Tear Down These Walls (15 page)

“You think they may hurt me!?” Teagan exclaims.

The officer puts down his notebook. “We don’t know who did this or why.
I’m not sure what to think.”

“Teagan, you can come stay with me until I get your locks changed and a
better dead bolt on your door. I will have Richey do it tomorrow.”

“I can’t ask that of you,” Teagan whispers.

“You are not asking anything of me,” Trent insists. “I’m offering.
Knowing you are safe with me will make us both feel better.”

Teagan nods, “Okay.”

“I need your contact information, Miss Murphy,” the officer says. She
nods and gives him her number. Trent does the same. The officer finally nods.
“All right, you are free to go.”

“Thanks,” Teagan mumbles, her head down. She knows that if she looks into
the officer’s eyes, she may start crying again. She finally stopped. Trent
holds up her jacket and slides it back on her. She looks up at him to give him
a soft smile. Trent walks in to her apartment and grabs her purse and
everything off the floor. “You didn’t have to grab that.” Trent gives her a
look. Teagan whispers, “Thank you again.”

“Come on, let’s get you out of here,” Trent suggests. He puts his hand on
her back and escorts her down the stairs. When they get into the truck, more
police officers show up.  They quickly go into the building.

Looking up at Trent, Teagan asks, “Are you sure about this? I don’t want
to impose.”

“You aren’t imposing,” Trent glances over at her. She notices his eyes
are warmer than usual. “I’m glad that I am here to help.”

“Me too,” Teagan exhales as she moves her gaze out the window.

He starts the truck and pulls away. Lost in her head, Teagan doesn’t say
anything the whole ride. Finally, they drive into a nice neighborhood. When
Trent pulls into a driveway, Teagan looks up. “We are here,” Trent states.

“Wow, beautiful house,” Teagan says as her eyes widen at the sight in
front of her. “Big enough?”

“Someday I want a lot of kids,” Trent declares softly, as he turns off
his truck.

“Really?” Teagan squeaks. “That surprises me.”

“Why?”

Teagan shrugs. “I don’t know. You don’t seem like the kids type.”

A soft snort comes from Trent. “You would be surprised.”

“Obviously,” Teagan chuckles.

“Come on,” Trent says, opening his door. Teagan gets out and follows him
to the house. He unlocks the door, and they walk in. Trent immediately goes to
a security box and punches in a code. “All right, we are all set.” He turns on
the lights, and Teagan smiles.

“For being a guy’s house, it’s put together awfully well,” Teagan laughs.

“That is not because of me,” Trent emphasizes. “I had someone else
decorate.”

Smirking, Teagan says, “It looks very nice.” She runs her fingertips over
the gray walls as she walks further into the house.

“Thanks, do you want a drink?”

“Can I get drunk?” Teagan asks. “That sounds
great
.”

“If you want,” Trent replies. “What’s your poison?”

“What do you have?”

Trent nods his head to the right, and Teagan follows him into a room. It
has a pool table, poker table, and bar in the corner. “I have a wide array of
liquors. What usually gets you tipsy?”

“Tequila,” Teagan answers. “I need lots of tequila.”

“Not my usual choice, but okay,” Trent chuckles. “Come on, take a seat.”

Teagan hops up on a bar stool and rests her head in her hands.
“Everything is destroyed. I don’t understand. I have never done anything to
anyone. I have no money.  What am I going to do?”

“Let’s deal with it tomorrow,” Trent says softly. He grabs two shot
glasses and puts them on the counter. “Only the best for you tonight, you need
it.” 

When he pulls out a bottle of Patron Platinum, Teagan smiles broadly.
“Now you’re talking.”

He pours the two shot glasses full and pushes one to her. “Maybe this
will make you feel better.”

“I don’t think much would make me feel better right now,” Teagan mutters,
before she slams back the shot. Licking her lips, she giggles, “That is some
good tequila.”

“I only drink the best,” Trent states proudly. He takes his shot and
wiggles his eyebrows. Teagan watches him closely. His dark eyes hold so much
warmth when he smiles. Trent gives her a kind look and says, “Are you going to
be okay?”

“I have no idea,” Teagan sighs. “Everything I have is ruined. I’m living
off of scholarships and my small income. My parents have no money, neither do
my sisters. I’m literally going to have to go to second hand stores again and
pray that I find something cheap.”

“No credit cards?” Trent inquires, pouring more tequila.

She shakes her head and takes her shot. “No, I don’t want to get into
that. I have one that I use for gas. I am not going to put a whole bunch of
stuff on a credit card and only be able to make the minimum payments. I would
rather have only a little credit history than a horrible credit score.”

“Smart girl,” Trent replies, slamming his shot.

“Are you going to get drunk with me?” Teagan giggles, pouring more
tequila.

“It takes a lot for me to get drunk,” Trent slyly retorts.

“It doesn’t take very much for me,” Teagan sighs. “I want to drown the
world away tonight.”

Trent fills his shot glass back up. “Well, I will carry you to bed when
you pass out.”

Teagan holds up her shot glass. “Let’s make a toast!”

“A toast to what?” Trent inquires curiously.

“A toast to the promise that you are going to make me,” Teagan quips.

Raising an eyebrow, Trent says, “What am I promising you?”

“That when they find the bastard or bastards that did this, you will lure
them to a dark alley and make them pay,” Teagan cheers, with a hopeful grin.

With a smirk, Trent leans forward. “If I make that promise, then you will
be an accessory to the crime. Just trust me on this one, okay?”

“Then a toast to me trusting you!”

He puts up his shot glass and clinks it against hers. “Here is to a
promise that I will take care of it.”

“Woohoo!” Teagan exclaims before taking the shot.

“I should probably ask this before you drink anymore, are you an angry
drunk? Will you freak out on me?” Trent asks, pulling away the tequila bottle.

She shakes her head. “No, I will probably get on your nerves because I
laugh and giggle a lot.”

“Another question, are you going to be all over me if I let you get
drunk?”

Teagan snorts. “I don’t let guys touch me when I am drunk. Don’t think
you are going to be something special.”

“Well, have you looked at me lately? I’m not like most guys you hang
around with.”

Teagan bursts out laughing and then sighs. “That is very true, but no,
not even you will sway me from my ways.”

“Good, here you go,” Trent states, shoving the tequila bottle at her.

Pouring herself another shot, Teagan whispers, “I should be drunk in
about ten minutes.”

“I will take care of you,” Trent chuckles.

“Why are you so hell bent on protecting me?” Teagan asks, drinking back
the shot.  “I mean, you don’t even know me.”

Trent starts to twirl his shot glass around. “Since that first night, I
have felt.....compelled…..to help you.”

“That’s because of my good looks and nice rack,” Teagan teases as she
bends over to show cleavage from her V-neck shirt.

“Put those away,” Trent scolds.

Sitting up, Teagan looks down. “Hey, I am proud of them. The one
compliment Justin always gave me.”

“He complimented you about your breasts?”

“Yes,” Teagan drawls out in annoyance. “Always told the guys they were
porn star tits.”

“WHAT!?” Trent yells.

“Well,” Teagan starts. “That was our senior year. It must have been when
he started the drugs. Before the drugs, he really was a nice guy. He just
turned into an asshole.”

“Even if we were married, I would never talk about you that way to other
people, even my best friends,” Trent sounds appalled.

She shrugs. “I always looked the other way.”

“I don’t think I should go to Michigan with you,” Trent mumbles
angrily.               

“What!? Why? I was planning on it! I even told my friend I was bringing
someone!”

Slowly pouring another shot, Trent growls, “I may lose it around this
Justin guy. I hate punks like him.”

“I think I need to stop talking about him,” Teagan states. “You may just
find him on purpose.”

“I may,” Trent agrees, as he lifts his glass up and slams it.

Teagan takes the bottle and pours herself another shot, too. “What were
your exes like? Did you have some awful bitch in your past?”

A hearty snort comes from Trent. “Like you have no idea.”

“Who broke whose heart?” Teagan inquires, resting her elbows on the bar
and her head on her hands.

“Sure the hell wasn’t mine,” Trent snaps. “And she doesn’t have a heart,
not towards me at least.”

“You loved her?” Teagan asks, taking her shot.

He shakes his head. “That is a very dark and twisted story, which I will
not get into, but all I will say that some beautiful things are born out of
even the worst disasters, so I have some things to be thankful for.”

“I have nothing beautiful to take from Justin,” Teagan exhales, putting
her head on her arm. “Just horror, heartache, and embarrassment, complete and
utter embarrassment.  That’s the only thing I am scared of. That people
will look at me and think of that video.”

“Teagan, they probably have grown up a lot,” Trent sighs. “Anyway, I will
pummel anyone who makes a comment.”

“I will just have to look my best and have you by my side. That will show
them that I am just fine,” Teagan declares proudly. “You can be my drop dead
gorgeous date and make all the girls drool and the guys think twice.”

Trent bursts out laughing. “You aren’t using me or anything.”

“Oh, I promise to show you a good time,” Teagan giggles. “My mom will
make you fat before you leave, trust me. You want good home cooking, my house
is the best place for that.”

“Who are you friends with, the bride or groom?” Trent asks.

Starting to feel a little fuzzy, Teagan leans over and sighs. “Both of
them. They have been together since our junior year in high school. Dwayne
Riggs and Georgia Lynn Campbell. I always told her Georgia Riggs would sound
horrible, but she didn’t listen to me.”

“Was she a cheerleader?” Trent asks, pouring himself a shot.

“Mmmhmmmm, one of the few that didn’t sleep with Justin,” Teagan mumbles,
twirling her shot glass around. “Dwayne was Justin’s best friend.”

“He isn’t in the wedding is he?” Trent asks hotly.

Teagan shakes her head. “Dwayne and Justin drifted apart because of the
drugs.  They only recently started talking. I was hoping Justin wasn’t
coming or that he wasn’t invited, but Georgia informed me that he was coming,
and
that he wasn’t bringing a date.”

“Well, you will have a rather large, intimidating date to scare him off,”
Trent smirks mischievously.

“Dreams do come true,” Teagan giggles. She sighs, continuing to twirl her
shot glass around.

“You feeling alright?” Trent inquires. “That was a lot of tequila in a
short amount of time.”

Wiggling her fingers, Teagan says, “My head is a little fuzzy, and I’m
feeling a little warm.”

“Well, you wanted to drown your sorrows away.”

“I’m getting there,” Teagan quips, grabbing the tequila bottle.

“You aren’t a puker are you?” Trent asks.

“I won’t let people see me vomit,” Teagan states. “So, even if I am, I
will occupy the bathroom by myself.”

Trent leans over and rests on his elbows. “Do you close off yourself from
people?”

“Not girls,” Teagan replies, pouring another shot. “Victoria has seen me
sick a few times. Guys…..guys I keep at a very far distance.”

“I can understand why,” Trent snorts.

Teagan drinks her shot and continues, “Maybe it’s the liquor talking, but
I really want an older guy. I can’t handle anymore juvenile crap. Do you have
any friends you can set me up with?” Teagan giggles.

“I don’t have many friends, and I’m not setting you up with any of them
or any of the guys at work,” Trent declares, putting his hands out as if to
stop her thoughts from crossing the bar. “You will have to find your own
boyfriend.”

“I would have to actually let a guy get close,” Teagan murmurs, looking
away.

“You will, one day you will meet a guy that just clicks. You will trust
him, and he will make you happy. I promise you that he exists.”

Still not meeting his eyes, she mutters, “I guess.” A wave of dizziness
hits her a little harder this time, making Teagan shove her shot glass away.
“Okay, that’s enough Tequila.”

“Sissy,” Trent laughs. He reaches under the bar and produces a bottle of
water.  “Make sure you drink this. It will keep you from getting sick.”

Grabbing it, Teagan says, “Thanks. So, wanna give me a tour of your
awesome house?”

“The first floor,” Trent replies with furrowed brows. “I would appreciate
it if you didn’t go upstairs.”

“Do you have a kinky sex room?” Teagan inquires with a grin. “Have to
keep it hidden.”

“Uh, no,” Trent laughs. “Just stay down here.”

With a nod, Teagan retorts, “Aye, aye captain!”

“Come on.”  He sticks his hand out to her.  Teagan looks down
hesitantly and then takes it. “I don’t want you to trip because you are drunk.”

“Sure, that’s what it is,” Teagan giggles. Trent rolls his eyes and pulls
her forward.  They leave the game room and turn right down the hallway.
The first room they come to is a huge living room. “Wow,” Teagan exhales. There
is a large screen TV and full set up against the wall. “Are those paintings by
your sister, too?” Teagan asks, letting go of his hand and walking over by
them; her legs wobble underneath her.

“Yup,” Trent replies. “All the art is.”