“No, but thanks for the offer.” I look at my brother. “But I'll let you know if I need to.”
“Are you sure? You can stay with us as long as you want, Vee.”
“Mi Rei—” My brother stops. He really needs to quit while he’s ahead.
I look at her. “Serena, I promise that you will be the first person I go to if I need a place to stay.”
“You better,” she says, then turns and glares at my brother. “We’ll take you home, but first, let's go have a snack. Gus and I know a good smoothie place.”
I have a feeling she won’t take no for an answer. “Sounds great.”
I hear my brother mumble something, but we ignore him. I’m hurt by him and Gabe, but Miles, I loathe him.
We take a seat outside the smoothie shop. I’m trying to enjoy what’s left of the evening, but I can’t. I’m so angry. I still haven’t processed the fact that someone tried to mug me. I turn to look at my brother and Serena, who are sitting across from me. I can hear my brother whisper, begging for forgiveness.
“Serena.” They both look at me. “Would you take me shooting?”
Her eyes beam, and I see my brother roll his eyes. What’s his problem? She claps her hands in excitement. Wow, okay.
“Of course! I know the perfect person to join us,” she tells me. I look at Ian. “Not him,” she confirms. He pouts; he fucking pouts. Who is this? “Ian, you’ll distract me in the best kind of way.”
Gross. I don’t need a visual. As we make our way to my place, I think about my options. Do I move out? I could go to my parents or my cousins. It’s not like I don’t have options. What about the project Cam and I are working on together? I don’t know if I can stand being so close to him. And Miles—I always envisioned him being in a cave somewhere. Never so close to me, and never a billionaire playboy. I thought he worked for my brother, not that he was my brother’s best friend. I feel a headache coming on. I look over to find Ian staring at me. Serena’s head on his shoulder. He takes a deep breath.
“I don’t regret not telling you. I’d do it again. Part of being your older brother is protecting you and the rest of my family.” He looksdown at Serena. “That includes her; she’s my everything. One day you’ll understand the lengths we go to, protecting the people we love.”
“That may be you and Gabe. But it won’t ever be me.” I look out the window as Gus drives through the city. “We don’t all get our happy ending.”
“Ver—” He’s about to say something, but the car stops.
We’ve arrived. I turn to my brother. “Thank you for your help today. Good night.”
I let myself out, giving Will a half-assed wave, and rush inside the building. Once inside my apartment, I head straight to my bedroom and go to my dresser. This is the last one. I need to go back to my cousin's club and get some more pills from Angel. I see the small white tablet and pause. A heavy sigh escapes my lips, and I sit down on the edge of the bed. I need to stop running. I can’t always use alcohol and pills to escape. One last time, I tell myself. The weight of the evening settles in, and I close my eyes, trying to push away the thoughts swirling in my head. I open my mouth and place the pill under my tongue, just like I have hundreds of times. I can feel its effects, and I close my eyes, falling into the void.
I haven’t gone into the office for a couple of days. I lie and tell everyone that I’m feeling under the weather. I canceled my meeting with Cam or Miles. I don’t even know which name to call him. I've been working on my to-do list as we agreed. I just don't want to see him. Hell, I don't want to interact with him at all. I know total avoidance isn't possible, but I am still actively putting some distance between us. I hear a knock on the door and look to see who it is. It’s Will. Why would he be at my front door?
“Hello, Ms. Veronica.”
“Oh, hello, Will. Is everything all right?”
He’s not in his uniform. Without it, I can see how young he really is. He should be enjoying life, not working two jobs.
“Well.” He scratches the top of his head. “I heard you weren’t feeling well. So…” He lifts a brown paper bag. “Here, my grandmother made you some soup.”
“Will…that’s so kind. You didn’t have to.”
“I know, but I wanted to. I…I also wanted to check in on you.”
I take the food from him and give him a hug. “Thank you.” Shit, Miles hasn’t even checked on me.
“Okay, I’d better go. My shift is about to start.” He begins walking away.
“Wait.” He stops. “How did you know I was sick?”
“Mr. Villanueva told me a couple of days ago. I came to check on you. He saw me as he was leaving his apartment.” Will scratches his head. “He seemed worried and was kind of a jerk.”
I laugh. “Thank your grandmother for the soup, and thank you for checking on me.”
Before I close the front door, I look at the hallway security camera and give it the finger. I know he’s watching.
