Everything had gotten so messed up.
Chapter Fourteen
Something was wrong.
The rain was splattering against Tammy’s windshield, and she turned her wiper speed up higher. She’d been to Wreck’s Mountain before to hang out with the Crew, and more specifically Harley, but never at night. It sure looked different.
Or perhaps it was the rain making it feel so moody.
Or maybe it was just the melancholy in her chest from missing Tawk so damn bad.
A hundred times today, she’d checked her phone to see if he had responded to her text from this morning. She had come out to brand new headlights installed on her 4Runner. She knew it was him. It was his way. He was a fixer.
He must’ve replaced them in the night, while she’d been tossing and turning inside, thinking of him.
She’d been so close to him and hadn’t even known.
She could’ve just walked outside and been with him. What would she have done?
Hugged him.
She knew that was the answer. Her skin yearned to press against his. She wanted the comfort now that she’d processed and accepted watching him nearly kill that polar bear with his hands. She’d accepted his power now. Accepted that he could be monstrous, because she believed the good in him was bigger.
So, she’d texted him the moment she realized he’d fixed her truck.Come back.She didn’t know why she had typed that out instead of a simple thank you. All she knew was that they had unfinished business.
No one had texted her back all day until the group text where Wreck said Mandatory Crew meeting. 8:00 tonight. Firepit.
She’d thought it was a mistake at first, but Dylan’s number was included in the group text. They were bringing in even the outsider humans.
Something was wrong.
Tammy scanned the clearing outlined by a half-circle of gorgeous A-frame cabins. In front was a firepit covered by a sprawling awning that was newly built. It hadn’t existed when she was here a couple weeks ago, but she was thankful for the timing because it was pouring rain outside, and there was a chilly bite to the air.
Garret and King were lowering two canvas sides to the free-standing awning to block the wind, and from here, she could see Timber handing out blankets. The firepit flames were tossing a flickering golden glow on everything in the clearing.
Dylan’s truck was parked to the right. She was probably the last one here, but she’d had to work, and rush straight here.
She cut the engine and got out, shoving her hands deep into the pockets of her hoodie as she sloshed her way to the others.
Lately it felt like she was walking in a haze…like she wasn’t really in her body, but she didn’t know why. Maybe it was leftover magic from Jess.
As if thinking of her had conjured her, Jess appeared in front of the others to greet her. Tammy was polite and waved to her before she swerved her hug and took a seat next to Harley, who squeezed her hand in a greeting. Her friend looked concerned, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Long day.” It wasn’t a lie. Tammy had learned quickly that shifters could tell a lie, and were comfortable calling it out, so she got real comfortable with the truth real quick.
Jess offered her a blanket, but she shook her head and said, “I’m okay, thank you.”
Jess’s gaze ducked to the ground, but Tammy had seen the hurt there. Tough shit. She was part of the reason Tawk wasn’t here anymore.
“There’s some serious tension here,” Cash said from where he was perched on one of the stone pillars that encased one of the legs of the metal-roof awning. His gold eyes were narrowed at Tammy. “Should I make the rest of us popcorn? Are y’all going to fight?”
Tammy shook her head and said, “No interest in fighting.”
Wreck was in a power stance, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Jess. “Jess is the one that called this Crew meeting. I’m not going to lie, I am pretty fuckin’ intrigued right about now.”
Kade was sitting in an Adirondak chair right behind where Jess stood, his hands clasped, his gaze trained on the flames.
Dylan had been standing, but he came to sit in the empty chair on Tammy’s other side, his attention on Jess.
