Best of 2017

“What just happened?” she demands when we get to the first landing.

“Third floor,” I croak and point up. “I thought he was…I thought he was someone else.”

“Grayson?”

I blink at her in confusion. “No.” It won’t hurt to tell her. “I thought it was my ex. His name is Vaughn.”

Understanding flashes in her bright blue eyes as she helps me to the third floor. My knees are wobbling, and I’m shaken up badly. She tugs my jangling keys from my grip when I can’t seem to fit the key into the slot. Once we step inside, I hastily snap all of the bolt locks in place. Her wide blue eyes are staring at me as if I’m an injured animal that might bite the person trying to help them.

“Is this Vaughn character stalking you?” she questions, concern painting her pretty features. I want to hate her, but right now she’s the only person I’ve got.

“No. I just…” I trail off and a shudder ripples through me. “I thought he might have found me, and it’s been stressing me out. I’m sure it’s all in my head. He can’t know where I am. I’ve made sure.”

Her eyes flit around the dumpy apartment as she comprehends my meaning. “Can I make you something to drink?”

Tears well in my eyes as I regard her. Hours ago her husband was on my couch making himself at home. Now, she’s in here, offering to serve me as if I’m her guest and not the other way around.

“Vodka. Freezer,” I clip out.

She nods and disappears into the kitchen while I plop down on my sofa. The afghan on the back was one my therapist made for me. I jerk it around me and attempt to warm up. I’m shaking from the inside out. When she returns, she has two glasses filled with what looks like ice water. I know better. I can smell that gasoline from a mile away.

“Thirsty?” Her eyes flicker with a slight wickedness as she hands me my glass.

I sip my vodka on the rocks and make a face. But the fire running down my throat instantly warms me. “I’m sorry about all of this.” I wonder if she can smell her husband’s scent lingering in my apartment. I can and I’m annoyed that I still like the smell.

“So you’re having a bad day,” she says with a laugh and plops down beside me like we’re best friends. “I have them often.” Her eyes darken and she looks away from me. Guilt surges through me. I wonder how many other women Gray has been with while married to this woman. There’s nothing wrong with her. She’s beautiful and feisty. Why would he step out on her?

“Why do you stay with him?” I ask, my throat suddenly choking up.

Confusion swims in her eyes. “With Grayson?”

I nod and her gaze softens.

“Because I love him,” she says as if that’s enough reason. “And because I don’t cope well on my own.”

“Cope?”

“When I was a kid, I suffered from kidney issues. My left kidney was dying and trying to poison me in the process.” We both eye the alcohol in her hand and she sets it down on the table. “I’m not supposed to drink that.” She laughs and tears shine in her eyes. “There are a lot of things I’m not supposed to do now. But I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Gray.” Pure love is reflected in her gaze.

“That’s why you put up with his…” I can’t even say the word.

“Shenanigans?” Another laugh from her.

I chug the vodka while she composes herself.

“Slow down there, killer, or I’ll be cleaning up vomit. My brother would have a fit if I got his girlfriend shit-faced.” She snorts and steals the glass from me. The room spins as I gape at her.

“Wait. What?”

Her lips quirk up on one side and she reminds me of a certain crazy man who’s recently decided to disrupt my entire life. “Grayson’s my older brother. I was the ‘oops’ baby my parents had fifteen years later.”

I’m so stunned, I have no words to say.

Brother.

Brother.

I’ve made a fool out of myself because I thought Gwen was his wife.

“Oh my God…” I groan and clutch my stomach that truly is roiling. “But you were so mad at me.”

“You were eyeing me like I was a venomous snake!” she argues with a giggle and swats my thigh. Warmth shoots through me. My friend Lisa from high school used to be that way. A knee slapper is what we called her.

“Because I thought Gray brought me on a date to meet his wife!”

This sends her into a fit of laughter that has her doubled over. Once I make sense of the stupidity of it all, I start laughing too. Then we’re both trying to talk with tears streaming down our cheeks.

“You h-h-had the bitch look!”

“You were s-so p-pretty and I thought you were his wife!”

“I thought my brother found himself a mega bitch!”

“I thought I was going to have to castrate him in front of his wife!”

We’re both laughing so hard when someone pounds on the door. We ignore it at first, but when the pounding gets louder, we both fall silent.

“You stay there,” she instructs as she fumbles for her keys. She holds up a can of mace that’s on her key ring as she starts toward the door. Must have been what she got that creepy dude downstairs with. Suddenly, I want to hug this girl and never let her go.

When she stands on her toes and peeks out the peephole on the door, she lets out a snort. “Oh, God. Do you want to talk to him?”

“Why are you here, Gwen?” he growls from the other side.

She looks at me and rolls her eyes. “Consoling your girlfriend. You hurt her feelings.”

“I’m not his girlfriend,” I hiss but she just winks at me.

“I don’t know what the hell happened,” he roars from the other side. “One minute everyone is hunky-fucking-dory and the next my baby sister runs off with my…” Silence falls, and Gwen and I seem to be holding our breath.

“Violet,” he finally says with a huff.

“Your Violet?” Gwen challenges with an arched brow my way.

I shake my head at her. “I’m not his.” But warmth spreads throughout my body by that notion.

“Let me in so I can make sure she’s okay,” he pleads.

Something in the vulnerable way he says it has me chewing on my lip and nodding. As soon as she unlocks the last bolt, he pushes through the door past her and drops to the sofa beside me. His icy blue eyes seem to swirl with hurt and concern. It causes my heart to flutter. Stupid heart. His warm hand envelops mine and he squeezes.

“Everything okay?” His voice is husky and raw.

“Yeah.”

“What happened?”

Gwen tosses her keys back in her purse. “A miscommunication.”

Gray frowns at me but doesn’t press the issue any further. “Do you want me to stay with you?”