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“Okay.” I needed to try a different approach. “I don’t know how much your brother has told you, but I—”
“I don’t care.” He said, taking a step towards me. He leered down at me with this angry-looking face. “I don’t care what is happening between you and Jacob. Quite frankly, I could give a shit about it. Now, if you would be so kind as to get out of my way so I can get to my apartment. You stay out of my way, and I will stay out of yours. Sound good?”
Before I could answer, he brushed past me and walked into the awaiting elevator. I turned just in time to watch the doors close, and our eyes made contact.
A cold shiver ran down my spine at how he looked at me. There was so much hatred in his gaze that I didn’t even understand what I had done to him. I barely knew the guy. Yet, it felt like we had unfinished business for some reason.
I shook off the odd feeling and made my way out of the building to go and get the last of my belongings.
Why could I not escape these damn Cane men? They were like a nasty rash. No matter what ointment you used, they always came back.
3
NATHANIEL
I pushed my legs harder, the Chicago air cooling my body as we ran down the block. The morning sun still hid behind the large buildings.
I needed this. A run always helped to calm me. After the little surprise I had received yesterday, I needed to clear my head.
Why the hell was she here? In my city of all places.
I had left Braven Bay behind me many years ago, but somehow it always seemed to find a way to pull me back into its cold icy grip. I had left that place for many reasons, her being one of them.
I pushed my legs even harder, picking up my pace. I didn’t bother to look behind me to see if Xander was still behind me.
Her face filtered into my mind, and all that rage flooded my mind again. Those big hazel eyes haunted me. They had been in the back of my mind for over a decade. She had plagued me and been only a mere ghost. Until I came face to face with them again when my brother brought her over for Thanksgiving dinner. He had wanted to introduce us to his new girlfriend, and I had lost my shit completely.
It was her.
I pushed my legs harder and faster until I came to a halt just outside ‘The Bean House.’
“Are…what the hell?” Xander came to a stop beside me. He doubled over, trying to catch his breath. “This was meant to be an easy morning. What the hell, man?”
“You looked like you needed an extra push today.”
He snapped his neck up at me and gave me his best glare. “I said take it easy. You looked like you were running like demons were hot on your tail.”
They were to some extent, but I was not ready to divulge that information. At least not yet.
“I feel like my spleen is about to implode on itself.” He grabbed me. “Hell. Death by morning jog is not how I imagined I would go out. I always thought it would be a blonde with perky tits and a big ass.”
I brushed his hand off of mine. “You are disgusting. You would want to die while having sex?”
“Is there any other way to go?” The bastard smirked. “Come on. You owe me a coffee and possibly a new lung.”
“I told you to lay off the beers last night.”
“It was a Friday night. What did you want me to drink? Green juice? That’s for the mornings after yoga.”
I stared at my best friend like he had lost his marbles. Had he just said what I thought he had said? “Since when do you do yoga?”
A mischievous glint took over his brown eyes. “Since Monica from the third floor showed me yoga is good for flexibility. Oh man, she does this thing with her leg that I—”
“No,” I said, walking into the little coffee shop, leaving him to speak to himself. There was no way I would sit around and listen to him talk about sex.
Xander followed in after me. We were immediately hit with the smell of coffee grounds and hot muffins.
“Get my usual for me, please. I need to go and relieve myself.” Xander walked off toward the bathroom. But not before shamelessly ogling the waitress whom I was sure he had a thing with not too long ago.
