“It does matter, Ken,” Tim stated firmly, his hand sliding over onto hers where it rested in her lap.
God, she hated that he called her that.
Kennedy jerked out of his grip, not wanting him to touch her. She realized instantly what she’d done and she offered a mumbled apology, hoping he would just let it go.
“Did someone hurt you?” he asked.
Not the way he was thinking, no. Kennedy didn’t tell him as much, she just shook her head. “I told you, I’m fine. I just needed a ride home. I thought my father would come get me.”
“I was in the area. I offered.”
Of course he did.
Luckily, they lived in a small town and it took no time at all for Tim to reach her house. When he pulled into her driveway, she was prepared to launch herself from his car, but he put a gentle hand on her arm, stopping her.
“Kennedy, I . . .”
Oh, God. Please no. No, no, no.
“I really need to go in,” she said, not looking at Tim.
“Do you think maybe . . . maybe we could go out tomorrow night? I’m off work. I’d like for us to . . . you know . . . talk.”
It wasn’t the first time Tim had asked to take her out since they had broken up. In fact, he had asked her out quite a few times in the last few weeks and she wasn’t sure why that was. They’d split up nearly two years ago, but for whatever reason, his interest in her seemed to have returned recently. She suspected that probably had something to do with her involvement with Sawyer. After all, it didn’t matter that they weren’t officially dating; there were still rumors.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Kennedy told him. It was an honest answer and she figured it beat the brutal truth. She didn’t want to see him. She didn’t want to go out with him. She didn’t want to even talk.
“Baby . . .”
Nope. No way.
Kennedy grabbed the door handle and pulled. “Thanks for the ride home, Tim. I really appreciate it.” Without another word, Kennedy jumped out of his car, ignoring him when he called her name. After shutting the door, she stormed up to her front porch, unlocked her door, and then practically dove inside.
The last thing she needed was for Tim to make her already shitty night even worse.
chapter FOURTEEN
Sawyer was ready to kick himself for bringing Kennedy to the club. When she ran out on him, he knew without a doubt that he’d fucked up. He should’ve just taken her home, left her on her front porch, and ended on a good note.
Instead, he had wanted to show off what he’d built for himself.
Obviously, he hadn’t thought it all the way through.
And now, as he tried to follow her, he was getting nowhere fast. Thanks to a consistent stream of women stopping him from making his way to the main doors, he knew the night was officially over for him. At least where Kennedy was concerned.
“Hey, man,” Greyson hollered over the thunderous boom of the music.
Knowing he wouldn’t be heard, Sawyer simply nodded his head toward the bar and then made his way through the horde of bodies.
“Didn’t know you were gonna be here tonight,” Greyson said, stepping up beside him as Sawyer signaled the bartender for a drink.
“I didn’t, either,” Sawyer muttered.
“Was that Kennedy with you?” Greyson asked, glancing around as though he was going to see her somewhere behind them.
“It was. I’m sure she’s halfway home by now,” Sawyer replied a little testily, turning his attention to the scantily clad bartender when she approached, rattling off his order and getting one for Greyson as well.
When the woman disappeared to make their drinks, Sawyer turned and pressed his back to the bar, taking in his surroundings. This was his club, a place he frequented at least three nights a week, although until several months ago, he could pretty much be found there at least five. A lot of the people he recognized, considering they’d garnered quite a bit of a following due to their location in Coyote Ridge. It was a hell of a lot easier to stop in there than it was to make it down to Austin and then worry about getting transportation back once the night was over. Cabs were nonexistent in their neck of the woods, and if they did come all the way out there, it would cost a pretty penny.
The thought made him wonder how Kennedy was planning to get home. Who would she call to come get her?
He shook off the thought, remembering the horrified look on her face seconds before she bolted.
Until tonight, he’d always enjoyed stopping in, making his rounds, but tonight had gone an entirely different direction than he’d anticipated. So much for trust, he thought to himself.
“Why’d she leave?” Greyson asked, his eyes boring holes into Sawyer’s face.