purpose.”

“Still. I can see why he’d take that hard. Calvin!” she yelled, making me jump.

“What?” he yelled back.

“Let’s close this shit hole! No one’s been in all day, and Cami’s leaving for the Red, anyway.”

Calvin walked to the front, all emotion absent from his face. “Did you just call the shop a shit hole?”

“Yes,” she said. “Am I fired?”

“Has Bishop been in?” he asked.

Hazel nodded. “Yeah, but he got a text fifteen minutes ago. There’s a fight tonight.”

“What?” I said, standing up. “Is that where he went?”

Hazel nodded. “Yeah? So?”

“So Trent’s going to be there tonight. He’s betting big money, and he’s supposed to watch Abby for Travis. I guess some guy attacked her last time.”

“No shit?” Hazel said, her almond-shaped eyes wide.

“We can close, if you take back what you said about the shop, and if we can drink at the Red,” Calvin said, looking to me, “for free.”

I shook my head. “I’ll buy your first round, but giving away drinks is grounds for termination, so that’s a no.”

“I take it back,” Hazel said. “This is the prettiest, most wonderful shop ever, and I never want to leave. Except for right now.”

Calvin nodded. “I’ll meet you there.”