Page 73 of The Love We Make

“Glad your stalking led to this bromance,” I deadpanned and gestured between the two of them.

“Ty and I go way back,” Chase said. “But randomly running into him at 678 gave me the chance to ask him to join us today. Once the Kings’ schedule changed and the guys had to drop out, he stepped up.”

I looked back to Ty and smiled, “Golf doesn't appear to be your thing.”

“Oh, it’s not. But when Chase mentioned his bind and the work he was raising money for, I was in.”

My face paled when realization washed over me. Chase and Ty looked like they had been in a deep discussion that night. Ty had looked concerned. Chase had been full-on talking, saying something that meant something to Ty.

Was that it? Was that why Chase kept insisting he never saw me at 678? Because he, in fact, hadn’t?

I was suddenly aware that I may have misinterpreted what Chase was talking to Ty about that night. That maybe I ran and disappeared on Ty and he really didn’t know why.

And I was gonna do it again.

“Well, I am going to leave,” I said quickly and turned to run for the door. I was red with embarrassment and didn’t want to stick around for the rest of the conversation.

“Wait,” I stopped at the sound of Ty’s voice. “I have to ask you something.”

I didn’t turn around, I just stood still.

I heard him telling Chase he would catch up with him soon. I heard Chase say, “Careful with that one. Watch out for Ethan.”

Just like Aaron, Chase warned Ty about Ethan. But what Chase didn’t know was that Ethan and I fixed our problem already. He was no longer concerned with who talked to me and no one had to worry about freaking Ethan.

Chase made his way out and Ty stepped up closer to me. I could feel him getting closer without even looking.

“What the hell is going on?”

I turned around and started to tell him we didn’t know each other well enough for him to talk to me like that and for him to leave me alone. But his face looked concerned like he was missing something and needed the lost piece.

“The night I disappeared from 678, I saw Chase talking to you and I thought he was telling you to stay away from me,” I confessed and cringed as I spoke. “I left because I was mad. Ethan had been having Chase follow me around and scare everyone away from me. Or at least make sure I wasn’t being promiscuous.”

Wow, that was embarrassing and more than I should have shared.

Ty laughed and rubbed a hand over his face. “What the hell is up with you and Ethan Jones?”

“Nothing,” I sighed desperately. “He is like a brother to me. We grew up together. He was taking his role very seriously—more like a dad.” The words about him being like a brother tasted funny on my tongue. It didn’t feel very true anymore.

“Was?” Ty asked.

“Yeah,was. After that night, I laid into him and he had Chase back off, and he backed off.”

“I see,” Ty said as he nodded. “Is that why everyone keeps warning me about Ethan?”

“Honestly, I have no idea. Ethan is protective but it’s not like he can take you down alone.” I gestured to his physique and he smiled. “Plus, he has backed off. They just don’t know it yet.”

Ty licked his lips and eyed me, “So you wanna give it another shot? A redo?”

“A redo?”

“I have shit to do this weekend, but how about we meet up at 678 next Friday and pretend to meet again. I will even spill vodka on you if you want.”

I was already going to 678 with Kristen. I had already agreed. So agreeing to meet up with him was an easy decision. “My friends and I have already planned to be there that night. So if I see you, and you save me from spilling vodka, then I guess we can just take it from there.”

He smirked and nodded, biting his lip for good measure.

He was insanely good looking. A bad boy type with a charming personality.