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Something to crush this awful ache in my chest.
But I can’t have one.
Won’thave one.
44
I put her in bed.I couldn’t bring myself to get in with her. I was shaking too hard. Sweating too much. So I left her, placing her ring on the nightstand. I showered, half dressed, and put myself on the chair in the lounge, staring out at the London skyline for hours, the penthouse quiet. My mind loud. I’ve called Jay and asked for the footage from last night. I started to call Steve Cooke but decided against it. I don’t want the police taking care of this.I’lltake care of it.
Myway. It won’t be pleasant. It won’t be clean.
Who the fuck did this?
Ava’s phone rings, interrupting my mental warpath, and I look at it next to mine on the table in front of me.
Dan.
I slowly lean forward, watching it ring until it rings off. Her brother. I chew my lip, thinking, as it starts ringing again. I look up the stairs. Pick it up. Connect the call and rest slowly back.
“Hello.”
There’s a long pause before he speaks. “I suppose you’re this new man we keep hearing about.” He’s hostile. I guess I can’t blame him. But if he’s expecting pleasantries from me, he’s called at the wrong fucking time. Not that he knows. Not that hecanknow.
“You suppose right.” I won’t ask what they’ve heard. I know.
“Where’s Ava?”
No introduction. No hello, how are you? Nothing. I already don’t like him, and I sense the feeling is mutual. But for the sake of Ava...“She’s sleeping. I’ll get her to call you when she’s awake. It’s Dan, isn’t it?”
“It is. And you’re...”
I shift in my chair, uncomfortable. Don’t tell me that with the information of my friendship with alcohol and my fist’s friendship with Matt’s face, they didn’t get a name. “Jesse Ward.”
“It’s late for her to be sleeping.”
“She was out with Kate last night.”
Silence. A long, lingering silence. “Right. Since Kate is single these days.” That hostility just grew.
“But Ava is not,” I add, making that clear.
“So she was out with Kate but she stayed at your place? Doesn’t make much sense since she’s living with Kate.”
“It makes sense because she liveshere.”
“What?”
“With me. In my apartment. She lives here.”
A light laugh comes down the line with a puff of disbelieving air. “She’s moved in?”
“Yes.”
“How long have you been dating?”
“A while.”
“Right.” He doesn’t sound impressed. Expected. “We made plans to do something today.”
