Page 150 of Let Me Keep You

“Well, that was interesting.” He reaches my door and opens it for me.

“Thank you.” After I take my seat, he closes the door and gets in. “You’ll get used to it. I’m guessing they didn’t have premium lattes in prison?”

“If you consider stale coffee premium, then yes. Otherwise, hell no.” Tyler winks. “How’s your Halloween in a cup?”

I take another sip and hum. “Delicious. Wanna try?”

“Sure, but if it makes me gag, I’m blaming you.”

“Now you’re just being dramatic like Everleigh.”

He glances at me before trying it, almost as if he’s questioning his decision. “That’s pure sugar. Damn.” He makes a face, then hands it back.

“That’s the point. Sugar rush and caffeine. It’ll wake my ass right up.”

Tyler’s eyebrow lifts. “If you say so.”

We chat the entire time, both of us cracking jokes and talking about random topics. He mentions I should try another Jack Nicholson movie, and I agree but only if he watches a romantic comedy with me. After we shook on it, he captured my hand and placed it on his lap.

By the time we arrive at the prison, giddy butterflies swarm my stomach. I can’t wait to see Noah again and am grateful I can spend time with Tyler too.

“You ready?” I ask. “We’ll sign in, they’ll do a quick body search, then we’ll wait for them to release him.”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” He shrugs and gives me a wink. I imagine this is hard, and I appreciate him being here with me.

Thirty minutes later, we’re finally in the visitation room, and I notice Tyler’s leg shaking.

“You okay?” I whisper, reaching for his hand, and he takes it.

“Just some overwhelming flashbacks, but I’m alright.”

Moments later, a guard ushers Noah forward, and I light up with excitement. I wish I could wrap my arms around him, but there’s a no touching policy.

“Hey!”

“Hi, sis. You look good.”

“Thank you. Remember Tyler Blackwood?” I nod toward him.

“Of course. How’s it goin’, man?”

“Can’t complain. Hope you don’t mind me being here.”

“It’s fine. As long as you go back and tell everyone in town I’m ripped as fuck now.” Noah chuckles.

I shake my head, grinning. “And still cocky as ever,” I add.

“Yeah, well, that’ll probably never change.” Noah shrugs. “So fill me in on what’s happening. Anything new with Robert?”

We spoke the day after Robert’s and my huge blowout, and I told him I’d ended it.

“He hasn’t reached out to me since the dinner last Friday, and I’m hoping it stays that way.”

“You know I love you, Gem, but I’m happy you called it off.”

“Have you met him?” Tyler speaks up.

“Once, and that was enough to confirm I didn’t like him, but even so, Gemma was gonna do what she wanted anyway.”