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"You saw something," I say, even though I don't want it to be true.
He inhales and finally nods. "I did. Someone seemed very interested in this group. Caucasian male, about five feet ten, stocky. He had a cap and coat on, so I couldn't gauge hair color."
"It's too warm for a coat today," Jas says. "Or a hat."
I feel everyone watching me. Waiting for my response. "I people watch all the time. It's a pastime when you're bored or alone."
Sully's jaw locks because I've just dismissed his response. But I have to. The man could've been anyone. A tourist. A local. A guy killing time on his lunch break before heading back to work. I can't allow myself to believe anything else. Because if I do?
I'll burrow so deep in my bed I won't be able to get out. That's my instinct. To go to ground and wait it out. Hope the anger fades, the problem goes away. But I know I can't do that.
That response is the old me.
The new me screams to fight. To stand up for myself. And I can't do that hiding away.
"What if it's one of the robbers?" Tessa asks, her hand moving to her throat. "He could be watching the bus. You girls certainly do a good amount of business in a day's time."
"Maybe you should let Sully take you home," the man says from behind me. "We've got the bus covered. We'll keep her safe."
Jasmine nods. "I agree. I'm sorry, Vi, but he's right. I know you want to stay, but it's not like the guys aren't totally handling things on the bus. Maybe you should go back to Sully's. You are supposed to be resting."
I know I'm not going to win the argument. And the weirdness has left me shaking from a mix of PTSD and memories and the nightmares that are never far from my mind, despite the therapy I've pushed through.
I get to my feet, acquiescing in my own way. "I'll leave. But I'm not going to Sully's," I say with a hard stare at the man in question. "I want to go see Ty."
Chapter 31
Sully
* * *
I insist the girls give me a ride back to my place and then wait until I can take a four-minute shower and change out of my running clothes so I can go with them to visit Ty.
I know Violet isn't pleased by the delay, but once we were back at my house, I tugged Jasmine aside and elicited her promise to stay put due to my gut instinct on the guy watching them at the pier. I hate putting her in the middle of me and Violet, but Jasmine is level-headed, and she is as concerned for her sister as I am.
I let Jasmine drive and sit behind her so that I have an unobstructed view of my grumpy sunshine. She's spiraling. I know her well enough now to recognize the signs.
She's too quiet. Too withdrawn. And it's more introspective than from pain, which means she's stuck in her head, reliving the robbery or her ex or a combination of the two.
Whatever it is, it has her unsettled, and I don't like it. My frustration grows because of her stubbornness. We need to address the elephant in the car, but now's not the time. Not with Jasmine driving and in close confines and not when we're about to visit Ty, which means we're both already on edge.
Jasmine parks, and we walk into Ty's building. He's on the top level of a condo complex, second row back from the beach. It's one of the newer places built in the last five years or so and thankfully has an elevator so Violet doesn't have to traverse the stairs.
"You don't have to be here," Violet says suddenly as we stand outside Ty's door.
"I owe him an apology, too," I say simply.
My words earn a surprised glance from Violet just as the door swings open and Ty's battered and beaten form appears.
"Oh, Ty," Jasmine says, her voice cracking.
I see Violet's shoulders tighten until they're practically glued to her ears.
Ty looked rough in the hospital, but now the bruising has kicked in, and he looks like death warmed over. Two black eyes, bruised cheeks and mouth and busted lip. He holds one arm protectively around his ribs.
"Hey, guys. Vi, how are you doing, sweetheart?"
I tense at the endearment and then call myself an idiot. I know I'm on edge because of everything going on, and Ty's concern for Violet is as her boss, I remind myself.
