Page 33 of When The Noise Stops

"I'm sorry about last night," the words came out raw.

"That was... I was out of line. Your friends. Your house. My whole—" I shook my head, and the hangover answered.

"I'm sorry."

He didn't tell me it was fine. He just stood there.

"I got a letter yesterday," I said.

"Right before we left for the market. From him. My ex who shot me," I swallowed. The muffin wrapper crinkled in my fingers.

"I tried not to think about it. I put it in the junk drawer and I poured whiskey and I played extra happy like I could outrun paper. I couldn't. That's why I went there. That's why I took my clothes off like a crazy person. It wasn't the sign. It wasn't even the whiskey all the way. It was him still finding a way to put his voice in my day."

Knox's jaw flexed.

"You open it?"

"Yeah."

I didn't offer to show him. He didn't ask to read it.

"I'm going to a meeting," I said, standing. I set the muffin on his coffee table.

"Eat that or don't. I just— I didn't want to leave my presence on an ugly note and run. Bye, Grizz."

I made it to the door.

"Lila."

I looked back.

"You don't have to apologize for last night."

"I took my dress off in front of your friends."

"Yeah. You can apologize for that part."

I closed my eyes.

"You're not funny."

"I know, but, feel better."

I opened the door.

"I will."

Chapter 13

Lila

I was sitting on my couch after the meeting, staring at nothing, when the knock came.

Not at the door. On the window.

I looked up. Ronny was standing outside, hand cupped against the glass, her brown face scrunched up like she'd just eaten something sour. She was wearing a navy blue pantsuit. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. Her heels were in her hand.

What in the hell? I had called her after the meeting earlier. I told her about the letter, about what happened with Grizz and his friends. I hadn't expected her to show up at my house. A whole four-hour flight away. Last time I'd seen her in person had been during Archie's trial.