pte

it

as the elevator door slid open t

rk hours. I never knew when she'd

ng on the vintage hardwood flooring, making a hollow

oice. Maybe Joy was home after all. Maybe she

sted from my business trip to Paris. I left the open suitcase by the fireplace in

Bran wanting to do his own stuff, the responsibility of meeting out-

e many hours I was spending at airports all

what. I'd been told it was due to the atmosphere inside th

nly person who really knew me, the only person I could really talk to. When sh

on my face. I thought about how Joy would reac

wn home early. Now I had a few days free so I could spend some time with Joy and maybe relax a

nding on the second floor of our apartm

sunlight escaped from the bedroom. I couldn't see insi

learly moaning-a sound I had always found

having a little solo fun with the vibrator I'd gotten her for Valentine's Day, but even

m door. My whole body felt cold. I wasn't ready to see what I knew

d the d

she was going to sprain her neck. Her eyes widened. She was as naked as the

body. Anger coursed through my veins. Blood rushed i

be her mouth was just hanging open fr

as a million furious thoughts th

tall stature and lean body, moderately muscular from regular swimming, often intimidate people. But I

s just leaving." I looked Joy in the eye. "Sandra will call you t

out of bed and fumble around to find her clo

st a few days. As I pulled it toward the elevator, I realized I was still holding the fucking Hermes hand

rned handbag. Hell, she wouldn't even ta

eather all curled, peeled, and blackened. The mental picture made the corners of my lips curl up, even

rush down the stairs a

wait!" Sh

st thing I ever

way from my memory. I pressed the

peakers, as crisp and clear as if he were si

We're not the kind of siblings who stay in touch every

n me to keep up with the family news. Bran and Pop are technically speakin

nship with Emily. Pop has softened a little since then-he even flew all the w

of their arguments, I'm happy to keep Bran u

the hospital to

al? I thought it was just

was a particu

he gonna

e's old, Bran. Ol

think of him as so

ht wind of your devious plan before

cisco when the conflict between Pop and Bran blew up. Pop for

Bran had worked hard to build the comp

had taken quite a big chunk of money out of the company's

l. Besides, Pop wasn't innocent either in the whole thi

e his smugness at having pulled a fast one on Pop, maybe they could get along, but I do

lem. I just made them do all the tests on h

t te

eal that makes everybody happy, but I don't know anything about medicine. I literally just told the doct

doesn't fully understand what I'm doing. That's fine,

arking lot now. I'll call you if

Thanks, Smi

nother button on the st

hinking about that day I learned my live-in girlfriend was a l

l I didn't have any time left to grieve. It still took me about a year

nside that apartment again. I hired a realtor-Joy's biggest rival-and sold it at a loss. The

ad toward the hospital entrance. Besides checking on Pop,

t n

y minx of

ut lets out delicious little gasps whenever I get too close. The one who says with her mou

ut I can see from the lust in her gaze that she w

distraction, but I keep finding myself zoning out du

those perky tits... But most of all, the way she responds to my slightest touch. I

tal, for fuck's sake. Do I really want a bunch of medic

r . The only person I've ever felt thi

my subconscious is telling me to be careful, warning me somethi

he could slip one by me. Besides, she's practically transparent; all her emotions immedia

and smarter now.

into my bed,