“Yo, Ty!” I heard shouted from the shadows of the bay and I knew I’d been spotted but not by who. Not visiting him at work meant I did not know his workmates, except Pop and Wood.
Then I saw Ty, no coveralls this time, jeans and tee, tee greasy, jeans too (this meaning I was again going to be at the stain remover in the utility room, something I was getting to be a dab hand at), black mark covered rag in his hands. He’d come to the opening of the bay where he stopped and leveled his eyes on me.
I got close, those eyes narrowed and he started moving again, his long legs eating the distance right to me.
Apparently, even my shades didn’t hide my mood. Definitely should never play poker.
He met me in the forecourt, got close, toe-to-toe and bent his neck so he could lock his beautiful, light brown eyes with my shades.
“What happened?” he asked.
I sucked in breath then shook my head. “Nothing… nothing big,” I took in another breath. “I’m just shaken up. Shaken and pissed. And, well, you should know, so I’m here to tell you. Misty came into the salon to get her hair done.”
Ty’s eyes didn’t leave me, not even to blink and he asked, “And how did that go?”
“I smiled. I made her appointment. I was nice.”
“And?” Ty prompted when I said no more.
“And, she asked if I knew who she was. I told her I did. I laid it out what I knew but also told her we were happy and moving on.”
I watched Ty’s jaw clench.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Was that wrong?”
“She ain’t stupid *, she’s just toxic *. She’s gotta know I’m gonna tell my wife that shit so, no, it wasn’t wrong.”
I took in a deep breath and relaxed, not even realizing I was as wound up as I was with worry that I’d fucked up.
Then it hit me so I asked, “She’s not stupid *?”
“Fuck no.”
I felt my brows draw together. “Really?”
“Uh… yeah, babe. Really. Outta her deal she got Chace Keaton’s ring. He didn’t mind dippin’ into that twat but he didn’t wanna put a ring on it. He’s a cop but his Daddy is not. Aspen money. Moved out from under his father’s thumb to be his own man. Doesn’t mean he’s not gonna accept his inheritance when Daddy dies, seein’ as he’s an only child.”
I shook my head. “If he’s got money, he’s got connections. Are you saying they leaned on him, made him marry Misty? Are you saying that’s what she got out of the deal?”
“She spread for me but she was a girl who’d never take black home to Daddy. Never. She spread for Keaton with her sights set. So, yeah. That’s what she got out of the deal.”
“You know this for sure?”
“Only word I got on that is Tate’s so, again, yeah, I know this for sure. Don’t know how he got it but I know whatever his source, he wouldn’t repeat it unless it was solid.”
“Why would Keaton do that?” I asked.
Ty’s face dipped closer. “Because, baby, he wanted to be his own man, he became his own man and when he did, he made a dirty bed. That doesn’t mean Daddy doesn’t loom. That motherfucker is dirty and they know just exactly how he’s dirty. And they would not give one shit about settin’ one of their own blowin’ in the wind, they needed to do that. He does not want Daddy to know that shit, he does not want to take that hit from Daddy and he does not want Daddy to find a nice charity to give his cake after he dies because he’d rather save some fuckin’ near-extinct bird than give his dirty cop son who shit all over the family name his money. So Keaton either took one for the team or they let him blow. He took one for the team and bought a lifetime of toxic cunt.”
“Wow,” I whispered.
“Yeah,” his lips twitched then, “wow.”
Well, there you go. That explained why things at home for Misty weren’t so hot. He might have taken one for the team but he hadn’t promised he’d spend his lifetime pretending he liked it.
“Just FYI, hubby, Misty gave some things away at the salon and I’m not sure it’s all hearts and flowers in chez Keaton,” I shared.
That got me a grin. “Good news, mama. ‘Specially since things are exactly hearts and flowers at chez Walker.”
My heart flipped and it felt good because his words felt good and I whispered, “Ty.”
His hand came up and curled around my neck just as his head dipped closer. “You made my day, baby,” he whispered then finished, “And not just because I got to watch you struttin’ your sweet ass through the forecourt in those shoes and shorts.”
I grinned at my husband then I whispered back, “Good.”
His hand gave me a squeeze. “That all you got?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly she, uh… well, Ty, no joke, after I told her we were happy and it was all good, bitch-face Misty asked if you were mad at her.”
Just like me, he blinked.
Then he asked, “No shit?”
I shook my head. “No shit.”