Breathe

  My friends and family are starting to gather in the apartment. My intimate dinner with Miles and Briar has now turned into a full-out dinner party with all my closest friends and my entire family.

  Except for Linc.

  “Sis, we're out of beer already,” Landon shouts to me from the living room.

  “Get off your lazy ass and go get some more then.”

  As he prepares to sass back a reply. Briar appears in the doorway with two cases of the fancy beer my brothers like. Landon leaps up from the couch, runs to her, and takes the cases out of her hands.

  “Princess. I've never been happier to see you.” He pecks her on the lips making her blush.

  “Hey,” Miles shouts from the living room. “Quit kissing on my girl, asshole.”

  “Just giving her my appreciation, bro.” Landon walks into the kitchen and unloads the beer into the fridge.

  Briar heads into the living room and plops down beside Miles. He pulls her into him, kisses her on the forehead and resumes watching some sports crap on TV. I notice Landon watching the whole thing happen. He winces when Miles kisses her.

  Hmmm...

  I walk into the kitchen. “Hey Landon. What's up?”

  “Nothing. Why do you ask?” He pops the cap on a beer and takes a swig.

  I sit on a stool across the bar from him. “Oh, I don't know. You just seem to be bothered by Miles kissing his girlfriend. That's all.”

  “Nope. You think wrong. I don't give a fuck what he does or doesn't do to his girlfriend.”

  I nod. “Okay.” I stop and stare at him as he hones in his glare on our brother. “Is there something going on with you and Briar again?”

  He sighs. “Gracie. There hasn’t been a time when there isn't something going on with us.” He shifts his eyes to me. “We talked the other night. Things were said that can't be taken back.” He shakes his head. “And frankly, I don't want to take them back. I hope she doesn't either.”

  “What did you say to her?”

  “The truth. That I still love her.”

  “Oh, Landon.” I reach across the counter and pat his arm. “What did she say back?”

  Before he could answer, all hell breaks loose in the apartment.

  Duritz runs towards me, chased by toddler Lily. Miles angrily stands, dumping Briar onto the floor, and is yelling at the TV over something stupid, I’m sure. Briar jumps up and moves towards the stairs to the second floor. Landon conveniently follows close behind her. I look over and see Daddy kissing Amy in the corner of the dining room. Melanie is scolding Finn for breaking a picture frame. Rory is screaming into her phone and jumping up and down. Olive is surprisingly doing nothing but laughing at Miles’ fight with the TV.

  As I stare at the chaos happening around me, I hear the front door burst open. Thinking that it's Linc, I sprint towards it. Not paying much attention I run right into a panicked Brody.

  “God, Grace. Are you okay?”

  I giggle. “Yeah. I'm fine. I just thought you were Linc. What's up?”

  “Uh. There’s something you should see. Is Miles here?”

  “Yes. He's in the living room.” I turn and he follows me.

  “Miles!” I scream at him.

  He mutes the TV.

  “Yeah.”

  “Brody has to show you something.”

  He throws the remote on the couch and comes to us.

  “Can we go somewhere away from all this?” He motions to the manic happening around us.

  “Let's go into my room.”

  They follow me and we all settle around the little table in my bedroom.

  Brody pulls up something on his phone and hands it off to Miles.

  “Shit!” Miles spats out. “How did this get by us?”

  “No idea. Linc had me put an alert on anything that mentions Grace and this just came up about thirty minutes ago,” Brody answers.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  “We need to get this taken down,” Miles demands

  Brody nods. “Agreed. What's the quickest way to do that?”

  “What’s going on?” I ask again.

  “I'll call one of my contacts and see if we can't find the asshole that put it up there,” Miles comments.

  “What's up there?” I ask a third time.

  “And we'll find the asshole that wrote it and get more info.”

  “Who are you talking about and what did they do?” I'm yelling now.

  “I'll call Linc and see if he knows anything about this yet. He'll want to know,” Brody adds. “Give me an hour and we'll be in touch.”

  “Sure.”

  Breathing is hard at the moment. I can’t quite catch it.

  I gather all the strength I have and stand to my full height, which isn’t much. “WAIT!”

  They both stop and look at me.

  “I need to know what is going on here. It obviously has to do with me and I'd like to know what it is.”

  Miles sighs and hands over Brody's phone. I look at the screen and gasp. Covering my mouth with my free hand and shaking my head violently back and forth, I fight with all my might not to throw this phone across the Goddamn room.

  I shove the phone back into Brody's hand and fall to my knees. Before I hit the ground, Miles grabs me and pulls my body into his lap on the floor. Rocking back and forth to calm me.

  “It's okay, Gracie. We'll take care of this.” He kisses my nose. “We always do.”

  “I'll go get started,” Brody says as he leaves the room.

  “I can't believe he would do something like this.”

  “I can. Patrick has been doing some nasty shit lately. We've just kept it from you. But don't worry, he'll get his for this.”

  “I hope he does. I really do.” I look up at my brother. “I've been trying to protect him from you guys because I thought deep down that he was still the old Patrick. This new Patrick is a real piece of work. This is what I get for giving years of my life to him. An entire article, with pictures, online about our relationship. He's made me look like a damn adulterer.” Tears are streaming down my face like rivers as I yell. “I never cheated. I never even flirted with anyone the entire time we were together. I gave him everything I had to give. And this is what I get? A smutty article about me acting provocative, flirty, slutty. I'm tired. He's stealing my life and I want it back. You do what you have to do to him. I don't care anymore.”

  “You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that.”

  All of a sudden Landon and Parker burst into the room like the place is on fire.

  “Why the fuck is he still doing this kind of crap to her?” Landon yells.

  Parker adds, “It's one thing to say shit to our circles. It's another to say it to a gossip website. And one that has been so demeaning and cruel to her already.”

  “Guys, calm down. This is not helping.” Miles demands of the boys.

  “Sorry, Gracie,” Landon pouts as he bends and sits in the chair next to where we're sitting on the floor.

  “So, what's the plan? What can I do?” Parker asks.

  “Brody is getting things started right now with some of his people. And he'll fill in Linc as well. We need to get on the phone with Billy from that smut website and ask him how the hell this happened. We pay him an awful lot of damn money to monitor this kind of thing for us.”

  Landon chimes in. “Then we go after the douche-bag next, right?”

  “Right,” Miles confirms sternly.

  “He's done too much to this family in the past few months. This stops now. I'll call Billy, Parker pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts dialing. “Landon go fill in dad. He needs to know what's going on, too.” Landon nods, rises from his seat, kisses me on the nose and leaves the room to go talk to Daddy.

  “We've got this, Gracie.” He places his cheek on the top of my head. “We're going to end this today.”

  I climb off Miles’ lap and lay on the sofa.

  I'M IN MY BED WITH Duritz by my side. Blinking a few times,
I adjust my eyes to the outside world. I'm facing the window so I stare out it, thinking it may have some answers for me. The sky is just turning gray from black, lit only by the street lamps below. I don't think it will be telling me any answers right now.

  It's five o'clock in the morning. I can't believe how long I slept. Stirring in the bed behind me causes me to roll over really quick. I pull the covers back a bit to reveal a beautiful head of dirty blonde hair.

  “Put the covers back, Gracie,” Rafe mumbles.

  “No way. If I'm up this early, you're up this early.”

  “I really hate being your friend.”

  I smile, lean over and kiss him on the cheek. He grabs me around the waist and rolls onto his back forcing me to lay on his stomach.

  “As your punishment, you will need to smell my morning breath.” He inhales deeply and blows his stinky ass breath in my face.

  I squirm and fight to get away from him, but it's no use. I give in and let him have his five-year-old moment. Once he's tired out, I roll away from him.

  “Fine. You stay in bed. I'm going to get moving and see if I can help the boys out today.”

  I head into the bathroom and take a long, hot shower. After dressing in the most comfortable yoga pants and off-the-shoulder sweatshirt I stroll into the kitchen and make myself a mug of hot tea.

  Entering the living room, I notice the remnants of the gathering last night. It looks as though I had a raging kegger here, minus the frat boys passed out on the floor. Slumping down into the couch I find my phone between the cushions. I notice a few missed call and texts. I go straight to the texts. I scroll through anxious to read a message from Linc.

  Nothing.

  No text. No missed call. No voicemail.

  Nothing.

  What. The. Hell!

  Miles was going to call him, so he sure as shit knows about what Patrick did. Why hasn't he called? He should have reached out to me by now.

  As I stare at the screen of my phone, it rings.

  Boo. It's only Miles.

  “Good morning, Gracie.”

  “Tell me you know where he is.”

  “Well...”

  “Just spit it out.” This round about game that the brothers have been playing on me lately is driving me crazy.

  Big brother sighs into the phone. “He's in Boston.”

  “Boston,” I repeat. “What is he doing in Boston? Work? Why wouldn’t he tell me if it was for work?”

  “I haven't found that out yet.” He takes a pregnant pause. “All I know is that he's been there since the night you left, or almost left. He's been staying at the Four Seasons. Kennedy might be with him, or at least he was the first day he was there. Maybe they’re just hanging out for a few days.”

  “Then why hasn't he contacted me? I've texted, called...” Not being able to control my emotions, I begin to cry.

  “I'm not sure, Gracie. I'm still trying to find out more for you. You're going to have to relax and let me take care of it.” He sighs again. “I don't know what's going on with him, but I sure as hell am going to find out. Let me make some more calls.”

  I nod even though I know he can't see me.

  “I'll fix this. I promise.”

  “Okay. I love you, Miles.”

  “Love you too, Gracie.”

  I’m losing breath.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  It’s been three days since I’ve had any contact from Linc. Three fucking, annoying as hell, days.

  Yep. I'm pissed.

  I have no idea if he's still in Boston. I've talked to Hayes, but that twit doesn't know anything about anything. I called his mother yesterday. She knows something but is trying really hard to not give it away to me. She does encourage me to keep calling him though. Miles has had leads but comes up short every time. It’s become quite apparent that Linc doesn't want me to know where he is or why he's gone.

  Well, guess what? I don't want to find him anymore. I can't sit around like this. I guess I finally know what I really mean to him. Just because I needed a few days away he punishes me like this?

  He can stay wherever he is. I don't need this.

  Ugh. I do need him, though.

  This was hell. Worse than ending it with Patrick.

  Fuck Patrick.

  Although, if he wouldn't have ended things with me, Miles would have never had that party in Jersey. I would have never met Linc. I would have never gone on that amazing date that kick-started this entire relationship. I would have never needed a break. I would have never left for the Hamptons. I would have never fallen in love with this man that clearly does not feel that way for me anymore. How can he just fall out of love with me this quickly?

  Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

  Ugh. Why must my inner rantings always get interrupted by the door. I'll just let Amy get it.

  Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

  Ugh. Maybe Amy's not home

  Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

  Fine. I'll get it. I pad from my bedroom over to the intercom.

  “Yes.”

  “Miss Stratton. You have a package at the reception desk. Would you like me to bring it up for you?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Two minutes later Jack arrives with a manila envelope.

  “Thank you, Jack.”

  “My pleasure as always, Miss Stratton.” He tips his hat and turns to the elevators as I shut the door.

  Fingering the envelope, I take it to the couch and pop a squat on the short end. It reads Grace on the front. My address does not adorn it. A return address does not appear in the upper corner. Whoever sent this had it hand delivered. I take a deep breath, flip the envelope over and slide my finger under the flap to release it. I reach in and pull out the contents.

  Holy shit!

  These can't be real. Where did these come from?

  This one is of me. This one is of me getting into the SUV leaving for the Hamptons. This one is of me getting out of the car after we turned around and came back. This one is of me standing next to Thomas on the balcony of the apartment. This one is of me with Thomas running in Central Park. This one is of me having breakfast with Rafe this morning. Then there are some of Linc. The one that catches my eye is Linc with a long-haired brunette.

  A note on a half sheet of paper slips out from between the pictures.

  I've been keeping an eye on you.

  Lincoln is clearly not doing right by you.

  Ask him about Rebecca.

  This information is very important for you to know.

  I will not let you be taken advantage of this way.

  You can trust me.

  Letting everything drop to the floor, I run to the bedroom to grab my cell.

  “Hey, Gracie.”

  “Miles, I need you. They sent pictures. Recent pictures and a note.”

  “What? What pictures? Who sent you pictures?”

  “I don't know. But they were taken within the last three days.”

  “Fuck. I'll be there in twenty.” He hangs up before I can respond.

  What is happening?

  This is definitely not helping me get back control of my own life.

  This is getting real. Too real.

  “COME ON GRACIE, JUST one...or maybe two.”

  “Not tonight, Rafe. I don't feel like going out.”

  “Boo! You whore.”

  Of course, I giggle at the movie reference.

  “If you think that sitting at home waiting for that jackass to call or even come home at all, is good for you, then fine. Be that girl who sits around waiting like a pathetic teenager.”

  “Don't you dare judge me! I don't know where he is or what he's doing or who he's with.” I know I swore I wasn't going to be this girl, but I need answers from him.

  “Exactly. You don't know anything. Sitting in your apartment stewing about it isn't going to make it any better or any easier. Let me take you out and then we'll go back to your place and have a sleepover. 'Kay?”

  How can I resist a Ra
fe sleepover? “Okay.”

  “Great. Be ready in thirty minutes. Love you.”

  “Thirty minutes.” I agree.

  After throwing the phone on the bed I slowly walk into my closet to get ready for a night out with the bestie. I really could use a fantastic night out. I mean, the guy really knows how to have a good time. And with Amy and Asher staying at Daddy's tonight, I don’t want to be alone in this apartment.

  Precisely thirty minutes later, Rafe is in my living room sizing up my chosen outfit for the evening. His eyes are wide as he stares at me.

  “What? Is it not good?” I ask.

  “Um, no. It's great. I mean, It's the hottest outfit I think I've ever seen you in. Are you sure you want to look that sexy tonight?”

  I look down at my outfit. The black skinny motorcycle jeans are tight, but not too tight that the bits can't breathe. I placed a sleeveless camel colored sequence jersey tube top underneath a black leather jacket. My feet are covered with my favorite nude round toe pumps. I swept my hair into a loose, low and messy ponytail.

  “So, your saying it's too much?”

  “Nope. Just want to make sure you want to look that good when Linc’s not around to help me beat off all the dudes. That's all.”

  I shimmy over to him. “I'm not worried. You shouldn't be either.” I grab his hand. “Let's go. I don't want to hang out in here.”

  I pull him out the door and into the waiting car.

  TWO CLUBS AND MANY, many Cosmos later, we end up standing in front of Mercury. By standing, I mean I’m leaning on Rafe for stability. I'm not sure why I wanted to come here. Maybe to be connected to Linc somehow. He's been in the back of my mind all night. Men have approached me and I've flirted but not enough to let them pursue anything. Rafe has been the best cock-block ushering me away when needed. He's the best. Thomas has been around to keep an eye, too.

  Fuck Linc. Fuck Patrick. Fuck all guys, straight guys that is. I'll keep the gays. They know how to dress and have a good time.

  We go right in, not having to wait in the line. It helps to know the people that work for your boyfriend.

  Ugh. My boyfriend...if that's what he still is to me.

  I pull Rafe straight to the bar where I see Trish masterfully mixing several drinks at one time. God, she’s hot. If I were a lipstick I would be all over those lips.