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Where the hell is he? Their flight landed forever ago. Birdie says Lonan’s been home for two hours already. It’s getting late, and I’m beginning to worry.
Me: Hey.
Me: Are you home?
Me: Can we talk?
The three little dots bounce around on the screen, and I feel a flutter in my chest. My heart is in my throat. Those dots are tethered to him, and I’m holding on for dear life. I set my phone on the coffee table in front of me, tapping my foot, watching and waiting for a text to come through.
Then the dots stop.
Watching the clock, I wait for a minute to pass. Nothing. He leaves me on read. What the fuck? Not even aHi, I’m alive?
I’ve been pacing by the door for the last couple hours, anticipating our conversation, hoping to hear his heavy steps jogging up the stairs. Thinking back to my relationship with Kyle, I never felt about him the way I do Rhys. I gave, he took. I gave again. The longer that went on, the more unbalanced we became. I love that mutual respect and desire Rhys and I have for each other.
I want us to put this all behind us and move forward again. We can figure it out. What he said that night was an example of Rhys not knowing what to do. That’s not how he talks to me. Even when he’s calling me names in the bedroom, it’s done with compassion. I fear he’s being influenced the same way I was with Kyle. People tried to tell me, and I never stopped defending his actions. Even though I didn’t listen, I would have appreciated having someone to walk with me during those dark days. I had the chance to be that for Rhys, but instead I walked away.
If he needs space, I’ll give it, but having him spend the night with me sounds a lot better. We can have makeup sex and reconnect the way we need to. I check myself in the mirror and put on a couple swipes of mascara and the shade of lipstick I know he likes. The floral dress comes back out of the closet, the one I only wear for him. After knocking on his door, I run my hand over a small wrinkle in the dress, trying to straighten it with my hands.
I hear footsteps on the other side, but they don’t match Rhys’s stride. When it opens, Anna is on the other side. She gives me a smile, but it’s not friendly.
“Hey, Anna.”
“Hey, yourself.”
“Is Rhys home?”
“He is... But he doesn’t want to see you.” Behind her, a girl wearing barely any clothes crosses the room and walks into the kitchen. Anna notices me looking behind her.
She points to the woman walking around Rhys’s apartment. “I’m guessing Rhys hasn’t introduced you to Anastasia yet?”
I’m so sick of her shit.
“Anna, I love your brother. A lot. If you love him half as much as I do, you will get your life together and enroll in a rehab program. I’ve been in his shoes, and I know how bad he’s hurting. I am not your enemy here.” She opens her mouth to speak, but I don’t stop. “If you need help making the phone calls, I’ll do it. If you need a ride there, I’ll grab my keys. If you want to get sober, I am more than willing to jump through every goddamn hoop to get you into the best program available. But you are theonly personwho can make that decision, so make a fucking effort. You’re his sister. Have his back the same way he has yours. “
“You need to stay out of our life. If I’m such a problem, then why did he choose me over you?”
“Because you made him choose, and I never asked him to.”
She laughs. “No, it’s because he’s done with you!”
“Have a nice night, Anna.” I turn to head back to my apartment. So much for getting dressed up.
“Oh, I will!”
The longer I go without seeing him, the harder it is to dismiss his behavior. I wrap my arms around my stomach.Maybe it is over.
* * *
Seeing Rhys on TV at work is a strange form of torture. Especially when the cameras do a close-up of him on the bench. He has that passionate, virile gleam in his eye. It’s aggressive and focused. He used to look at me like that. I won’t be able to keep working here if I have to watch him on an eighty-inch projector screen.
Amanda covers for me while I step away for a short break in our dark stairwell. It’s not helping to keep my mind off us, but I feel close to him here. Rhys is supposed to come with me this week to the inspection, but it’s not looking like that’s happening. Pulling out my phone, I check on the commercial space, the future location of Sugar & Ice. These days, it’s the only thing that distracts me and gives me something to feel hopeful about. I’ve been manifesting it all week.Someday, baby, you’ll be mine.
The listing loads but this time red letters stand out, and I all but drop to my knees.
PENDING.
Pending?Like, pending sale? How? It hasn’t even officially hit the market! My back sinks against the wall, and I drop to the floor, grabbing my stomach. I feel like I’ve been sucker punched. Blinking to hold back tears, I scroll looking for more information, but can’t find anything. No, no, no this can’t be right. There has to be some mistake.
