And that was the excuse I used when I finally broke down and dialed the number that Alex had left me. It only rang twice before a familiar-ish voice answered, “Hello…?”
“Hi, Selene. It’s Gracie.”
“Hey, Gracie.” She sounded so cheerful. “What’s going on? Do you need something? I know he’s in London right now. I just got back yesterday from Vegas, otherwise I would have come by to check on you. I heard Grandmother dropped by to surprise you.”
How had she heard?
Asami. I’d bet my life it was her who spilled the beans.
The memory of her holding up two fingers haunted me suddenly.
Did she say he was in London?Huh. “Yeah, she did a few days ago. She said she would see me again soon.” I swallowed. “I was actually calling because I need groceries, and I was wondering…?”
“I need to go grocery shopping too. We can go together,” she suggested.
Go together? “I don’t want to be an inconvenience. I’m just not sure how to get in and out of the neighborhood—”
Selene cut me off. “You’re not. I want to. I hate going grocery shopping by myself. I make bad choices,” she said. “I’ll be over to pick you up around six.”
“Okay… are you sure?” I didn’t like asking for favors, but I didn’t hate the idea of spending time with her. I’d gotten a good feeling about Selene.
“Positive.”
I scratched my nose and reminded myself that things were different now. That no one had any idea where I was. That here I could be someone else. Branch out a little more.
Maybe I could make another friend here.
I nodded to myself and said it. “Thanks, Selene. I’ll see you then.”
“Hey, don’t thank me. That’s what family is for.”
* * *
The next few hours dragged by, mostly because I was unusually restless. I had some money saved, but not enough for long-term. Plus, I wanted to give Alex money for utilities and have enough to start over. I had already wired Selene what I owed her, and my new favorite superbeing brushed me off every time I brought up what he’d let me use.
Money, money, money, fucking money.
And all this uncertainty was driving me fucking nuts.
I’d spent my whole life with a singular goal in mind: staying inside my bubble as happy as anyone could. Now I was just antsy. Something felt off, and I had no idea what it could be.
That was a lie. The truth was, I had an idea, but I didn’t want to focus on it too much.
So when I heard the doorbell ring and a minute later heard Selene call out, “Gracie?” I was already ready.
I ran down the front staircase with my purse andAlex’scard and stopped when I found Selene in the foyer. My plan was to pull out cash from an ATM and pay him back. It would be safer than using my card in actual places.
She was wearing dark gray sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt, her hair in a bun.
The cute blonde smiled just as another voice called out, “I don’t know how the hell I can hold so much pee in my body. I could have put out a fire with it.”
Just like that, Selene rolled her eyes the same exact way Alex did. “I didn’t mean to bring her, but she was waiting for me at my car, and I couldn’t convince her that she doesn’t buy groceries.” Those bright blue eyes slid slightly behind me, and I was pretty sure I saw her mouth a prayer under her breath.
“Bonjour,Gracie!” the same voice bellowed out as a woman, a young woman, even younger-looking than Selene, strolled up beside me and instantly threw her arms around me.
I only froze for a second before I hugged her back.
Who the hell was I to say no to a hug from a friendly stranger?
