"Love, Trust, and Secrets"

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Jarod understood Ty was freaking out. Hell, he’d just found out someone had drugged him. No doubt his mind raced with thoughts of what could’ve happened. And that was why Jarod hated to see Ty go so soon. Jarod worried about him. The thought of him sitting at home alone when the full implications of what’d happened hit, made Jarod’s muscles tense, and his stomach cramp. Ty said he knew, but when everything truly sunk in, he’d have some heavy s**t to deal with, and Jarod wanted to be there to console him and to help him get through.

Thinking about what had happened to Ty made Jarod want to punch something hard. But for now, he needed to pull back his anger and keep it under control. He could release his rage once Ty left.

“Give me a second to grab my shoes. I’ll give you a lift. Wherever you need to go.”

Ty shook his head, appearing ready to turn down the offer. But before Ty’s words came out, the phone in his pocket rang, and his whole body shuddered.

Ty slowly moved the phone to his ear. As soon as he spoke, Jarod ran into the kitchen and grabbed his sneakers. He made it back to the door as Ty hung up.

“Can I take you up on your offer for a ride?”

Jarod’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes.”

Once they climbed into his truck and he started the engine, Jarod peered at Ty, who picked at his fingernails and kept his gaze focused out the window.

“Where to?” Jarod asked.

“Café On Main. It’s on the east end of Main Street.”

“Know right where that is,” Jarod confirmed.

He drove in silence, questions he wanted to ask fought to be heard. But Jarod didn’t want to push Ty by making him talk. The man, already on edge, gnawed on his lip, with his hands clasped tightly together.

Ty cleared his throat, causing Jarod to sit up straighter, thinking Ty was about to say something. Jarod hoped it had to do with them seeing each other again.

“I really appreciate this.”

Jarod’s stomach dropped when he realized Ty didn’t plan to say anything else. “My pleasure.”

Ty continued to fidget in his seat. Two minutes of screaming quiet turned to ten. Jarod wanted to break the uncomfortable silence, but with a multitude of questions jumbled in his brain, he still didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t make Tyler feel more awkward.

Before any one thought came forward, Ty spoke again. “My boss wasn’t too happy about my disappearing act and told me I have twenty minutes to get to work or I’m fired. If I wasn’t in such a rush, I—”

Jarod tightened his grip on the steering wheel. With his emotions overshadowing reality, he said, “Bullshit. He can’t do that. Especially after what happened.”

“I don’t plan on telling him what happened. I’m going to say I was sick and didn’t have my phone charged.”

“But—”

“But nothing. He doesn’t need to hear what an i***t I was.”

“Wasn’t your fault,” Jarod said, staring at Ty to make sure he knew that.

Ty glanced at Jarod, then faced the passenger window. “Yeah, it kind of was. I’m twenty-five. I should have had enough sense to watch out for my drink. It’s not like I’ve never heard of something like this happening.”

“You could’ve been more careful—yes. But your fault?—no f*****g way.”

“Thanks.” Tyler pulled something out of his pocket. “Thanks again for the ride. And pretty much everything else. Can I give you some money for gas?” Tyler held out the cash.

“Absolutely not. I’m glad I was available to give you a ride.”

Arriving at the restaurant, Jarod pulled the truck into a parking space a couple stores down.

Ty jumped out before Jarod had a chance to put the truck in PARK. But then Ty leaned back in, his face lit up with a genuine smile, the first one Jarod had seen from him. The sight caused Jarod’s breath to hitch and his mind to lose all thoughts except how handsome Ty was.

“Thanks again for everything,” Ty said.

Then Ty closed the door and was gone before Jarod could even think to mumble, “You’re welcome.”

He remained in the parking spot for fifteen minutes, debating whether he should go after Ty to get his phone number. Using good judgment, and not wanting to get Ty into more trouble than he already was, Jarod drove away, knowing he’d come back another day to see Ty.