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I tried to pull my arm away, but he held firm. “Callen,” I snapped, but he didn’t seem to care. “Let go.” The thick scent of beer lingered on his breath. The bottle in his hand hadn’t been his first. He was drunk. I gritted my teeth, preparing to make a scene.
“I think she said to let her go, man.”
The familiar voice behind me had my pulse racing. Callen’s gaze shot from mine to the person standing behind me. He frowned.
Ty draped an arm over my shoulders, pulling me into his body. I forgot how to breathe as Callen stepped back, the vice grip on my arm gone in an instant.
“Where the hell did you come from?” Callen grunted, glaring at Ty.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Callen’s forehead reddened. “The fuck it doesn’t. You haven’t shown your face around here in years. Now you come along and act like you own the damn place?”
Ty’s grip on me tightened. I couldn’t look at him as his smell enveloped me. A lot had changed, but his scent hadn’t. He smelled woodsy and clean with a dash of peppermint. I swallowed hard.
“Fuck off, Hunter,” Ty spat.
Callen’s huge fists clenched and he stepped toward Ty. Alarm zapped through me, but before I could do anything, a voice boomed from behind, making me jump. “Is everything alright over there? Or do I need to throw you out of my damn bar?”
The two men near me stared at Abel, who had his arms crossed over his broad chest, looking as intimidating as anyone with his tattooed biceps and chiseled physique.
Callen shook his head, grumbling under his breath as he turned away. “This bullshit isn’t worth it.”
Ty waved off Abel. “We’re good.”
Abel narrowed his eyes but started to work the bar again as Callen stumbled away into the crowd.
I blinked, stunned at what had just happened, when Wren came out of nowhere. She flung her arms around Ty. He stumbled back, pulling his arm from around my shoulders to steady Wren as she giggled.
“Ty!” she shouted, hugging his neck. “You’re here!”
Ty coughed, trying to stifle a laugh. “Uh, yeah. Looks like y’all have been having fun.”
Wren pulled away, swaying on her feet as she grabbed for me, clinging to my arm. “Ellie and I are having the best time.”
Ty’s eyes flicked to mine. Heat flooded my cheeks, though I wasn’t sure why. I glanced down at my toes.
“I can see that,” Ty said.
I shifted on my feet, my shock and embarrassment at seeing Ty turning quickly into annoyed anger. Forcing myself to look up, I hardened my stare. What right did he have to come barging in here and yell at people in my defense? None, that’s what.
I put a hand on my hip. “What are you even doing here?” It was the first words I’d uttered to him in over three years and they were filled with venom.
Ty’s jaw tensed, but his lips curled into a tight smile. His gaze shifted to Wren. “Are you girls about ready to go?” he asked, ignoring my question.
“Is it that time already?” she whined, her lip pulling into a pout.
Ty nodded and I finally put it together. Atlas had dropped the two of us off earlier in the night and Wren said she’d take care of our ride home as well. I just didn’t realize that involved Ty.
My stomach sank, souring my buzz.
Ty tilted his head to the side and studied us. “You can hang out longer if you want,” he offered. “I have nothing to do.”
Wren groaned. “I want to!” She turned to me. “I’m sorry. I want to stay longer, but my baby needs me.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. You should go.”
Her brows crinkled with concern. “You’re not coming?”
