When I returned to Detroit, I transferred to Wayne State University to finish my undergraduate degree, then promptly enrolled in an accelerated MBA program there. Maintaining a full-time job wasn’t going to work, and instead of doing some made-up job at Batchelor Corp, I’d chosen to work close to home. Being a part-time concierge was convenient because I could study while I was on duty.
“That’s cool,” she said after a moment.
Albany left me in the office to finish her tour. I didn’t follow her for one reason. Eventually, she would end up in the master bedroom. I didn’t want to enter that space until she invited me in. While she was gone, though, I took the opportunity to respond to some of my emails.
“Wes?” She poked her head inside the office. “I think I’m all set.”
I closed the email app on my phone and walked toward the front door just in time for Hendrix to haul some of her things inside. I really should’ve helped him with that, but … yeah, I didn’t want to.
He pushed a suitcase into the condo, then another one. “Bri figured you were hungry, so she’s getting food,” he announced.
Albany rubbed her hands together. “That’s perfect.”
A rumble of thunder caught my attention, and I stepped onto the balcony. Leaning against the railing, I peered at the sky. The sun was still bright, but dark, towering cumulus clouds loomed in the distance.
“Think it’s going to storm?”
Albany’s voice pulled me back to the present. I glanced at her over my shoulder. “Maybe.”
She joined me, staring at the wall of clouds forming to our east. “Looks scary.”
“It’ll probably pass over.” I stared at her profile. She still had on that baseball cap. Back in the day, she’d gone through a period of hating her hair. She’d purchased hats in every color, for every Michigan team. Unable to help myself, I reached out and tapped the brim. “Are you going to take this off?”
She snickered. “You don’t want to see my hair right now.”
“Still hate your curls?”
Shrugging, she replied, “No. I’ve grown to embrace them. I still don’t know how to style my own hair, though.”
I fought the urge to touch her soft hair. Even after all this time, I remembered how it felt against my skin, the way her curls wrapped around fingers like vines. “Why did you take the braids out?”
“Grandma told me they were raggedy.” She giggled. “And a few of them fell out while I was working out.”
“We really should sit down to have a conversation.”
She raised a questioning brow. “Isn’t that what we’re doing now?”
I glanced back at Hendrix, who’d plopped down on the sofa and stretched out like he wanted to go to sleep. “In private.”
Albany walked to the patio door and pointed at it. “See this?” She closed it. “I can open it.” She slid it open. “And close it.” She shut it again.
“Away from your house,” I clarified. “At a restaurant or something.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t think we should confuse things. We’re not friends. I don’t want to be your friend.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “In fact, I’m going to actively avoid you unless it’s related to the case. I’ve said this so many times already, but you refuse to listen. I’m really only doing this to help Granny.”
And because you need the money.The sentence was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t say it. Even though I meant it in gest. After this afternoon, I sensed her financial situation was a sore subject for her. I’d already hurt her so much. I couldn’t do it again, whether joking or not.
At the same time, I wasn’t going to let her keep telling me we weren’t friends. Deep down, she knew it wasn’t true, which was why she kept saying it. “You’ve never lied to me before,” I said. “Why start now?”
She sighed, hanging her head. “Why are you doing this?”
“Bug, you’re fighting this.”
Albany flinched. “What?”
“Every time you tell me we’re not friends, it’s after we share a calm moment together.”
“That’s not true.”
