Page 223 of Rising Heat

He cuts Mack a look.

“Your mom said you’d already left.”

There’s something awful in the way he says it, like he’s relieved that I came back at all.

Tyler nudges Mack’s arm, clearing his throat. Mack takes a half step closer.

“I’m really sorry, Darcy. About everything that I said.”

The words come slowly, each one seeming to get weighed before he lets it go.

“At dinner, I was scared that you were trying to tell us that you didn’t want to be…kept. And then your ex showed up and you just looked so relieved, standing up for yourself. I didn’t want you to think that we’re like him. That we were trying to keep you somewhere you didn’t wanna be.”

“The way it came out was pretty fucking spectacular, too.”

“Ty, not helping.”

Despite myself, I almost smile.

“You disappearing scared the shit out of us,” Tyler says. “We drove six hours because neither of us could stand not knowing where you were or if you were okay.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“We know.” Mack keeps his eyes on me. “We wanted to.”

I open the door an inch further and step aside.

“Come in.”

Neither of them moves immediately.

“You guys can come in.”

This time they follow me in. As soon as the door closes behind them, the apartment feels less hollow.

“We weren’t sure if you’d even open the door,” Mack says.

“You drove six hours without knowing if I’d even talk to you?”

“Yes,” they both answer at exactly the same time.

I look away before they can see what that does to me.

“I heard what you said and then I got in my car and everything just…” I shrug. “I don’t know.”

Mack’s brows draw together.

“You were hurt.”

“I should’ve stopped it,” Tyler says. “We should’ve stopped it.”

“We can’t change what happened,” Mack continues. “But we can make damn sure you never have to wonder where you stand again.”

Tyler meets my eyes.

“And for the record, we thought you knew.”

“Knew what?”