No Strings

“I’ll meet you downstairs.” I’m not really in the mood to drink, but being alone in the condo last night sucked. There was a time when I loved the silence, but now, it just feels lonely as fuck. No Brody playing his loud as hell video games. No Savannah binge-watching her stupid shows. I used to revel in the quiet, and now I despise it.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” Lucas says when he sees me.

“Thanks. How’d you know?” Savannah and I haven’t had time to discuss doing an engagement party since it just happened. Hell, we haven’t even discussed when she wants to get married and what kind of wedding she wants. Then again, at this rate, there won’t be a wedding.

“My sister told me. I haven’t seen Savy all week since she’s on vacation.” He smirks, and I know something sarcastic is about to come out of his mouth. “Never thought you’d be engaged before me.”

And there it is. “Never thought I’d meet a woman like Savannah.”

He nods in understanding.

We spend the next few hours at Erwin’s, a hole-in-the-wall bar around the corner we frequent, drinking and shooting the shit. I’m probably a good four, maybe five scotches in when my phone rings.

It’s late, after three in the morning, and it’s Savannah. Something in my blood turns cold with worry.

“Sav.”

“Ben, I need you to come home.”

“Where are you?” I’m already standing and throwing down a couple of bills.

“I’m at your place… with Brody.”

“I thought he was with his mom.” What the hell is going on?

“Just come home, please.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Savannah

One hour ago

“Mmm, so good.” I take a bite of my Phish Food ice cream as my favorite episode of One Tree Hill plays. It’s the one where Nathan admits to Haley that even though he hated her leaving him to go on tour, he kept every article and photograph of her. They’re standing in the rain, yelling at each other, and then he kisses her with such passion, goose bumps prick my skin and tears fill my eyes, making it hard to see the screen.

I let out a choked sob as I scoop another bite of caramel-chocolate-marshmallow goodness into my mouth. “I want a love like that,” I say out loud, shoveling more ice cream into my mouth. When I dip my spoon in, and nothing comes out, I glance down and see the container is empty. “Figures.” I drop my spoon into the container. “Looks like my fiancé isn’t the only Ben fucking with my heart.”

“Are you talking to your ice cream?” Brianne asks with a laugh. She must’ve just gotten home from Marcus’s place. I told her she doesn’t have to babysit me, but she’s insisted on sleeping here for the past two nights.

“Yeah.” I shrug, owning my craziness. “I was just pointing out that I’ve been heartbroken by two Bens in the past two days.”

She quirks a brow. “Well, there’s more of that Ben in the freezer.”

My mood perks up. “You bought me more?”

“I did, but you can only have it when you talk to the other Ben.”

My mood plummets.

“I think I’m done with both of these Bens.” I drop the container onto the nightstand with a huff.

Brianne rolls her eyes. “You are not. You’re just emotional and hurt, and cranky because you’re refusing to take a pregnancy test and find out if Ben was right and knew you were pregnant before you did.”

“Whatever,” I grumble as my phone rings. I grab it, ready to hit ignore, thinking it’s Ben again. But when Brody’s name shows up, I pause my show and answer it. No matter how mad and hurt I am at Ben, I’ll always be there for Brody.

“Hey.”

“Savy, I, umm, I need you.” Brody’s voice is nothing more than a whisper. Something is wrong.

“I’m here. Where are you?”

“I’m outside the building.”

I don’t understand why he’s out there instead of at his dad’s place, but it doesn’t matter. “I’m at my place. Do you want me to come down, or do you want to come up?”

He’s silent for a few beats before he says, “I’ll come up…Wait, are you alone?”

I glance at Brianne. I should tell him she’s here, but something tells me he might not come up if I do.

“Yeah, I’m alone. I’ll come unlock the door.”

“Okay.”

He hangs up, and Brianne quirks a brow. “It’s Brody. Something is wrong, and he needs to talk to me. Can you, umm, hide in your room?”

“I’ll do you one better and go back to Marcus’s, but if you need me…”

“I know. Thanks.”

I hug her, then throw on a bra and leggings before walking her out so I can meet Brody at the door.

“I saw Bri at the elevator,” he says, walking in.

“She’s going to Marcus’s. She was on her way out when you called.”

He nods, and his gaze connects with mine, and it’s then I notice he has a swollen eye like he’s been punched.