After locking my former apartment and sliding the key under the door for the landlord, I walked down the stairs for the last time.

Dougie, the friendly drug dealer, poked his head out to wish me a fond farewell, which I thought was sweet, given he sold drugs for a living.

“Gonna miss you girl,” he hollered out to me and I responded with a wave over my shoulder.

“Try not to get arrested,” I hollered back. “Orange is not your color, buddy.”

I heard Dougie chuckle before returning to his apartment.

I’d just cleared the final step when I saw a familiar face awaiting me at the front doors.

I didn’t know his name but I recognized him as the man in Gage’s conference meeting who’d been amused by my theatrics.

He stood, checking out my apartment complex like he was interested in the shabby, run-down state of things but still careful not to let anything touch his expensive leather shoes.

“Looking for a new investment?” I asked dryly.

“Always.” He flashed a bright, killer smile and those blue eyes sparkled like the ocean. Not to put too fine of a point on it but he was hot. He extended a hand with a warm smile. “You must be…Mari Jones?”

“And you are?” I countered, neither confirming nor denying his assumption. I’d lived in New York long enough to know that strangers knowing your name was cause for immediate suspicion.

“Reece Buchanan, at your service,” he answered, his bright smile never dimming. “I’ve been looking for you for quite a while.”

“Why?”

“Can I persuade you to enjoy lunch with me?” he asked.

“No, you cannot.” I sighed, wondering what the man’s agenda was. “Just get to the point of your seeking me out. I have things to do and a plane to catch.”

“If you knew my wife, you’d know that I love a direct woman. I believe the first time we met, she basically told me to fuck off.”

“And yet, somehow you managed to marry her. I’m sure that story is wildly entertaining but I still don’t know what it has to do with me.”

“Right. I’ll cut to the chase.” He shoved his hands into his trousers, a move that reminded me of Gage. I swallowed the instant lump in my throat and narrowed my gaze with irritation. Not specifically at Reece but at myself for still suffering any sort of pain over Gage Donnelly. “We have a mutual friend.”

“Not likely.”

“That day you burst into the conference room, all piss and vinegar, I gotta say, that was the most exciting meeting that board room had ever seen. I’m pretty sure some of those shareholders actually pissed themselves. You were pretty fired up.”

My cheeks flared with heat. I wish I hadn’t done that. “Well, it was a mistake. Thanks for reminding me.” I maneuvered around him but he followed me onto the street. Exasperated, I growled, “What are you doing? Don’t make me call the cops.”

“I’m making a real mess of this,” he muttered, chagrined. Shoving his hand through his artfully mussed hair, he admitted, “Jesus, I used to be more charming but I think marriage has dulled my edge. Look, I know it’s none of my business and I know that Gage would murder me if he knew I was talking to you at all but…everything you said about him…it was spot on.”

I was ready to leave Reece in the street but damn him, if he hadn’t plucked at a raw nerve. I turned slowly. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…I think Gage really does love you, he just doesn’t trust himself not to hurt you.”

I tried not to recall how shattered I’d felt that day when he’d coldly suggested I be his full-time whore, not his girlfriend. I swallowed the hard lump. “You’re wrong,” I said. “Gage doesn’t know how to love.”

“No, actually, deep down, he’s all squishy and mushy. But he’s got some demons, as I’m sure you’ve already figured out. He doesn’t want you to get caught in the crossfire of his issues, so he pushed you away deliberately.”

“Well, it worked.” I wasn’t going to get my hopes up again only to have them obliterated. “I wish him the best of luck in his solitude.” I started to walk away but something stopped me. I returned to face him, confused. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because Gage is my friend and he’s spiraling. It’s worse than I’ve ever seen. It’s always bad on the anniversary but…this…what he’s doing now…I’m afraid he won’t come back from.”

Grudging concern overrode my anger. “What do you mean? What anniversary?”

Reece’s jaw firmed, as if he were struggling with betraying his friend’s trust and doing what needed to be done. “Gage is very private,” he started but I just shook my head, changing my mind about knowing.

“Yeah, so I’ve heard. Don’t bother. Whatever he’s going through, he doesn’t want my help. Besides…you can’t help someone who doesn’t want help and from where I’m standing…Gage wants to wallow in his misery.”

“Gage punishes himself for what happened, even though he was just a kid. He didn’t grow up like me…he grew up dirt poor with a sociopathic father. It’s a fucking miracle Gage grew up to be relatively sane much less successful. But the truth is, Gage is driven by that need to prove his father wrong, to make up for that one night.”

“I don’t understand…”

Reece handed me a business card with a handwritten phone number on it. “This is Gage’s number. Call him. He needs you.”

I stared at the scrawled phone number. A part of me wanted to tuck it into my pocket for safe keeping, another part wanted me to rip it to shreds. In the end, I did neither. I simply returned the card to Reece, saying with a fateful shake of my head, “I won’t call him.” But I added this, “If you’re his friend…get him true help. I’m not qualified to help him through whatever he’s going through. If I tried, he’d just destroy me. I can’t let him do that a second time. I’m sorry.”

Reece must’ve sensed I wasn’t going to budge because he nodded in defeat and perhaps, understanding. “I’m sorry for wasting your time,” he said, resigned. “Have a safe flight.”

I accepted his polite courtesy and I turned on my heel to practically run away before I could change my mind, grab the card and run to Gage’s rescue.

If Gage was going under, he had to find the will to rescue himself. Otherwise, he would drown with him anyone who tried to help.

Tears stung my eyes but I didn’t turn around.

I didn’t stop.