“I know exactly what you mean. You need that different perspective sometimes.”
“Yeah,” I breathe out. “It’s over for good.”
“Smart choice.”
“Is it?”
“I’ve seen him at the apartment,” he says. “He’s had a couple of girls over.”
My stomach catches, nearly ready to tighten over Colson’s news, but then I remember that the chapter between Webber and I is closed.What he chooses to do has no impact on me anymore.
“I’m sorry, Violet.”
“Don’t be. It’s not on you.”
“I should’ve told you.”
“It wouldn’t have changed anything between Webber and me. I’m not blind. I’ve seen him around, and I hear things.”
“You have enough going on. I didn’t want to make you feel worse about it,” he says. “And speaking of stuff going on, when were you going to tell me that Sylvia really is as bad as she seems?”
I don’t know why but I chuckle at that. There’s no denying that my roommate is rough to handle sometimes. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m laughing. It really isn’t funny.”
“She basically ripped my ass in two in that alleyway.”
I shrug, calming my laughter, and follow the path beside him. “She’s not normally that intense.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Something is going on with her. I don’t know what, but she’s been a lot more bitter and blunt lately. Sneaking off with guys. Out drinking, and hanging out with people who are bad news.”
He glances over, and I catch the tail end of his jaw clenching. “You mean like Nelson?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“And she always treats you disrespectfully? Like what you have to say doesn’t matter?”
“Even more so, here of late. It’s not just me, though, it’s everyone.”
He shakes his head in amazement but withholds what I’m sure he really wants to say.Why are you friends with the girl? I’d have cut her ass free a long time ago.“That’s bullshit. Sorry you have to deal with that. Has she been more indifferent toward you since that night?”
“We haven’t really seen each other, honestly. Not much opportunity has been present for us to have a conversation about it. And if anyone is sorry,” I reach for his forearm, which causesus to stop for a moment. “I’m sorry for the way she treated you. The things she said…” I drop my gaze to the pavement before figuring out exactly what I want to say. “They aren’t true. You aren’t a scumbag, and you’re welcome in Chatham Hills as long as I have a say about it.”
When his eyes lock with mine and he mumbles out, “I appreciate that,” I have to physically peel my hand off him before I launch myself at his lips. One taste and it’s like I can’t stop craving more of him.
“So, what about you?” I ask, clearing my throat and resuming our walk. “You doing okay outside of work?”
“Actually, my aunt has this thing coming up and?—”
We make it to the sidewalk that leads to the front of Spring Meadows. I see the man near the front doors of the apartment building before Colson does, his voice fading out as I take in the tattoos on this person’s arms as he smokes. His clothing isn’t much better. It’s black as night, all of it, making it totally apparent that he’s out of his element in this area of Chatham Hills. Long strands of dark hair lay over his forehead and when his stare snaps over to us, he swipes it out of his face.
My hand lands on my friend’s forearm in warning. I don’t like how this guy is looking at us, much less how his stare lingers on the man next to me.
“Colson, wait.”
He stops and turns toward me. “What is it?”
Without looking directly at the stranger, I flick my eyes in his direction. “This is a safe neighborhood, and I’ve never seen that guy lurking around before. He’s looking right at us.”
