“Yes.” I rubbed my hands on my jeans. “Blackout.”
Tyler sat down next to me, but his gaze was still on my face. “You don’t like elevators, do you?”
I shook my head. “My mother died in one.”
“Fuck.” He rubbed his temples. “Fuck, Saff, I am sorry. That’s why that day you—damn. I’m a fucking bastard.”
“Yeah.”
He chuckled. Then turned serious. “What happened?”
“Uh…”
“You know what? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
The lights came back on again, and it began moving.
Tyler glanced up but did not make an effort to stand. “They must have put on the generator. The lights are a little dim.”
I couldn’t respond. I was still ashamed that I had panicked over nothing. And in front of the same person again. What must he think of me? A weak, spoiled bitch, probably. Of course, it’s just a blackout, and everything is going to be okay.
The doors opened, and Tyler got up and helped me to stand. “Thanks,” I mumbled.
We entered the hallway, and I let go of Tyler and staggered to my room. I felt for my room key in my pocket, and he immediately reappeared next to me.
“You don’t look okay,” he said, grabbing the key out of my hand.
“It’s fine, Tyler.”
“No, it’s not.” He unlocked the door and opened it, pushing it with his hip and waiting for me to enter. I did, and he closed the door behind him.
“I told you I’m fine.”
He took my hand, momentarily startling me, and dragged me to the bedroom before I could protest, then sat me down.
“You don’t look fine.” He sat beside me, his face marred with worry. That took me by surprise. He doesn’t like me enough to care, so why is he? But then again, a panic attack can look scary if you don’t know what it is. He knew, though. He had explicitlycalled it one. He brushed my hair back. A soft, soothing gesture that destroyed my defenses.
“How did your mother die?” His voice was calm. Part of me wanted to spill. To lean on his shoulder and tell him everything. I’ve never told anyone about my mother’s death. My father didn’t want to talk about it, and I took the cue from him never to share, but now… What is it about him that made me so weak?
I shot up and marched a couple of paces away from him. “I said I don’t want to talk about it. Can you go now?”
He raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. But will you at least come to dinner tonight?”
“I don’t want to have a date with you.”
“It’s not that.” He got up as well. “It’s a company thing. Everyone will be there. Even the driver.”
“Oh.” Of course, it was, you stupid idiot. I can’t believe I jumped to dating. “I don’t think I can; I want to sleep.”
“It’s not going to be serious, trust me. It’s a celebratory thing. For our deal going through.”
He looked like he wanted me to say yes. As though he really wanted me to come. Dinner with other people would not be so bad. And I probably won’t have these pesky feelings that I was getting right now and before when it was just the two of us. “Sure. I’ll be there.”
He flashed a bright smile. “Great.” It was the first time he had smiled at something I said.
Chapter 15
Saffron
