Business as Usual (Off The Subject) (22 page)

My phone rings as I’m making myself a sandwich. I answer on the second ring, relieved to see that it’s Scarlett.

“Hey, Scarlett. How’s Caroline really?”

“She’s a mess. She went to classes today, but she’s barely functioning.”

“Reed’s not cheating on her,” I say, hoping my words are emphatic enough to convince her. “I know it.”

Scarlett sighs. “Lexi, I know you mean well, but your insistence isn’t helping Caroline. So unless you have actual proof, please let it go for now.”

I do have proof—Reed’s word—but I know that won’t mean anything to Scarlett. And I can’t tell her about Ms. Pembry’s real identity. It would only lead to questions I can’t answer right now.

“I was going to call to give you a warning,” Scarlett says, an edge to her voice. “Tina went nuts when she came in to work today.”

She pauses and my stomach knots. “What did she do?”

“She knew that Reed and Caroline were on a break, although I’m not sure how she found out. In any case, she told Reed she was sorry she let him go after one date—as though he would have gone out with her again anyway,” she says in disgust. “He only went out with her that once because he was upset that Caroline wouldn’t date him.”

Her words only make me sadder.

“She told him about your charity auction and how you want to include someone from each department. She said she was going to suggest Ben until she heard that Reed was single again. She made some very rude and inappropriate statements. Reed warned her to stop or he’d file sexual harassment charges against her.”

“Oh no.”

“Tina seems determined to commit academic suicide lately, but I still wasn’t prepared for what happened today. She said something else disgusting and Reed fired her. Ben and I spent the next hour giving statements to human resources to back up Reed’s claim that he was harassed.”

I hesitate. “Did she say anything else? Anything about me?” I worry about piquing her curiosity, but I’ll be sick with worry if I don’t find out.

“No…wait, she did. Tina said she had some juicy gossip about you, but Reed said he wasn’t interested.” She pauses. “What does she know about you?”

Crap. “She saw me out at a bar getting drunk on Friday night,” I say. “She probably wanted to tattle on me.”

“Be careful, Lexi.” Scarlett’s voice lowers to a whisper. “I know you want to break free of Reed’s overprotection, but don’t swing too far the other way.”

Scarlett would freak out if she knew I was out with Tina that night. I know Caroline would. But Tina seems to have kept my secret. For now. I suspect she will use it to her advantage somehow. How could I not foresee this? Especially since Tina didn’t get what she wanted. “I won’t, Scarlett. I was just being a college student. Caroline is always saying she wants me to have the full experience. Getting drunk and partying is part of it.” Little does she know that I spent Friday night doing everything in my power to
avoid
getting drunk.

“We’re still your friends, you know,” Scarlett says softly. “Caroline misses you.”

My throat burns. “I miss her too.” I swallow the lump that’s become lodged in my throat. “Say, do you happen to know Ben’s math lab schedule? Or maybe his phone number?”

She’s silent for a moment. “Why do you ask?”

I take a deep breath, hoping I sound convincing. “Tina was right about the charity auction. I want to ask Ben if he’s willing to participate.”

She goes quiet again. “I’m not sure that’s his kind of thing.”

“You never know.” I try to sound cheerful. “He might be willing to do it since it’s for a good cause.” I stop myself from telling her that he seemed interested in the expansions to the charity’s summer program when I told him about it at the bar.

“Don’t get your hopes up. Ben doesn’t seem the joiner type and he’s pretty busy with all his jobs.”

“We’ll see.”

She laughs. “You don’t like hearing no, do you? I don’t have his phone number, but I can tell you his work schedule. He works Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from two to five-thirty. And Tuesdays from ten to noon.”

“Thanks, Scarlet.”

Now that I have his schedule, I just need to figure out a time when Reed won’t be there. Tomorrow morning will be my first opportunity.

But after class the next day, my advisor sends me a short e-mail saying that he needs to see me right away. I’m nervous when I show up at his door. Am I in trouble?

“You want to see me, Dr. Tyree?” He looks up and smiles and I let myself relax.

“Yes, I have some great news. We almost have enough funding to start accepting applications for courses from instructors. And this has all happened in less than a month. Great work, Lexi.”

My face stretches into a grin. “Thank you.”

We discuss more logistics of the program—the actual applications process for both the instructors and the students. When we finish, I promise to drop by the charity to tell the director the great news.

When I leave his office, I realize it’s after noon. I’ve probably missed Ben, but I decide to stop by the math lab anyway in case he’s running late. He’s not there when I show up, but Reed is in his office, staring at the wall.

“Reed?”

He blinks before turning to look at me. “Oh, Lexi.” He offers a smile, but it’s forced. “What are you doing here?”

I sit in the chair across from him. “Checking on you.” I feel badly about lying, but seeing him like this has me worried.

He sighs and leans back in his chair. “I wanted to talk to you anyway. I’ve set up a document that will take effect if something happens that prevents me from staying with you.”

Fear stabs my chest. “Reed, stop talking like that.”

He turns to look at me. “I’ve set it up so that my trust fund will continue to pay for your education and the apartment until yours kicks in at twenty-one. In case Mom and Dad decide to pull rank and make you come back home.”

I swallow a sob.

“I’m sure Caroline will come to stay with you. If not…” His voice fades.

I drop to my knees in front of him and grab his hand. “Reed, whatever you’re doing. Stop. I need
you
, do you hear me?
I need you
.”

He shakes his head. “It’s too late.”

One of the tutors I don’t know stands in the door. “Reed, I need to ask you about that tablet you ordered.”

Reed stands and pulls me to my feet. “Go to class and then head home. I don’t think I’m going to be back tonight.” Then he walks out of his office, leaving me in a state of shock.

Since Reed is one of the most level-headed guys I know, I had hoped he would come to his senses, but I should have known better. He won’t stop until he’s sure I’m safe. I have to do something.

If Reed won’t listen to me, maybe he’ll listen to Uncle Robert. Reed has always been close to our uncle, but the two grew even closer when my brother disappointed my parents by announcing he intended to teach college math instead of joining the family business. Uncle Robert could relate all too well; he had forsaken his birthright, handing the CEO position of Monroe Industries to our father so he could pursue his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer. If anyone can talk sense into my brother, it’s Uncle Robert. The only problem is getting ahold of him. He’s often out of the country for his job.

As I walk out of the building, I pull out my cell phone and pull up his number. I nearly cry with relief when he answers.

“Hey, Lexi,” he says, sounding cheerful. “How’s my favorite niece?”

In most cases, this would be an oxymoron, but my father and Uncle Robert have a sister with two daughters. “You know you’re not supposed to say things like that, Uncle Robert,” I tease.

“Why not? The truth will set you free, Alexa. Now what’s got you so down?”

I can’t help but smile. “How’d you know?”

“I know you, girl, you and that rapscallion brother of yours.”

“He’s what’s got me down, actually. I’m hoping you can help.”

He pauses and sounds more serious. “What’s going on?”

I tell him everything… I know Reed will be furious, but at this point I really have nothing to lose. “I’m hoping maybe you can talk to him,” I say through my tears. “I can’t let him ruin his life this way.”

He releases a heavy exhale. “I’ll call him, Lexi, but you and I both know that once your brother makes up his mind about something, there’s little chance of changing it.”

“But you have to try.
Please
, Uncle Robert,” I beg.

“I’ll do better than call him. I’ll come see him.”

My tears fall down my cheeks. “I don’t think he’ll be here. He said he didn’t think he was coming home tonight.”

“Where’s he going?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’ll try to get to the bottom of this. I’ll let you know as soon as I find anything out.”

“Thank you,” I say before I hang up. Though I’m still worried—desperately so—I feel as if a giant weight has been lifted from my shoulders. At least someone else knows, at least someone else is trying to fix this mess.

The rest of the day is a blur. So many people are suffering because of me and I don’t know how to fix any of it.

The apartment is lonely and I make sure the alarm is set. Reed’s paranoia has seeped into my psyche since he told me Todd Millhouse is trying to locate me. What will I do if he finds me? How will I defend myself?

When I finally go to bed, I still haven’t heard from Uncle Robert. I’m tempted to call him, but I know he’ll be in touch as soon as he can. I need to be patient, difficult though it is. I feel like I need to do something else—anything—but I’m at a loss.

I try to get some sleep, but I toss and turn for hours. With everything weighing on my mind, one person rises to the top.

Ben.

I want to see him. Does he think I changed my mind? Did he change his? My world is crashing down around me, but he’s all I can think about.

I think about our kiss on the dance floor and the way he brought me home. I want to kiss him again. I want to tell him who I really am and, amazingly enough, I’m tempted to seek out his help. Maybe it’s because he went out of his way to help me last weekend, or maybe it’s because I know he’s interested in me, but I’m sure he’ll help even though we haven’t known each other for long. But if I ask him for help, I’ll have to share everything. There’s no way I can do that, is there?

I glance at the clock on the bedside table. One-thirty. Ben’s probably just about to get off work at the bar.

I want to go see him.

It’s crazy, and I know it. It’s one-thirty on a Wednesday morning, and Reed told me to stay at the apartment. I
cannot
do this. Yet I’m climbing out of bed anyway.

I go into the bathroom and look in the mirror. My blonde hair is a mess from rolling my head around on my pillow and my face is free of makeup. I can’t go to him looking like this.

I can’t go to him at all. The last thing I should do is involve anyone else in this mess that my life has become.

Grabbing the counter, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Maybe what I felt with him was in my imagination. What better way to find out than to go see him?

It’s not safe, I remind myself. Disappointment settles in my chest, stealing my breath, but some rebellious part of me rises up. Yeah, a crazy asshole
might
be in Hillsdale, but he’s probably not. And a million other awful things might happen that I have absolutely zero ability to control. I might get hit by lightning. Or a car. Or drop dead of a heart attack.

I’m tired of hiding, of letting my life be defined by this apartment.

I take a breath as excitement ignites in my stomach. I’m doing this. I’m really going to sneak out in the middle of the night to see Ben. But I need to be as safe about it as possible. I’ll wear my wig, which will give me some protection and keep Ben from going into instant shock.

It takes me twenty-five minutes to get ready and five of those minutes are spent trying to figure out what to wear. I settle on a pair of jeans and an ivory sweater since it’s cold outside. I stare at myself in the mirror. I look like me, but not. More exotic and less girl next door. What if Ben doesn’t like the real me? What if he prefers Alexa and the wig?

There’s only one way to find out.

Ben

I’m exhausted as I walk out the back door of the bar. Uncle Tony still hasn’t replaced the second weeknight bartender. He’s been staying past his day shift into the evening to help, but after seven, it’s just me and the dishwasher and the part-time cook. Thankfully, there weren’t many late-night customers tonight, so I started to close the place early. But now it’s ten minutes after two and all I can think about is my bed. The cold air jars me awake as I briskly walk the block home. My gaze is on the ground as I start up the steps to my apartment, but something draws my eyes up. I stop mid-step.

Alexa is standing at the top of the stairs.

She doesn’t say anything as I climb toward her, and I take slow steps in case she’s a mirage and will disappear as soon as I reach her. Her hands are stuffed in her coat pockets and she twists them as she watches me climb. She’s nervous.

When I reach her, I’m not sure what to do. I know what I want to do. I want to take her in my arms and kiss her. But I can’t ignore the fact that I haven’t seen her since Saturday morning. I need to wait and find out why she’s here. It’s two o’clock in the fucking morning. Not a normal time to show up on someone’s doorstep.

She looks up and fear and longing alternate in her eyes. Fear. Why is she scared?

“Alexa? What’s wrong?”

She shakes her head and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling my body against hers. She looks into my eyes before her eyelids sink closed and she presses her mouth to mine. She’s tentative, as though she wonders if I want this too.

My exhaustion vanishes and I’m caught by surprise, but it doesn’t take my body more than half a second to catch up. I pull her close as I take over the kiss, telling myself to slow down before I scare her. But telling myself to slow down is like using a garden hose to put out a raging inferno.