Page 41 of Tone Deaf

“What’s wrong?” Dom says quietly, probably so Callum doesn’t hear us.

“Why are you asking?” So what if I sound petulant.

“From the time we got on the road, you’ve been cold and not really talking to me.” Is Dom hurt by my lack of communication? Oh well.

“I’m not in a talkative mood.” Fuck it. I can’t unpack with Dom in the room, watching me. I need to think—maybe do a thorough walk about the lake while my emotions settle. I’m turning toward the bedroom door, when Dom clasps my forearm and turns me toward him.

“Where are you going? We need to talk.” The demand in his tone is sparking my irritation.

I pull out of his hold and step back. “I’m going for a walk. Want to check out the lake,” I admit and turn around to leave, but Dom gets in my path.

“I want to talk—we need to hash this out now.”

“It’s always on your terms, isn’t it Dom? Well, not this time.”

“What the hell is wrong with you. You wanted me to talk before and here I am, and now you want to walk away with a stick up your ass. I wish you would stop playing games.”

His words land like a hard punch to my solar plexus—sudden, sharp, and breath-stealing.

“You think I’m playing games?”

Dom’s chin drops to his chest and he gives a noisy exhale, before he lifts his head and meets my eyes. “No.”

“Then whatdoyou mean? It’s not likeItook off without letting you know where I was headed, not saying a word to you for twenty-four hours. And what’s with these people coming out of the woodwork—old friends and coworkers I have no clue about because you don’t talk about your past. What about the secret calls and text messages?”

“That’s not fair,” he hisses. “You took off without?—”

“You were standing right there when I asked Tobias for some time. So don’t go shoving that in my face.” My voice rises into a near shout.

“What the hell is going on here? Why are you two fighting?” Callum asks, striding into the room, and standing between us. I didn’t realize that I’d moved to stand chest to chest with Dom.

“It’s only a disagreement. Don’t worry about it, Callum,” Dom says before stalking out of the house.

“What am I missing?” he asks, looking to me for an answer.

What do I say to this man I want in my life? This man who I had wanted to be with Dom and me—back when I thought there would continue to be a Dom and me? Do I tell him that Dom’s keeping secrets? That he won’t let anyone—especially me, in?

“Like he said, it’s only a disagreement,” I say, and leave before Callum questions me again. I leave the house, heading toward the lake for a walk that I hope to God will clear my headbefore my frustration and anger have me doing something I will truly regret.

Chapter Seventeen

Callum

I’m tired of laying in bed, but I feign sleep when I hear Dom open my bedroom door to check on me. Then I hear him quietly close the door, and my ears track his heavy treads until another door opens and closes.One down, one to go.

When I hear Pen’s lighter steps approach, I close my eyes and again pretend to be asleep. Pen, satisfied I’m still resting, leaves my room and exits the house through the back slider.

Finally. I exhale and sit up, the movement easier than when we arrived three days ago. As much as I love them and their company, since we arrived at Tobias’s place, they haven’t been their usual selves.

They hardly speak to each other. It’s almost as if they’re intentionally avoiding any interaction unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s incredibly frustrating and feels petty. I’ve tried talking to each of them, but neither is willing to discuss it with me.

Pen is as gentle as ever toward me, but every time I catch him watching Dom, I can almostfeela quiet anger simmeringwithin him. I’ve asked him what is wrong, but he brushes off the question and walks away.

And this nonsense about the bedrooms? They decided I should have the master bedroom with its king-size bed while they’re sharing the smaller room with a queen-size mattress. How ridiculous is it to see two big, hulking men—especially big, hulking men who are not getting along, sharing a small space. I keep thinking one of them is going to fall off the bed. I offered several times to take the smaller room, but Dom refuses and Pen just shakes his head.

Despite whatever beef they have with each other, though, they are both constantly checking up on me. It’s comforting, and it’s making me crazy.

I carefully get out of bed, and grab a pair of pajama pants and an old Night Rider t-shirt I’ve had forever. I pass a mirror that’s hanging on the wall. After Connor made a comment in the hospital about what my face looked like, I made sure to avoid all mirrors—even the ones in the bathroom. Until now.