Save Me From Myself (27 page)

“Are you going to tell David what you
think
you saw?” She’s standing so close to me that I want to lean back so that there’s space between us, but I don’t want her to know that I’m intimidated by her.
 

Making sure to keep eye contact with her now, I ask, “Don’t you think he deserves to know what’s going on with the two of you? You’re his sister SarahBeth, and Jeremy’s his best friend. If you don’t tell him, and he finds out, it’s going to be ugly.”

SarahBeth narrows her eyes at me as I cringe inwardly waiting for her to go off on me. “Wow, really? I’m sorry, I’ve known my brother for almost twenty one years. You’ve known him what? Three months tops? I think I know a little better than you how he’ll react to things.”
 

She takes a deep breath, and for a second, I think she’s going to calm down and talk to me rationally, but no, that would be entirely too easy. The more SarahBeth talks, the more upset she looks. Her hazel eyes, which are so much like David’s lack the warmth that’s always evident in his.
 

When she finally speaks, I have to clench my fists in my lap to keep my composure, “Look, I know you care about my brother, but you need to realize something. He and I, we only have each other.” She stops, putting one hand on her hip and giving me a smug look. I really hope this girl took drama class, because she excels at building up to a dramatic moment. “What do you think would happen to you if I told David I didn’t like you?”

My stomach drops, I know what would happen if SarahBeth didn’t like me. David isn’t going to invest in a relationship that can’t go anywhere. I’m wondering where she’s going with this, is she going to tell David that she doesn’t like me just because I saw her and Jeremy
kissing
?
 

I have to clear my throat before saying, “You wouldn’t. Would you really sabotage your brother’s relationship just because I saw you doing something you didn’t want anyone to see? That’s messed up SB, really messed up.”

“I’ll do anything I have to do to protect my brother and the relationships he has. Think long and hard, Lyric, about what’s most important to you - your relationship with my brother, or ratting me out. I won’t even be lying when I tell him I hate you if you tell him what you saw last night.”

With those last words, SarahBeth storms out of the kitchen and I can hear her stomping up the stairs. I’m left standing dumbfounded in the kitchen, and I’m a little surprised that my mouth isn’t hanging open. I can’t believe she just gave me an ultimatum like that. Lie to her brother, or I’ll most likely lose him. I wish I’d never stepped foot in that bathroom last night.

After the confrontation with SarahBeth, I can’t concentrate on either my food or the review that I need to do. I’m obviously not going to risk losing David because his sister hates me for telling her secrets. I’m so glad I didn’t say anything to him last night. Who knows what would’ve happened with SarahBeth this morning if I’d already told him.

Cleaning up the kitchen gives me something to concentrate on. It doesn’t take me long, and I decide to go to David instead of waiting on him to get back. I don’t think I can take another confrontation with his sister today, and I need the comfort being his arms can provide. Running back upstairs, I finish getting dressed before picking up my bag from the kitchen and head out to the bar.

***

Walking down the hallway to David’s office, I pass a couple waitresses getting ready for the night and one of the bartenders coming out of the break room, saying hello to all of them as I walk by. I reach the door to David’s office and just when I grasp the door handle to go inside, I hear Jeremy’s voice, then my name. After looking around to make sure no one else is nearby, I lean against the door, straining to hear what they are saying.

“You need to be careful D.” Jeremy’s voice is low, but very serious.

David sounds confused when he responds, “Careful of what Jeremy?”

“That girl.”

“That girl? You mean Lyric? What the fuck are you talking about man?” David’s voice has gone from confused to pissed in about three seconds.

“Fucking hell, D. Of course I mean Lyric. That girl has some serious issues dude.” Wow, that kind of hurts. I barely know Jeremy, I’ve only really talked to him a few times. And, it’s not like he’s put any effort in getting to know me. The few conversations we’ve had have been either one word responses or him advising me not to hurt his friend. Where does he get off warning anybody about me? And what could he possibly know about my “issues” unless David told him, and I don’t think he would have.

“Jer, what the fuck is your problem? You barely know Lyric.”

“Yeah, Dave, you’re right. I do barely know her. But, I know her type.”

“Oh? And just what’s her type Jeremy?” Yeah, David is definitely pissed. He sounds just like he did when he was talking to Matt at my apartment. Biting my lip, I press closer to the door to find out what Jeremy thinks my “type” is.

Jeremy sighs, “She’s just like Amy, man. As soon as something serious happens, she’ll be gone.”

“What the fuck ever Jeremy.” David sounds exasperated, “You don’t know Lyric like I do. She’s nothing like Amy, and I really don’t appreciate you comparing them. You have no idea what Lyric’s life was like before she moved to Nashville. Judging her when you don’t even know her is fucked up, my friend. Seriously. Fucked. Up.”

“You’re right, I don’t know Lyric like you do. But, I know the type. Her and Amy? They’re the exact same type. Lyric will fuck you over and you won’t even see it coming. Just like Amy did. You forget man, I was the one who was there for that. I was the one who went back to Charlotte with you to empty your shit out of that apartment. I was there when you got drunk and acted like a little bitch,” Jeremy says snidely, and I don’t want to hear anymore.
 

How dare he! How dare he compare me to the bitch that left David during the worst time of his life. I would never do that to him. Pushing open the door, I step inside and close it behind me. David’s head is resting in his hands, but when the door closes, his head jerks up. When his eyes meet mine, they widen, and I know he’s trying to figure out just how much I heard.

Jeremy turns to see what David’s looking at, and a guilty flush climbs up his neck. At least he looks guilty for the things he was saying to me. If it weren’t for the fact that I just told SarahBeth less than thirty minutes ago that I wouldn’t say anything to her brother about her and Jeremy, I would probably say something. In fact, Jeremy looks so nervous, he must think I am going to say something. Well, fuck him. I’m not breaking a confidence, especially not after SarahBeth’s ultimatum.

Straightening my spine, I meet Jeremy’s gaze full on, “Is there something you need to say?”

Jeremy doesn’t miss a beat, “I was just telling David that he needed to be careful.”

“Careful? Around me? What do you think I’m going to do to him?” I can’t decide if this conversation is making me mad, or if it just hurts my feelings that this person who doesn’t even know me would judge me this way.

“Honestly? I don’t know what you’re going to do to him. I just don’t want my friend to get hurt.” Jeremy looks extremely uncomfortable. I guess talking about me behind my back is easier than voicing his opinions to my face.

“Okay, let me make sure I have this right.” Holding up one hand, I tick his points off on each finger, “First, you don’t know what I’m going to do to him, you just know that I’m going to do something. Second, I’m just like Amy. Third, I’m going to run from him when things get hard. Fourth, I have some serious issues. And, last but not least, I’m going to fuck him over, but he won’t see it coming.” Raising an eyebrow, I turn to David and ask, “Did I get all that correct?”

From the way David is looking at me, I don’t know if he’s pissed, or he wants to throw me down on his desk and have his way with me. I’m voting for the latter. He looks at Jeremy, “Well, does she?”

Pushing his glasses further up his nose, Jeremy blows out a breath, “Yeah, that’s pretty much it.”

Walking over to him, I poke him in the chest and he jerks in surprise before rubbing the spot I touched, “Shit you have a pointy finger.”

“Look, you asshole, I don’t know who you think you are, but you don’t know me at all. Shame on you for even acting like you do. I don’t know what your problem is, or why you’ve never liked me, but I’m nothing like that girl. I’m sure that from what you know about me, running does seem to be my M.O., but I love David. I would never treat him the way Amy did.” I’m so pissed off that I don’t notice how quiet the room has gotten at first. Then, I realize what I just admitted. Shit! I just blurted out the fact that I’m in love with David. I can practically feel the color leave my face, and I start to sway.

Jeremy grabs my elbow to steady me, and gives me a concerned look. “Um, are you okay?”

Damn, damn, double damn. Yeah, that’s about all I can think right now. “I’m…I’m…fine.” I manage to say before jerking my elbow out of his reach and backing towards the door. “I, uh, I really need to just go.” I stutter, and turning around I reach for the door. I’ve got to get out of here, I can’t believe I’m such an idiot!

Before I can even turn the handle, David’s hand covers mine, and he’s pressed against my back. “Where are you going?”

Shaking my head in an attempt to clear it, I whisper, “I don’t know.”

“Are you just going to prove him right? If you leave now, you’re going to show him that the second things get hard, you’re gone.” David murmurs next to my ear, and I stiffen.
Shit
! He’s absolutely right. Damn it. This is the last place I want to be right now, especially after what I said. It’s too soon. We’ve only known each other
 
a few months, we’ve barely even started. Have I completely ruined it?

I’m so busy working myself up, that I fail to notice David’s turned me around to face him until he cups my cheek with his palm. I try to jerk away, but his other arm is around my back, keeping me in place.

“Careful darlin',” David says in a low voice, “You probably want to stick around for this.”

I shake my head frantically, afraid to say anything to this man that I just confessed to loving.

Bending his knees slightly so that he’s eye level with me, David studies me. “Hey, baby, I need you to listen to me. Just listen. Can you do that?”

I can only nod dumbly, gazing back at his too handsome face. David straightens before turning back to Jeremy, “Can you give us a minute Jer?” I don’t catch what Jeremy says, but he obviously agrees because David leads me away from the door, walking backwards towards his desk. When Jeremy closes the door behind him, the room is so quiet that it sounds like a gunshot and I jump. One side of David’s lip curls up like he’s trying not to smile, but he manages to control it.

Leaning against the desk, he pulls me into him, one arm around my waist while the other cups my cheek again. “Are you ready to listen to what I have to say?”

“Yes,” It’s hard to speak around the huge lump in my throat, but I’m trying to be strong. This conversation terrifies me. I know David cares about me, but I know that the last thing he expected when I walked into his office was a declaration of love. I’m such a fool.

He watches my silent freak out, and I feel too exposed. The way he’s holding me makes it impossible for me to even wrap my arms around myself.

Finally, just when I think I’m going to crawl out of my skin, he starts to speak. “Lyric, I know that you’re scared, but baby, you have absolutely no reason to be. If you’d given me half a second to process what you just said, I’d have told you that I feel the same way.”

My eyes well with tears at what he’s saying. He hasn’t said the actual words, but if that wasn’t a confession of love, I don’t know what is. When I just stare, wide-eyed at him, he smiles at me softly. Then, he brings me impossibly closer to him, murmuring against my lips, “I love you, darlin'. More than you could possibly imagine.”

The tears begin to fall, I can’t stop them, and I don’t want to. These are the best kind of tears, happy ones. When I moved to Nashville, falling in love wasn’t in the plan, but it just might be the best thing that ever happened to me. David brings his lips to mine, and instinct takes over. I could kiss this man for
hours
. His mouth, his tongue, his taste, it’s all become home to me.

David takes his hand from my cheek, wrapping it around the back of my neck and tangling his fingers into my long hair. Our tongues tangle together, and his hand tightens on my side, holding me almost painfully tight. There’s not even an inch of space between our bodies, but I’m still trying to get closer. Knowing that I love him, and he freaking loves me too, I don’t even know how to describe the feeling it gives me.

He releases my mouth, and I wrap my arms around his neck, laying my head on his shoulder. There are still tears streaming down my face as he brings both of his arms around me to hug me tightly. David presses his lips to the back of my head and murmurs nonsense words against my hair as he rubs his hand up and down my back soothingly. It doesn’t take long for me to relax into him, my tears finally slowing, then stopping completely. Once I’m no longer in need of comfort, I quickly become aware of another need I have.