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ChapterOne
DEVRIE
Weighing the odds in my mind, I chew on my lip as I stare down at my brother’s name flashing on my phone screen. I’m tempted to let the call go to voicemail. But if I do that, my overprotective brother might call 911 or search and rescue or something equally embarrassing.
“Denny! What a surprise,” I say in my best chipper voice.
“What took you so long to answer?” His typically laid-back tone has a bit of an edge to it that tells me my concerns he would’ve overreacted weren’t so far off.
Walking down the long hallway to my new apartment, I try and hold in the audible sigh in my throat, itching to slip out. I get that he’s my older brother, and he wants to make sure I’m okay, but when is he going to get the memo that I’m not a little kid anymore? I’m a grown woman who can take care of herself.
“Denny, my hands are full of groceries.” I jiggle my keys and purse near the phone to try and make it sound like my hands are loaded down with grocery bags. Little white lies are nothing too serious, especially if they save me from a lecture.
“Okay, you know I worry if you can handle yourself living in the city.”
“Handle myself?”
“You know what I mean,” he says, trying to backpedal. “It’s a big change from what you’re used to.”
My eyes nearly roll back into my head, but I still manage to hold in the groan of exasperation.
“Everything is fine. My new job is going great. I have an amazing apartment.” I unlock the door to let myself in. “And my roommate and I are always looking out for one another.”
“Do you still have the pepper spray I got you?”
“No, I traded it for some candy from a stranger,” I deadpan.
“Devrie,” he sighs into the phone. I can just imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. “I should’ve gotten you that taser.”
I set down my purse and slip off my heels. “No, you shouldn’t have. I wouldn’t have carried that thing around. I’d be too afraid of reaching into my bag and accidentally zapping myself.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation, but it’s getting pretty old. Denny hates everything to do with the city, which is why he lives in a small mountain town that has a smaller population than the total amount of people in my building. As a former cop turned park ranger he’s seen his fair share of the worst of humanity, which is why he’s always on my case. But I can’t live my life in fear—I won’t.
“You’re being cautious when you’re out, right? When you meet new people, you’re not sharing cabs or letting them know where you live?”
He’s saying “people,” but he means men.
“Oh, my gosh, you’re worse than Dad used to be. I promise you, my well-intentioned but annoying big brother, I’m following all your precautions. I pinky promise.”
Pinky promises were sacred between the two of us growing up. If one of us offered up our pinkies while trying to convince the other of our sincerity, nothing else needed to be said.
“Fine,” he says, but I know he’s holding back, wanting to say more.
“What?” I ask and regret giving him the opening almost immediately. I’m so over this phone call. It has been the same conversation we’ve been having since I told him I was moving here a few months ago.
“You know Alec lives in the city near you, right?”
My attention perks up, and I straighten. This isn’t part of the regular routine of our conversation. Heat rushes up my cheeks, and I pick up the pile of mail off the table near the door and fan myself.
“I think you may have mentioned he lives in the city.”
Lie—a total lie. I absolutely knew my brother’s best friend lived here. Did that influence the companies I applied for when I was looking for a new job? No. Was it an added bonus? Abso-fucking-lutely.
It’s a cliché for a reason, but I’m most definitely that little sister that crushed on my brother’s friends. Nothing ever happened, but Alec was the only one who didn’t treat me like a parasite. Despite Denny’s objections when our parents would ask him to let me tag along with whatever they were doing, Alec wouldn’t grumble like the others. I know it had more to do with the fact that our house was a home away from home for him growing up, so he didn’t want to offend my mom and dad, but I liked to convince myself that he just liked me.
“You should meet up with him,” Denny says. “You really only know your roommate and your co-workers. I’d feel better if you had Alec to call on if something serious happens. He can be there until I can get to you.”
It’s been years since I’ve seen Alec, not since the summer after I graduated from high school. That night has been seared into my mind as a core memory.
