“I was jealous.” She sighs. “I knew from the moment I saw you two together at the Airport that he loved you.”
What little anger I have for this woman fades. I walk around the counter and over to her. I open my arms, and she all but falls into me.
“I really am sorry.” She cries, her body shaking softly. “I just wanted him to love me like that. Like I loved him.”
I rub her back, not sure what to say. You can’t make someone love you.
“Thank you.” She pulls away from me, swiping her tears away. “I’m sober. And I understand what I’ve done is wrong.” Her eyes meet mine. “I’m going to rehab. But I wouldn’t have that opportunity if it weren’t for you.”
I place my hands on her shoulders. “Don’t let a man ever make you think your life isn’t worth living, Lucy.” She sniffs. “You’re beautiful, and you need to put yourself first. Always.”
She really is beautiful. Her blonde hair brings out her big brown eyes. I hate she put so much of her life into Grave’s. But just because he doesn’t return the feelings doesn’t mean it’s not worth anything.
“I wish you the best,” I say. “And I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
“Thank you,” she says again, drawing me in for another hug. When she pulls away, she sniffs again. “You are what he needs. You’re going to be the one to save him from himself.” And with that, she turns and exits the shop.
THIRTY-FIVE
GRAVE
ISIT UP at my desk at Kingdom. I managed to sneak in without being seen. I was gone for almost two weeks when me and April broke up. Then I took time off after Lucy’s attempted suicide. I needed to get my shit together. To decide the kind of life I wanted to have and how I was going to accomplish it.
Plus, I just wanted to spend time with April. I helped her at the shop. She’s been extremely busy playing catchup and getting ready for Emilee and Titan’s wedding. It was a refreshing change of scenery. Not like anyone missed me here.
My door opens, and I hold my breath when I see my brother enter. So much for flying under the radar. I settle back in my seat, looking up at him.
He comes to stand at my desk. “May I speak to you?”
“If it’s about rehab, no,” I say simply.
He sighs and sits down, rolling up the sleeves on his button-down. “I’m sorry, Grave.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I know my brother doesn’t do well when it comes to talking about feelings. I don’t want him to feeluncomfortable. He doesn’t need to apologize. And I don’t need to hear it.
His eyes go to my sleeve, and he frowns as he studies it. Recognition flashes across his face when he sees a familiar face in the artwork. “So…” He looks at me. “She’s the one?”
I nod. “She’s the one.” April is everything for me. She’s my accountability. My love and my hell. She’s going to help me fight my demons every day by giving me all of her.
My office phone rings, and I pick it up. “Grave.”
“Sir, you have a visitor,” Nigel says into the phone.
“Who is it?”
“Tanner Mason.”
I make my way downstairs, and it didn’t surprise me when Bones insisted on coming with me. We step off the elevator into our private lobby.
“Why are you here, Tanner?” It’s the same thing he asked me that first night at the Airport.
He looks from Bones to me. “I, uh…” He squares his shoulders. “I wanted to tell you in person.” He pauses.
“Okay.” I step toward him. “Tell me what?”
“Trey found Lucy in her penthouse this morning. She had passed away.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Bones is the first to speak, his words as sincere as you’ll ever get from him.
