Page 68 of Tricked in October
Even if Garrett was a player, constantly toying with Maddie’s feelings, Kelsey knew he had a big heart. One that had been broken when his fiancée died. The two of them had this in common, a bond that connected them.
They weren’t that different she realized in that moment. Neither of them had been dealing with their grief in a healthy way. While he’d been distracting himself with work and the TV show, and multiple women, Kelsey had been distracting herself with juggling the kids, the bar, and her mama.
When Garrett’s hand slid further down her back, she jerked her head up. She yanked her hand free from his grip and smacked him in the chest.
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He chuckled.
“Garrett, you’re a sweet guy…when you wanna be.” She smiled and gestured between them as she said, “But this, you and me, it’s never gonna happen. Do everyone a favor, including yourself, and give a relationship with Maddie a real shot. At the very least, ask her to dance.” She went to her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek before she spun around to search for Davis.
Only she didn’t have to search for very long. When she turned around, he stood there, fists clenching at his sides and a tightness in his eyes. Heat flushed through her body and she gulped in a breath.
The hurt expression he portrayed as she advanced toward him caused a dullness in her chest. After being friends for so long, the one thing that had always kept their relationship strong was that she never had a thing for Garrett. So whatever Davis thought he just witnessed, could’ve threatened whatever had been tethering their friendship along. Even if it had been nothing, to someone witnessing their interactions moments before, it could’ve very well have been misconstrued.
Never during the ten years of their friendship had she been the cause of that look of pain and betrayal.
CHAPTERTWENTY
DAVIS
The hopeof confessing his feelings to Kelsey not only slipped away but imploded the moment his eyes took in the horrific sight of Garrett and Kelsey dancing together. Slow dancing. Garrett’s hand suspended alarmingly close to Kelsey’s backside and her cheek pressed against his chest.
Of all the women in the bar tonight that Garrett could’ve hooked up with, why did he want Kelsey? And what was worse; he thought he knew Kelsey. He thought she was smart enough not to be sucked in by his charm. He wasn’t sure if he should be disgusted or just disappointed. Instead, he couldn’t push away the impending feelings of jealousy that racked his body.
After Davis had excused himself from the two women he’d met who had come to Pineridge to see the infamous love lock bridge, he had hoped to ask Kelsey if she wanted to dance, a slow dance this time, out on the real dance floor. But after that display, he shook his head at Kelsey and pushed outside, sucking a gulp of crisp fall air. He tore off the orange hat and fisted it in his hand.
As he leaned against the building, he debated leaving. But he worried about Kelsey and how she’d get home. Even if his brain did go to places he didn’t want it to. Like maybe Garrett had already offered to take Kelsey home.
He groaned and pushed the heels of his hands into both eyes and groaned.
“Hey, bro, what are you doing out here?” Garrett asked.
Davis brought his hands down and tried to hide his whiplash of feelings from seeing Garrett not only standing next to Maddie but holding hands with her. He cleared his throat. “Just needed some air.”
“We’re heading out,” Garrett said.
“Oh, already?”
“Yeah.” Garrett widened his eyes and lifted his brows as he gesticulated at Maddie. “It’s getting late. Party is slowing down.”
Davis nodded, his brain still trying to play catch up. Did he have it wrong?
Garrett walked backward, tugging on Maddie’s hand as he spoke, “But hey, don’t get air for too long. You should really get back in there. I think someone’s waiting for you.”
“Night,” Maddie said.
“Yeah, good night.” Davis watched them leave and ran his hand over his head. Several other people piled out of the bar; most people still dressed in their costumes. He checked his phone; it was almost two a.m. He hurried and turned around, heading back into the bar, his heart hammering in his chest as he searched for Kelsey.
Isabella, Leo, and Norah were by the door, putting on their jackets.
“Hey, have you guys seen Kelsey?”
“She’s around here somewhere. Maybe check the back. Night, Davis,” Isabella said.
“Yeah, night.” He took off in almost a jog, anticipation stirring in his gut.
He reached the bar where Julian was hanging clean glasses upside down buy their stems. The hope began to fizzle. What if she’d slipped out the back door and he hadn’t noticed?
“Is Kelsey still here?”
