Kyle's Return by L.P. Dover

definitely not looking down either.” I
just had to keep it a secret for now.
    ***

 

     
    DURING KYLE’S ABSENCE, I watched every person
who walked through the doors to see if I could sense any trace of
gloating; especially Dean and his friends. I even worked out around
them and heard nothing about them taking the credit for Kyle’s
truck.
    “Is there a reason you keep checking your phone every
other minute?” Tyler asked, sidling up to my desk.
    “Nope,” I said, shutting it inside one of the desk
drawers. I wasn’t about to tell him Kyle and I had been texting
incessantly the past three days. “I was looking at the time.”
    He leaned over on the counter and shook his head,
smirking. “I’m just going to pretend I believe you. So what are you
doing tonight?”
    I narrowed my gaze. “Going home. Why?”
    “I figured we could celebrate your promotion tonight.
Kacey’s expecting us at the restaurant after we close.”
    “Sounds good to me. Is Nic still invited?” I
asked.
    He groaned and then finished with a smile. “As long
as she doesn’t talk the entire damn time, we’ll be fine.”
    “You don’t have to worry about that. I have other
plans for her.”
    “Good. We’ll close up a little early and head out.”
As soon as he walked away, I picked up the phone and called
Nicole.
    “What’s up, chickadee,” she answered.
    “Not much. Just calling to tell you we’re having
dinner at Kacey’s restaurant tonight and you’re invited. Tyler
wants to celebrate my promotion and reward me for my hard
work.”
    “Awesome. Call me when you’re about to head out and
I’ll meet you there. Greg’s coming over for a little bit.”
    I laughed. “Just make sure you get to the restaurant
on time.”
    “I will, I will. There’s nothing wrong with a little
afternoon delight to get the party started.”
    “Have fun with that. I’ll see you later.” Shaking my
head, I set the phone down. She might as well have fun on her
afternoons off because it wasn’t going to last. I was determined to
get her a job. She just needed the confidence and a push.
    My phone started vibrating in the drawer. I slid it
open and to no surprise it was Kyle, again.
     
    Kyle: Miss me yet?
    Me: Nope.
    Kyle: What are u doing tonight?
    Me: Going out with Tyler. Jealous?
     
    The gym phone started to ring but I couldn’t take my
eyes away from my cell. I knew a snarky reply was coming.
“Rushing’s Gym and Fitness, this is Megan, how can I help you?”
    “Well, love, in reply to your last text, no I’m not
jealous of you going out with Tyler. Now if it was with your other
two shitdick friends who want to bang you out, then I’d have
a problem.”
    “Oh yeah, what would you do?”
    “You don’t want to know.”
    I chuckled. “Probably not.”
    “Where is he taking you?” he asked.
    “We’re going to Kacey’s restaurant to celebrate my
promotion. I wish you could join us. It’s a really nice place. I
bet you’d like it. It’s amazing the kind of talent your sister
has.”
    The line went quiet but then he sighed. “That she
does.”
    “I can call you tonight when I’m on my way home. I
wanted to talk to you about something.”
    “Sounds good. Besides, there’s something I want to
talk to you about too.”
     

     
    The parking lot was slam packed when I pulled up to
Kacey’s restaurant, K and B’s Bistro. The K stood for Kacey and the
B stood for Bree, her partner. Luckily, I found a spot and made it
inside before Tyler could. Kacey spotted me as soon as I walked
inside.
    “Megan, it’s so good to see you,” she greeted,
folding me in a hug. “I have the best table for you. Follow
me.”
    I walked behind her and stared at her blonde hair
that was the same color as Kyle’s. I wanted to tell her about how
he was trying to be a better man, but it wasn’t the right time. One
day soon, hopefully. She led me upstairs to the loft that was set
up with just one huge table and my favorite bottle of wine,
chilling in a