“Do you think we should do something?” I ask, though I already know the answer. What is there to do? I don’t know how to help Sylvia. I thought trying to steer her away from Fletcher and his friends would help but look how that turned out.
“I think it’s hard to help someone when they don’t entirely know what’s going on themselves. She’ll come to us when she’s ready. If she ever is.” She’s talking about Sylvia, but a little piece of me gets the underlying message that it’s about me as well.
“I caught my dad cheating on my mom over the summer. That’s why I’ve been distant,” I blurt out.
Everleigh’s raised brows are enough to tell me she wasn’t expecting that. “You’ve been keeping that to yourself this entire time?”
“I did until Thanksgiving. My sister and mom didn’t know until then, but since they know, it’s been easier to breathe, but you’re right. Having Colson around helps. So much.”
“I’m so sorry that happened.” She blinks rapidly. “A lot more makes sense now. Sylvia would have shouted that from the rooftops if she knew.”
“Part of the reason I’ve been quiet about it. I was still trying to process, and I didn’t want to stress about her being out of control on top of knowing sensitive information about my private life.”
There’s an echo of a knock on the apartment door then, and we both glance toward the hallway.
“You know I’m here for you right? Whenever you need me.”
I nod and smile faintly. “I know that. Thank you.”
“Of course. How do you think he’s going to take seeing you in that?”
“No idea.”
She jumps to her feet. “Well, let’s go. Can’t leave your man waiting for long.” She winks at me before heading out of my room. I blow out a breath and stand, smoothing the material over my stomach once more, though if I’m being honest, it’s not like it can wrinkle with how tight it is against my skin.
A sense of nervousness builds up in my belly as I make my way out and Everleigh opens the door. It’s all because of the man standing a few yards away with his back to me. A man who I’ve grown to care about more than I thought was possible. A man who is devastatingly handsome in an all-black three piece when he spins on his heel in my direction.
His blue eyes pop against the darkness of his attire. Ever so slowly, they trail down the length of me, settling on the long slit that starts an inch above my knee. Those blues meet my gaze, and a smirk plants itself on his lips.
I tuck my lips into my mouth as he makes his way closer. Leaning down, he brushes his lips against my cheek. Nerves erupt in my stomach, adding to the eagerness of the night. He lingers for the longest seconds of my life, his breath warming my cheek and tickling my ear when he murmurs, “I have no words for how gorgeous you look right now.”
My breath hitches but somehow, I manage to breathe. He pulls away and holds out his hand.
I take it. “You clean up nice.”
He tugs me closer, drawing me toward the front door despite the onlooker we have feet away. There’s a dopey grin on Everleigh’s face when I wave before grabbing my clutch at the door and allowing my date to lead the way. She gives me athumbs up, and I shake my head, sticking my tongue out at her before the door closes behind us.
Colson’s fingers entwine with mine, and it’s giving me life. So much life that it makes my knees wobbly as we make it to the elevator.
“Aunt Bess loaned me a suit, and I may clean up nice, but I’m not the one everyone is going to have their eyes on all night.”
The elevator door opens, and we make it inside, the air so taut that it’s hard to breathe. It intensifies when Colson releases my hand and moves closer, his palm skimming the small of my back.
The elevator comes to a stop, opening for someone on a different floor. We’re already off to the side so we don’t need to sidestep to make space, but that doesn’t stop him from turning his head in my direction or dipping that beautiful mouth closer to my ear.
His whisper is rough and raspy and lights me up. “You look good, Vi. So dangerously good that I’m on the edge ofwantingto be a gentleman andneedingto be selfish with you.”
Holy.
Shit.
All the air in my lungs exits through my nose, and that insane feeling in my stomach from minutes ago returns, only it’s so much more visceral than the last time. If I thought it felt good having Colson as my confidant, this is even better.
By a landslide.
Willaker Hall isan old firehouse the city purchased and added onto decades ago, its brick beautifully restored. The blackframed windows add to it, especially with the soft glow of lights. Because of my father’s consulting firm, I’ve been inside the building before, but this time it’ll be for something far more important than reaching a seven-figure financial goal.
Tonight is about those in need, about Second Chances—the rehab facility Colson’s aunt helps run. Those who have lost themselves to rocky paths but have fought their way back to one less painful. Tonight is for those who have had their lives torn apart by addiction and have found the courage and bravery within themselves to not let it steal them from this lifetime.
