Fat Cat Liar

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Janice shifts uncomfortably, taking a step toward me.

“You mean when she drugged me and ran away in the middle of the night, leaving my key on the counter and nothing else? The same night I bared my soul to her?”

He plants his legs firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. “You knew this was a possibility. You’ve always known it would be tough.”

“Tough? You call this tough? Let me tell you what torture feels like. When she walked out that door, she took every ounce of me with her. A crushing weight threatens to bring me to my knees every time I think of her, which is twenty-four hours a day. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I’m barely functioning on any level. My apartment walls close in on me, and the only reprieve I get is when the alcohol starts to numb the pain and my mind travels to the memories of her. Passing out is the only way to find a few hours of solace. Each night, I go to her bed and pray she will come back to me, then each morning, I wake up alone with a stronger determination to find her, only to discover she’s still a ghost. For two weeks, I’ve stalked her apartment, her work, her friends— anywhere she may be. No one will give me any information. This is so much more than tough; it’s excruciating. Fourteen days without her feels like an eternity in Hell. I don’t know how much more I can take.” When I finish, my chest is heaving and I brace on my desk to remain standing. My head falls forward, exhaustion seeping into my bones.

A soft set of arms wraps around me, and I hear Janice sniff as she hugs me tightly. “You’ll get her back, Lawson. She needs time.”

“I can give her anything in this world, Janice, except time. I need her,” I admit weakly, my voice hoarse with emotion.

“Things have a way of working themselves out. If you love her like you say you do, don’t give up.”

“Never. I’m never giving up.”

She steps back, clasping my shoulder encouragingly. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“He’s going to need more than will. He’s going to need mercy. And a razor, definitely a razor,” Clay jokes.

I slice my eyes to find him smirking. “You’re a dick.”

“Can’t blame me for trying to make you smile.”

“I’ll smile when I get her back.”

“I hate to bring this up, but have you thought of going to Kevin?”

“Thought of it every day. The only thing holding me back is concern for jeopardizing the business relationship. Morris C&D doesn’t need to bear the consequences.”

“You want me to go see him?” His earlier humor now gone, his face grows serious.

“You’d walk into a lion’s den with Kevin Palmer?”

“I’d do anything for you at this point.”

A new wave of emotions washes over me. I’ve been an ass to Clay these last few weeks, avoiding him at all costs. My phone has gone unanswered, texts ignored, and basic communication stopped. When I woke up in Greer’s bed alone that morning, I knew she’d left me. The emptiness in the apartment was everywhere. Then I found Clay sitting on her sofa. His eyes came to mine, and my largest fear was staring back at me. He tried to talk to me, but I wouldn’t give him the time, instead, rushing to find her. That’s the last time I was in a room with my brother until this morning’s meeting.

“Thanks.” I try to communicate with my eyes that his offer means a lot.

“Anything, Lawson, even if it is sitting in your dark apartment getting sloshed. I’ll do anything to help you. All you have to do is ask.”

My phone vibrates on my desk, and I snatch it up, hoping Greer is finally responding to one of my hundreds of messages. Instead, I find a single message from an unknown number.

Greer is going into her office.

I grab my jacket and fly toward the door, my heart thundering in my chest.

“Where are you going?” Clay yells after me.

“There is an angel of mercy somewhere out there.” I wave my hand in the air and rush to the elevator without looking back.

•8•8•

“Greer, baby, please open up,” I beg, leaning my forehead on the door. There’s silence on the other side, but I know she’s there.

The click-clack of heels on tile sounds, and I snap my head when the doorknob twists. I’m greeted by Haley, her eyes full of the same sadness as each day that I’ve stopped by.