Anagram

by Sienna Grant

  “Mom…seriously? Are you not putting two and two together here? After everything I’ve just said… I’ve explained everything and it’s not clear in your mind?”

  “You think it’s Margie?” She chuckles. “Oh, Reagan, your trust issues are so much more of a problem than I thought. Yes, I’ll admit the hair color and wardrobe change both threw me. You know, from the back, apart from her not being quite as tall as you, I actually thought she was you, but that sweet girl could not do that.”

  “Sweet? You don’t know her.”

  “But I know your brother is happy. He likes her. Please don’t ruin this for him.”

  “She told me she was meeting Hayden at lunchtime, but instead I found her at Everett’s office. Why would she lie about going to see Hayden? And what about me? What about her ruining things for me?”

  “Do you have any proof sweetheart? I know you said that Everett swore his innocence, but what if he’s lying? Have you thought about that?”

  I can’t help scoffing as I lean back against the wooden chair, hitting it hard. I shake my head at her, unable to believe what I’m hearing. “Yes, I have, a lot. Do you think I’m lying?”

  “No, sweetheart. If there’s one thing we taught you and your brother, it was to never lie.”

  “But I am now?” My voice raises, and I never raise my voice at my mom.

  “No. But you may have just misinterpreted things.”

  “Wow, you’ve met her, what, twice, and you’re ready to believe her over your daughter. Fine…” I nod vigorously, pushing my chair out and standing. “I was hoping you’d have my back on this, but obviously Hayden is the important one. Mark my words, she’s a psycho. I’ll find your proof.” I grab my cell, leaving my mom sitting with her mouth hanging open. I thunder through the hall and pick up my purse on the way out.

  Sixty-One

  Reagan

  Since leaving Mom’s the other day, all I’ve done is veg out. I’ve gotten up late, I’ve eaten junk food, and I’ve watched so many crappy TV shows. Today is no different. I never did meet up with Everett. I told him something had come up and to just give me space. He did as I asked, which I’m more than grateful for.

  I grab some of my favorite Ben & Jerry’s from the freezer and turn Netflix on. I’ve been binging the Gilmore Girls from the first season again. A bit of sarcasm, humor, and wit was what I needed to get over the argument I had with my mom. I’ve forgotten what it’s like to not be completely centered around work. I know I should be trying to fight for my innocence, but I honestly don’t have the energy. It’s been sapped out of me along with any passion I had.

  I’m lying on the couch in a mind-numbing ice cream induced coma when my cell phone rings. Rolling to my side, I peek over the edge and see it’s Hayden.

  I grab it off the floor and accept the call before holding it to my ear. “Hey.” I try to answer in a cheery tone, but I doubt it sounded that way.

  “What the fuck’s going on?” he asks, straight to the point.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t give me that, Reagan. You upset Mom. And after what she told me you said about my girlfriend, I’m not too happy either.”

  “She’s told you?” I feel my eyebrows raise.

  “Of course she did. Why are you so against us? I thought you’d be happy. You work with her.”

  “Hayden, there are things you don’t know. Please be patient with me and I’ll prove it. I promise.”

  “Why is it that when it doesn’t work in Reagan’s world, it doesn’t work for anyone? It’s always Reagan’s way or the fucking highway. It’s just one big drama after another!”

  “It’s not like that at all. I’m doing this for you…”

  “I doubt that. Look, I’m only going to say this once—don’t get involved. I really like Margie and there’s nothing you or anyone else can say to change my mind.”

  The beeps sound in my ear and I close my eyes. He’s not going to listen to reason, at least not until I have it in black and white, or I find a witness. Growling at the offending item in my hand and at my brother’s asshole attitude, I throw the phone to the other end of the couch.

  Pressing play, I go back to my show and try to forget about everything for a few hours.

  The telephone on the wall that is linked to the concierge desk rings. Frowning, I look between that and the television and sigh because I know I can’t ignore it. Dragging my lazy ass from the couch, I stumble to the front door, lean against the wall, and pick up the phone. “Hello.”

  “Ah, Ms. Quinn, you have a package downstairs.”

  “Does it say who it’s from?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “Okay. I’ll be down shortly.”

  I give myself a onceover, inspecting my current state of dress. I’m kind of decent…it’ll have to do. Slipping my feet into some sandals, I grab my door key and head out.

  Stepping out of the elevator and into the lobby, the concierge lifts his head and smiles.

  “Hey, how are you?”

  “I’m very good, Ms. Quinn? And yourself?” Burt is probably in his early fifties and has worked as a concierge for years, way before I lived here. He’s a lovely man with kind eyes and always makes you feel happy. I didn’t know just how much I needed Burt and his kind smile today.

  “Meh, things could be better…” Smiling anyway, I walk up to his desk. “Well, what did I get?”

  He pulls a long rectangular box from beneath the desk and places it on the counter. I slice along the clear tape and slowly open the lid. I’m a little apprehensive, since I haven’t ordered anything from Amazon or anywhere else, and I’m not sure what it could be. My stomach turns when I see a single red rose sitting in the box. I look around the lobby, but other than a couple of residents at the elevators, there’s no one else around. It’s been just minutes since Burt called to say I had a delivery. He says something but I can only hear the static going on in my head. My heartbeat speeds up and my mouth is dry. “Sorry, what was that?”

  “I said it’s very pretty.”

  “Yeah, um, did you see who delivered it, by any chance?”

  “Well, it wasn’t hand delivered, it was a courier, as far as I know. I was actually helping one of our residents at the time, so I told them to leave it on the desk and they left shortly after.”

  “Oh. Okay, no problem.” I nod, smiling, and take the box from the counter. “Thanks, Burt,” I say before walking away.

  “My pleasure, Ms. Quinn.”

  Pushing the button for the elevator, I shake my head. “Burt,” I sigh, “I’ve repeatedly asked you to call me Reagan.” I playfully raise an eyebrow at him, and he nods and holds up a hand. The doors slide open and I make my way back to my hideaway. That’s what it feels like today anyway.

  As soon as I’m inside, I drop my keys on the counter, closely followed by the box. I open the lid and lift the rose to my nose, inhaling it’s sweet scent. I’m torn as to whether to throw it away or not. My stomach is on edge, and I’m a tad unnerved. Unless it was Everett who sent it. But after the last bouquet of roses I received, he denied having anything to do with them, so I doubt he’d send just one.

  Grabbing my cell, I click on his name and call him. I wait patiently for the call to connect. When I hear his voice, it almost breaks me. After not hearing it for three days, I’m beginning to break myself. “Reagan.” The seductive tone he always uses when he speaks to me is gone and in its place is something much more subdued. “I’m so glad you called.”

  “Hey.”

  “How are you doing?”

  “Um, I’m okay.” Its total bullshit and I know Everett will see right through it. “How are you?”

  “I miss you.”

  Way to go with the guilt trip, Ev. Just go right for the jugular.

  “Um, just a quick question. I know this is a long shot, but did you send me a single rose? One was delivered to me at my apartment today.”

&nbs
p; “What? No. don’t move I’m coming over.”

  “Everett, no.” My plea goes unheard and the line goes dead. Pulling my cell away from my ear, I look at the screen before tossing it onto the counter.

  “Great. I look like a fucking mess!”

  Sixty-Two

  Everett

  Seeing her name flash up on my screen had my heart waking up from what seemed like a two-day hiatus. I’ve been a seriously grumpy asshole at work. Poor Joy hasn’t known what to do with me, so she just gives me one-word answers. There have been so many times I’ve wanted to call Reagan, or better still just go to her apartment and demand her see me, but I know how stubborn she is. I knew that wouldn’t work. I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who makes me feel like she does. I knew I had deep feelings for her before all this, but now I know I love her. There’s nothing or anyone that can tell me otherwise. I’ve ran every morning and night wanting to just forget the predicament that bitch put me in. Worst of all, Reagan seemed to believe her. I can’t not see her now. She’s made the first step, and even if it was to ask about a stupid rose, she called me. This is the second time she’s had roses sent to her and it has me rattled.

  Who the fuck is sending her flowers?

  I pull the door shut behind me and tell Joy I’ll be out for the rest of the day. I jump in my Mustang and head into rush hour traffic toward the middle of Manhattan and Reagan’s place.

  Once I’m parked, I jump into the elevator, ride it up to her floor, and jog across the hall to her apartment. Straightening my jacket, I knock on her door. The door opens almost immediately, and I’m met with Reagan’s sad blue eyes. She’s pale, her eyes are rimmed with red, and the skin underneath is dark. As sad as she looks, she doesn’t fail to wow me with her beauty.

  She stands aside and lets me in. “Hey. You didn’t have to come all this way, you know,” she says quietly. So low it’s almost a whisper.

  “I know that.” Stepping over the threshold, I close the door and walk further inside. She drops herself down on the couch and curls up. I have never seen Reagan so crestfallen. Her whole demeanor makes me think that she’s given up. I shrug out of my jacket and throw it over the breakfast bar. Undoing my cuffs, I roll my sleeves up to my elbows and crouch down by her side.

  With a softness I only seem to possess when she’s around, I push the hair out of her face.

  “Please don’t.” Her voice breaks and her eyes glaze over with tears, but she doesn’t take them from the television screen. Picking up the remote control from beside her, I turn the thing off; now she has to look at me.

  “Why won’t you look at me, Rae?”

  “Because I can’t. Because I know if I do, that’ll be it. I’ll break down.”

  Hearing that sends a small spark of life through me. “I want you to look at me.” Her chin wobbles. I can’t help but feel the slightest bit jubilant. I shouldn’t, but I do. “You know I didn’t do anything with Margie.” My voice is soft. It’s the only way I can get through her high wall of emotion. “I promise you. Nothing happened.”

  “How do I know that Ev?” she snaps, her eyes wide, flaring with emotion, and I know she’s in there somewhere. She stares at me for a second before sitting.

  “Have I ever lied to you, ever, about anything? Think about it, Rae.” She shrugs like she doesn’t care, but I know better. Moving to the couch, I sit down next to her and turn her to look me in the eye. She narrows her eyes at me, proving just how fucking stubborn she can be.

  “Reagan. There isn’t a woman in the world who can compare to you, and these last couple of days have proved that. I fucking love you, Reagan Quinn. And without you, I’m useless. I hardly slept. I run late at night because I have nothing else to do and working out is the only thing that makes me think about something other than you.”

  Her soft blue eyes meet mine and a tear slips down her cheek. Brushing it away with my thumb, I push my fingers into her hair and bring her closer to me. “I’m sorry if it made you doubt me,” I say against her closed lips before kissing her. God, I’ve missed her. I can taste her tears as they fall down her face. I push for more, and she doesn’t deny me. Her lips part and I push my tongue into her mouth, her tongue softly tangling with mine. She fists my shirt with her hands and pulls me closer before she slows it back down and pulls away.

  “Everett…” She sniffs and a shaky sigh leaves her lips. “I love you. I’ve never told anyone I love them. I didn’t want you to leave the other day, but I didn’t know how to stop you either. I was so hurt and wasn’t thinking straight…”

  “It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters now.”

  “But it does, Ev. So much has happened…so much is happening. I don’t know what went wrong. Where I went wrong.” Her eyes meet mine. “Why is this happening to me?”

  “I don’t know, baby. But I swear to you we’ll find out.” I pull her against my chest, tightening my arms around her perfect body as she fits against me like a jigsaw puzzle, our bodies aligning.

  This is right.

  This is exactly where she should be.

  Sixty-Three

  Reagan

  Is it weird that I feel content? For the first time in so long I feel like I belong somewhere, to someone. My dad was the only man to ever make me feel like I was special. I nestle my cheek into Everett’s chest while he holds me and promises we’ll get to the bottom of all this. I think I knew deep down that he hadn’t done anything, but I wouldn’t allow myself to believe him.

  He loves me.

  That’s the only thing I take away from all of this.

  There’s suddenly a loud banging on the front door.

  “Oh, for god’s sake. Do I have to move?”

  “Do you have an idea who it might be? Who’s on your concierge priority list?”

  “You and my family, that is it. I hope it’s not my brother, I can’t handle another fight with him.”

  “I can answer it if you want.”

  “Please,” I answer him, and begrudgingly sit up. A sigh leaves my lips as I watch that fine ass make its way to the door.

  “Ahh, you must be the very sexy Everett. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  Ruby! Damn, I completely forgot about her.

  Pushing up to my knees, I turn and lean over the back of the couch, watching as she nearly drools over him. “Ruby, put your tongue back in your mouth, for fuck’s sake. You’re leaving a puddle on my floor.”

  “Bitch.” She sticks her tongue out at me, walks past Everett, and comes to sit next to me on the couch.

  “Why don’t I leave you ladies to…gossip for a while,” Everett says with a knowing smile, looking between us.

  Bolting from the couch, I rush to him. “You don’t have to go…” Yes, I’m fucking eager.

  With his hands on my hips, he pulls me forward. “I know, but I came right from the office. I’ll go for a run, get changed, and come right back. How does that sound?”

  “If you really must.”

  “I really must,” he repeats, smirking. There’s my Everett. I fucking missed that smirk.

  “Fine, go.” I tease.

  Once he’s kissed me, he turns to leave and shouts to Ruby, “See ya soon, Ruby.”

  “Bye, Everett,” she calls back, throwing her hand up in a wave.

  When he’s gone, I go to the fridge and grab Ruby and I some soda before sitting back down on the couch.

  “I’m surprised he came anywhere near you. You need to go shower, girl. What the hell is this look anyway?”

  I give her a fake smile and wave a hand over myself. “This is the ‘argued with everyone you love and got suspended from my job’ look. Do you like it?”

  Ruby’s nose screws up and I roll my eyes at her disapproving look. She’s right, though, I do look pretty bad. I don’t think my hair has had a brush run through it in two days. The only hygiene I’ve really kept up with is brushing my teeth. I’m such a dirty bitch.

  “Shut
up,” I say with a grin. “You sure do know how to time your visits though.”

  “I take it you two are back on,” she says, nudging me with her elbow.

  “Yep.”

  “I’m glad.” Ruby smiles. “I’m really happy you’re giving him another chance.”

  “I love him.”

  “No shit.” She jokes, winking, but something’s wrong. There’s something behind her eyes and I’m not sure I want to know what it is.

  “What’s wrong, Ruby?”

  “I have something for you.” She sighs softly. “Remember when I said there was something about Margie that wasn’t sitting right with me and that I’d try to find out what it is? Well, guess what, I found out.”

  That has my heart rate spiking. “Tell me.” I turn fully toward her and give Ruby my full attention.

  She plucks her cell from her bag and scrolls through her cameral roll until she finds the picture she’s looking for and passes it to me. “Do you remember her?”

  I frown. “Am I supposed to?”

  “She doesn’t look familiar?”

  “I feel like she should, but…no,” I say, shaking my head.

  She takes her cell back and she scrolls again, looking for another picture. When she finds the one that she wants, she zooms in, making the girl’s face bigger. “This one is more recent one, taken only a year ago. She hasn’t been on Facebook since.” Looking a little closer, I still don’t recognize who Ruby’s trying to show me. “But she does have another profile which was made six months ago.”

  “Ruby, who is this? What does she have to do with anything?”

  “This is a profile picture of Margana Campbell.

  “Oh my god. Luis?”

  “That’s the one. You ready for more?”

  “Go for it.”

  She turns her hand away to find the new profile and I grab my Pepsi from the table and take a big gulp. Ruby turns the cell phone back to me and the picture on the screen almost has me spitting my soda all over her device. Slapping a hand across my mouth, I manage to swallow it before shifting my stunned gaze from the picture back to Ruby. “What the fuck?”