Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
I don’t respond, instead allowing her the silence I’m sure she needs to collect herself. It sucks for me, but it’s my cross to bear. I can’t expect her to let her guard down completely when I’m the reason she built that one-hundred-foot wall surrounding her heart.
“I’ll get your car for you, sir.” I asked the valet when I arrived to keep it close and that I wouldn’t be long. He must have taken it to heart even though I spent the better part of an hour or so inside the building and café alone.
“Thank you.” I hand him the slip, along with a fifty-dollar bill as a tip, knowing he’ll make my car appear faster with the exuberant tip.
“No problem, sir.” He leaves, and that’s when Tyra pulls away from me, hand going beneath her eyes to wipe at them in the way a woman does when she’s worried her mascara has smudged.
“Where’d you park your car, siren, valet or garage?” I ask her, not wanting her to worry about being towed if the night goes where I’m hoping it does.
“Parking garage. They won’t tow it, will they?” Even if they did, which I know they won’t, I’d be the one to get it out of the impound lot seeing as I’m the one who would be at fault.
“No, you’ll just have an overnight fee to pay if we stay out past two in the morning,” I tell her. I had to do just that multiple times when we’d go out for the night. After the two of us had one too many drinks, I’d order us a car home and come back the next day while she was still fast asleep in our bed to retrieve it.
“Okay, I can handle that. A tow bill, not so much.” I make a mental note to call a friend and have it taken back to her place tonight. That way, it’s one less thing for her to worry about.
“Take a deep breath, siren. In through your nose, out through your mouth.” I watched her chest moving, normal at first, then it started rising and falling rapidly. “One more time. Just a few more minutes, Tyra, then we’ll be in the car, and you can take all the time you need.” My car pulls up with her next breath. She held it together as long as she could, and I know the second her door closes, it’ll be all she can stand.
“Mr. Ayala, thank you for coming. Have a great night.” The valet opens the passenger door for her. I place a kiss against her temple, knowing she won’t be in my arms when she falls apart.
“Thank you,” I reply. “Come on, siren, let’s get you in the car,” I coo softly while guiding her into the passenger seat. Her hand goes to mine, gripping it tightly, and fuck if I’m not pissed at myself yet again for where this moment is taking place.
“Hey, look at me, Tyra.” I click the seatbelt into place. Her hands immediately cover her face. If I weren’t holding up a line, I’d say fuck it, hug her close to me while she let it out.
“Mace, I can’t, not right now. Can we just leave?” Son of a bitch. Tears stream down her face, and with that request, I can’t wipe them away. Tyra needs away from everything, and the only time she’ll let her guard down is when she’s by herself. Which means I’m fucked until I get her back to my place.
“Leaving now, siren.” I kiss her forehead, back away to close the door, and then I’m hustling around the front of the car to get her to a place where she can let go.
NINE
Tyra
I haven’t cried since the day of my divorce. Have I gotten angry? Yes. Did I want to kick, scream, and shout? Also yes. But the salty streaks of water cascading down my face haven’t happened since that night after Celeste brought me back home, and even then, I had to beg her to leave. I’ve only cried in front of one person besides my parents, that person being Mace. He’s stoically quiet, hand on the inside of my thigh. In another moment of time, his warm skin against mine would have me floating in euphoria, a time when Mace was mine and he wasn’t the reason for my tears. I place my hand on top of his, hoping with all the hope of a woman who’s so desperately in love that this time, I’m not making a mistake.
“Fuck, siren, you’re breaking my heart.” I don’t respond. The tears keep coming, and in order to wipe them off my face, I’d have to let go of Mace’s hand. He squeezes my thigh. I’m weak, so damn weak for this man. I know I am. Truth be told, it took me months to get up the nerve to acknowledge the problem. It’s why when I was tired of waiting for him to get his shit together, I went to an attorney. I think deep down, Mace knew we had issues to work out, but like most alpha men, he thought money solves every problem under the sun.