There was no way. If Wilson could barely afford his rent, he wouldn't be able to afford Richard's services for his brother."Richard is her lawyer too?" Brandon laughed. "No wonder she looked so scared. She probably knew me because of him and didn't want to hear how shitty he is. He would've lost my case had I kept him."If there was one thing Richard wasn't, it was shitty. He was the best lawyer around. He could win any case. There was no way he'd come close to losing one. I looked at Solene, but I could tell he was already thinking further ahead than I was. It was the lawyer in him. He must've realized something was fishy.But what could it be? Did my mother even know Richard worked for Brandon? Or was it just a coincidence? It was hard to believe though. Where would Brandon and Wilson get the money for it? It didn't seem possible."There's something weird here," Solene said, reading my thoughts."I set up a meeting with Richard to ask him about it.""I'll come with you...""I'll do
Georgia's POVVzzzt, vZzt, VZzt. Fuzz filled my aching head and I groped around my bed, trying to find my phone. What I grasped instead woke me up instantly. Henley was right beside me on the bed, tangled in my silk sheets, wearing only her bra. Before I even had a chance to gasp, she opened one eye, not even bothering to lift her face from the pillow."Did you just touch my boob?"A deep flush settled on my face and I coughed, noticing my mouth wasbabsolutely parched. "Yes. Accidentally," I croaked out. My tongue felt like sandpaper. Henley grimaced, closing her eyes tightly. "I'd be mad, but I feel like death. It's like the desert is overtaking my mouth.""Where is your shirt?"As if just realizing she was indeed shirtless, she shot up, sheets slipping from her body. "You could at least pretend not to stare!"It took a few seconds for her words to register. When they did, I whipped my head to the left, bringing on the hammers knocking on my brain."Ow.""Crap, I don't even have a s
Solene was sitting at the kitchen table, reading a newspaper while sipping a coffee. "Good morning," she greeted us warmly.I noted that she showed no signs of a hangover whatsoever. However, she did miss a button on her shirt. But as unusual as that was, it wasn't important."Wilson needs your help," I told him. "Remember that guy from Michelangelo's? He's trying to sue her."Sebastian's eyes slid to Henley and he folded up the newspaper. "Do you have the recordings of the incident? Has Curtis tried to contact you?""No..." She gasped. "But I don't live at the address listed on my license! He could be looking for me. That's probably how Collin found out about it- that moron! Is it bad if it looks like I'm avoiding him?""We should go to the restaurant," Sebastian said. "The first thing we should do is get a copy of the surveillance video."The color drained from Henley's face and she nodded. For the first time, she looked scared. Just as I was about to reach out for her, Sebastian pl
Wilson's POVOn the way to the restaurant, Solene explained how a civil case worked, and what I should expect of it. He didn't think Curtis had made a complaint yet, only threatened it. Our plan was to swing by the apartment after to see if I'd received a summons.I tapped my fingers against my thigh as a queasiness set in my abdomen. It wasn't that I was afraid of being sued at worst he would demand all the money in my savings account-but rather if he decided to take it a step further and press charges against me.What if I lost then? Would I go to jail? What would happen to Brandon?Noticing my anxiety, Sebastian reached over and squeezed my shoulder. "It's going to be okay. I'm actually a pretty good lawyer when I want to be."I gave him a small smile. "I don't doubt that."Collin wasn't very pleased to see us when we arrived at the restaurant. He stuck up his nose, turning his head away from us as he guided us to the backroom where the computer for the security was. "This very wel
I didn't like the sound of that."But don't worry about it right now," he added.I gave him a flat look. "Yeah, because that's so easy after what you just said. But I trust you. I know you'll tell me the truth if it involves me somehow.""I will," he promised. "For now let's see if you have a summons."My old apartment looked more decrepit than ever. I now understood Bennett's reaction when he saw it the first time-it wasn't livable. I smiled sheepishly at Sebastian as I slid out of the car to check the mailbox. There was nothing. No summons."So either it hasn't arrived or he hasn't done anything yet," Sebastian said as turned the car around, heading back toward Bennett's house. "I'll go and speak to him tomorrow.""I want to talk to him too."He frowned a little. "It's probalbly best not to.""I don't want everyone to fight my battles for me. I appreciate what you all are doing, but..." I trailed off, shifting in my seat. "I don't like feeling useless. Hearing you say that, or Benne
Wilson's POVTurns out fighting for our relationship was easier said than done. No matter how hard I tried, I could not contact Georgia. She blocked my number. She blocked my work number. She refused to answer any calls from Solene's phone. When I stopped by her house, her car was never there. It was like he hadn't been home once since zhe'd decided to cut me out of her life, She was doing everything she could to avoid me. I had no doubt in my mind his mother was behind this- especially considering the fact Curtis had coincidentally decided to drop his lawsuit the same day Bennett disappeared. But that didn't mean I was only pissed at her. How could Bennett have given up on me so easily? Why didn't he even try to fight?Why couldn't he just tell me what happened? Why couldn't he have at least ended it face-to-face? There was so much I wanted to say to both of them. There was so much I wanted to say to him. but I just couldn't get to him. I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. Thi
"How could she do this?" I whispered, staring at it, my heart beating like crazy in my chest. When had she bought this clothes? When had zhe planned on giving it to me?"What's wrong?" Brandon asked.Zipping the dress back up into the garment bag, I tossed off my apron. "I need to see her. I have to go. Arian, can you close up? Please?"She nodded, seeming bewildered. "Of course. Where are you going? To his house?""Yes." My whole body was trembling.This didn't make any sense. If he was going to end things with me, he wouldn't have bought this dress."Are you going to be okay alone?""I'll bring her."My eyes snapped to the door, where Henry stood, hair matted dovwn from the rain that had just started falling. He pushed his glasses up and gave me a nervous smile. "Hey, Henley.""Henry? What are you doing here?""I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to come see you," he apologized. "Mrs. Calloway made Bennett and I go to Hawaii last week. We just got back today.""Wait, what? You guys hav
Wilson's POVLee Calloway.His form towered above me, a puzzled expression on his well-featured face. Maybe it wasn't right to think this now, but I couldn't believe how handsome he was. He was like some kind of model or Disney prince or something. He shared Bennett's dark hair and green eyes, but Lee's were contrasted by his pale skin. The word angel flitted to mind.This wasn't how I pictured him to look like, mainly because I pictured him in a coffin, but somehow it made sense that he looked like this. It just fit. Lee Calloway, the angel.Who wasn't dead."Are you okay?" he asked, his gaze lingering on my face.His question starled me and I quickly brushed some stray tears away, feeling embarrassed. Crying in front of strangers wasn't my thing. Especially not my whatever's older brother.Well, ex-whatever."Lee," Bennett said again, his voice sounding more frantic. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay? Does Mom know you're here? Are you okay?""One question at a time, Ben,
Georgia's Pov"Be there at six o' clock sharp, no later. I've already ordered the flowers, as you apparently couldn't handle that task last time, so you simply have to pick them up. Be polite and courteous. Next week I want to set up dinner with Cecil and his wife, so you better leave a good impression. Carlo picked the restaurant so let him suggest what the best meal is and take his advice."It was hard to focus on my mother's words as I stood in front of my bathroom sink, trying to keep my stomach from twisting and crling and its contents from coming out. My mouth was dry and tasted like old leather, no matter how much water I sucked down. And then there was the headache. I didn't know how I was handling her shrill voice when it felt like Muhammad Ali was having a boxing match with my brain. I couldn't remember the last time I had a hangover this bad.I never wanted to drink again."Are you listening?""Yes.""Why do you sound like that? Did you go drinking?"How did she know these
No, not something. Their mother. She Uses one to control the other. I guess I found my first question. "Why do you let your mother control your life so much?"Lee's response was simple. "She's my mother.""But you're a grown adult.""You've met my mother. There's not much you can say against her. She's cruel, but she is caring. Even if she doesn't show it.""Is she the one who sent you away?"He nodded."Where did you go?" I asked slowly, unsure if my question crossed the line or not."An inpatient rehabilitation center in California. I've been there ever since the accident."I tried my best to swallow inaudibly."Your accident?"He tilted his head to the side and grimaced. "Well, I'm sure you know. An intended accident. I barely remember it, to be honest. I know I purposely wrecked the car, but after that, I don't know. I had a pretty bad concussion so they said there would be some memory loss. I was in the hospital and then shipped across the country to recuperate. And I haven't bee
Wilson's POVWhat. The. Hell.I stared out the window of the car, my heart racing. Georgia's words rang in my ears-I love you, I love you, I love you. Why did she say that? How could she say she loved me when she was the one who broke up with me?Why ask me to stay when a few hours earlier she'd told me to leave? Was I just supposed to go along with her mood swings? Whether it was her mother's doing or not, why did I have to be dragged along?My hands balled into fists. It wasn't fair to me. Bennett had said he made his choice. He made it pretty dang clear. I was confused enough as it was. I kept telling myself to pin it off as drunken babbling, but there was that part of me that wanted it to be true. A very stupid, pitiable part of me."Are you okay, Henley?" Henry asked quietly."I don't know," I said honestly. "I'm not sure if you've noticed but I'm not good at, you know, emotions.""Do you want to talk about it?"My lip twitched, breaking my temper. Henry was too good of a person.
Before I knew it I was gasping on the ground, the phone falling out of my hand. I couldn't find the strength to get up. The world was spinning and suddenly I felt nauseous. Closing my eyes, I rest my head against the foot of the stools. "I'm sorry, Wilson. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."Walter forced me off the ground, leading me over to one of the booths."Wait here. I called someone to pick you up.""Not my mother," I said, my blood going cold with dread."No, Georgia. I didn't call your mother."My muscles relaxed slightly. I was afraid if I tried to relax completely my body would slide back onto the floor. It vaguely registered that I was being embarrassing, but I didn't know how to stop. Like everything else in my life. How to stop my mom from controlling me. How to stop Lee from throwing his life away. How to stop Henley from leaving me.I wasn't aware I'd fallen asleep, but I jolted awake when I felt a small pair of hands shaking my shoulder. "Bennett? Wake up. I'm going to take you
Georgia's POVEmpty.That's how the house felt. Maybe it was how I felt too. Rain beat against the windowpanes, blurring my view of the outside world from where I stood in my living room. Droplets of rain fell from my hair and dropped onto the tiled floor, already muddy and marked from my shoes. I realized belatedly I'd forgotten to take them off.The windows reflected my white washed image but I could barely process it. All I could see was the image my mind kept replaying- of Wilson, tears in his eyes, walking away from me. Straight into Lee.I gasped, grabbing my chest as it clenched agonizingly. My body tensed, trying to fight the pain and waiting for it to pass. Spots blurred my vision and I staggered to the stairs, using the railing as support to pull myself up them and into my bathroom. Locating my strongest bottle of pain relievers, I dumped a couple into my hand, swallowing them down dry.What was Lee doing here? How was he here? Why didn't anyone tell me he was coming? Had I
The sound of a ringtone filled the car and Lee picked up an iPhone from the center console. "Hi, Henry. Yes, she's with me now. No, you don't have to come out to meet us- it's raining, stay inside. We'll be there soon.""Uh, where exactly are we going?" I asked when he hung up, feeling it was a question I should of asked before we started driving."To your place. Henry sent me the address."Again, I thought I should be a little dubious about Henry giving out my address to Lee, but Lee seemed like a safe enough person. And I trusted Henry. Lee couldn't be worse than the hobos, anyway. When we pulled up to my house, Henry was waiting outside on the porch, despite Lee saying not to."Are you that excited to see me?" Lee teased as we climbed up the steps together.Henry cleared his throat, turning his chin up. "It's been awhile.""It has," Lee agreed, shaking off his umbrella. "Still alive, I see."The joke fell short as the happy expression on Henry's face slid off, replaced by a serious
Wilson's POVLee Calloway.His form towered above me, a puzzled expression on his well-featured face. Maybe it wasn't right to think this now, but I couldn't believe how handsome he was. He was like some kind of model or Disney prince or something. He shared Bennett's dark hair and green eyes, but Lee's were contrasted by his pale skin. The word angel flitted to mind.This wasn't how I pictured him to look like, mainly because I pictured him in a coffin, but somehow it made sense that he looked like this. It just fit. Lee Calloway, the angel.Who wasn't dead."Are you okay?" he asked, his gaze lingering on my face.His question starled me and I quickly brushed some stray tears away, feeling embarrassed. Crying in front of strangers wasn't my thing. Especially not my whatever's older brother.Well, ex-whatever."Lee," Bennett said again, his voice sounding more frantic. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay? Does Mom know you're here? Are you okay?""One question at a time, Ben,
"How could she do this?" I whispered, staring at it, my heart beating like crazy in my chest. When had she bought this clothes? When had zhe planned on giving it to me?"What's wrong?" Brandon asked.Zipping the dress back up into the garment bag, I tossed off my apron. "I need to see her. I have to go. Arian, can you close up? Please?"She nodded, seeming bewildered. "Of course. Where are you going? To his house?""Yes." My whole body was trembling.This didn't make any sense. If he was going to end things with me, he wouldn't have bought this dress."Are you going to be okay alone?""I'll bring her."My eyes snapped to the door, where Henry stood, hair matted dovwn from the rain that had just started falling. He pushed his glasses up and gave me a nervous smile. "Hey, Henley.""Henry? What are you doing here?""I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to come see you," he apologized. "Mrs. Calloway made Bennett and I go to Hawaii last week. We just got back today.""Wait, what? You guys hav
Wilson's POVTurns out fighting for our relationship was easier said than done. No matter how hard I tried, I could not contact Georgia. She blocked my number. She blocked my work number. She refused to answer any calls from Solene's phone. When I stopped by her house, her car was never there. It was like he hadn't been home once since zhe'd decided to cut me out of her life, She was doing everything she could to avoid me. I had no doubt in my mind his mother was behind this- especially considering the fact Curtis had coincidentally decided to drop his lawsuit the same day Bennett disappeared. But that didn't mean I was only pissed at her. How could Bennett have given up on me so easily? Why didn't he even try to fight?Why couldn't he just tell me what happened? Why couldn't he have at least ended it face-to-face? There was so much I wanted to say to both of them. There was so much I wanted to say to him. but I just couldn't get to him. I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. Thi