CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I’m still dragging from a night of fitful sleep after leaving Anthony’s when I hear a chime that disorients me. It’s not my phone. It’s not the radio playing low in the kitchen where I’m making my breakfast and giving Jasper his.
Is it Gavin’s doorbell? I’ve never heard it before. Normally the doorman just alerts me through the intercom when Gavin has a delivery.
I take stock of my pitted-out gray T-shirt and running shorts, my messy morning hair in a hasty ponytail. It would be just my luck for the delivery guy to be cute.
I open the door and a cloud of fragrance and swirling blonde hair swoops in before I have a chance to say hello.
“Where’s Gavin?” The woman’s stilettos clack on the marble tile in the entry as she advances into the apartment like she owns the place. “And who are you?”
My mouth hangs open and I’m struggling to form a complete sentence. How did she get in? The only people who can come directly to Gavin’s door are on a list. Is she on the list?
She towers over me, wearing an emerald green halter dress cut so low that it shows side-boob from every angle.
Yikes.
“Gavin’s not here at the moment, Miss—?” I wait for her to introduce herself and she purses her lips impatiently.
“You don’t know who I am?”
I shake my head, but she does look familiar. Too familiar. I realize where I’ve seen her before: in pictures with Gavin. I think she’s the model Spin noted was one of his regular dates. “S-sorry,” I stutter. “We haven’t been introduced. I’m Beryl. Gavin’s house sitter.”
Her brow arches as she inspects me like gum she’s just discovered on the bottom of her Louboutins. “Maya Shaw.” She says this like I should know it already and she doesn’t extend a hand to shake, as if I have a disease: ordinariness. “So where’s Gavin? Did Tattoo Thief go to Europe or something?”
“No, ah, Gavin’s taking a break for a while.” I follow Maya toward the living room and she paces like a detective at a crime scene. “He’s in Africa.”
Maya hoots, an unsophisticated sound from such a polished creature. “Africa. That’s rich. What’s he doing, feeding starving children?” I can tell from her sneer that humanitarian aid is beneath her.
I shake my head and don’t want to admit more. Even though Gavin’s gone dark, even though he probably doesn’t want to talk to me again after our last chat, I feel a deep allegiance to protect him. He needs me. “Were you expecting to see him?”
“Just dropping by for a little fun.” She winks at me and I realize she means sex. “I’ve been shooting in Fiji and Thailand and just got back.”
Jasper trots into the room to give Maya a sniff. She shoves him away with her pointy shoe so hard that he squeaks in pain or surprise. “What the fuck is Lulu’s dog still doing here? I thought that trash moved in with her dealer. Gavin’s not seeing her again, is he?”
I gather poor Jasper in my arms to pet him. My expression is cold—I so want to grab this bitch by her hair and throw her out of the apartment. But it’s clear she and Gavin have history, so I bite my tongue and stand as tall as my five-foot-six inch frame reaches.
“Lulu died. I’m taking care of Jasper until Gavin gets back. And I think you’d better go now. He wouldn’t want you here.”
Maya scowls, narrowing her eyes. “What the fuck do you know about what Gavin wants? If he were here, he’d want me. He always has.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” I hiss. Am I really going to get into it with this girl? Sure, I outweigh her bony frame, but she’s got plenty of height on me. Jasper squirms and I put him down. I wish he’d act like a mighty lion hunter or at least bark at Maya instead of his goofy yodels, but he runs from the room.
Scaredy-dog.
I decide to call for backup. I sidestep Maya and march to the door, jabbing my thumb on the intercom button.
“Yes, Miss Sutton?” I hear Raúl’s voice crackle through the speaker.
“Raúl, could you please escort Gavin’s visitor out of the building? She shouldn’t be on his approved list any longer.”
“On my way, Miss Sutton.”
Maya gapes, her green eyes on fire. “You can’t do that to me.”
“I can and I have. Get over it. Pull out your black book and dial up another booty call. I’m sure there are loads of guys who’d be happy to screw a skeleton.”
“Bitch.”
“Slut.” I smile cheerfully as she retreats to the door.
“I’ll tell Gavin about this.”
“Go for it, sister. And don’t forget to mention how you kicked his dog and insulted Lulu’s memory.”
Maya scowls and slams out of the apartment just as I hear the elevator ding to signal Raúl’s arrival. I close Gavin’s front door and lock it, heaving a sigh.
And then I smile. I’m growing a backbone. I can handle this—rich bitches, gorgeous models, whatever comes my way. I might be a New York newbie, but I’m learning fast.
If only Gavin were here to see it.
I have to go to my next house-sitting gig, but before I take a shower and leave, I sit down and compose an email to Gavin. I don’t bother to mention Maya’s visit, but it gives me a sense of who he was before Lulu died.
And I think I know now who he needs me to be.
Dear Gavin,
I want to tell you how sorry I am for the way our last chat ended. I’m sorry it ended, but I’m not sorry for what I said.
You said you want me to tell you the truth, then you get angry when I tell you the truth as I see it. You can’t have it both ways. I want to be your friend and I want to help bring you back. But I’m not going to lie to you to do it.
Coming home won’t do you any good if you’re not ready to face the truth—even the hard parts. You can’t keep running every time things get difficult.
I miss you and I miss our chats. I care about you, Gav, and I know you have the strength to find a way home.
Truly.
I’ll be here when you’re ready.
B.