“So, when can I come back?”

Huh? I just told Audrey that I moved in with Chance in the last five minutes and she’s already starting. Where’s the sisterly concern? The one that should have her saying, why haven’t you called me...I’ve been worried sick...you’re going too fast...be careful with your heart...

“I mean, Chance’s rich, right? I can move in with you guys.”

“Audrey! I’ve lived here for less than a week. Give it a rest!”

“What’s the sense in staying there with him if I’m here? I think you misunderstood. You were supposed to catch him, but he’s supposed to give us both protection—”

“Audrey, you need to shut it!”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. It’s too soon. You need to establish the relationship. Get out and let Paul know you’re a thing—”

“Audrey, I don’t want to talk about Paul!” I seethe, my heartbeat racing faster with the mention of his name. Hell, making this call to Audrey had my heartbeat racing. She’s a reminder of the outside world that I’ve managed to forget while locked up with Chance.

When he left this morning for his first day of training, I knew I had to also break free of the little bubble we’d created for ourselves. I’d called Martha first, asking for my job back. She was all too excited to hear from me, laughing as she said she hadn’t had time to give it away. She cancelled classes this week due to the sporadic power outages in the area, but I can go back next week, never skipping a class.

Then I returned Brittany’s call, feeling guilty for not calling her back before, but promising to meet her for coffee if she could come into town before her shift today.

Finally, it was time to deal with Audrey. You’d think my sister would be first on my list, but if being honest, I wouldn’t have called her at all. I’m still angry with her, but the anxious plea to call her in the voicemails she left had me afraid she would be worried sick. Not once since we’ve been on the phone has she mentioned her concern for me, only her concern for herself.

Some things never change.

“He’s really not that bad of a guy, Mia.” Audrey says, yanking me from my thoughts.

Wait! What? “Audrey, you haven’t talked to Paul, have you?” I pinch the bridge of my nose, taking a deep breath. I took her cell phone, worrying she’d be too weak to go without him…or whatever it was he was feeding her.

“Mia, are you ever going to treat me like an adult?”

“When you start acting like one, I will treat you like one,” I respond dryly, my mind still stuck on the idea that she may have talked to Paul.

“You just do your thing Mia. Play house with that hot ass boxer until you’re in the clear and I’ll be here, shoveling shit and pushing hay from the back of a truck to feed those nasty ass cows.”

“Don’t be an asshole. We both know why you’re there shoveling shit and feeding cows. Being here hasn’t been a walk in the park, Aud. I’ve sunk to a new low by getting on that stage, lost my car, and still owe my credit cards, and Paul, a shit load of money. So, I’ve had my own shit to deal with.”

“You’re right. We both have it bad,” she says solemnly, but I don’t get caught on the tone, rather what was said.

“If you’re looking for some kind of condolences on the life you’ve been forced to live because of your addiction, you can hang it up. There won’t be any, Audrey. I was happily living my life before all this shit.”

“Get off your high horse. Your life was boring and it’s not like it hasn’t worked out for you. You have Chance now.”

“Audrey, I need to go. I have some errands to run,” I say exasperated with this conversation.

“I thought you didn’t have a car?” she accuses.

“I don’t. Chance is letting me drive one of his until I figure out—”

“Must be nice.”

“I need to go Audrey. I’ll call in a few days—” The quiet click tells me she hung up. “Audrey?” I ask, testing the connection before looking at the black screen of my cell phone. “Bitch,” I mumble under my breath as I toss my phone on the bed.

* * *

Brittany’s eyebrows finally relax as the sinister grin spreads onto her pretty face. “This is too good not to share down at the club. Please let me be the one to tell Gigi that you are living with Chance McKnight!” She shifts in her seat, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder before rubbing her palms together.

I glance around the quiet coffee shop, hoping no one heard her. I hadn’t considered how excited she was going to be when I told her why I’d drifted off the radar since being fired that night. I’ve had a few days to absorb the idea that Chance moved me in, and when we’re alone, there’s no place I want to be more than in his arms. But hearing it aloud, in public, reminds me of the danger I’m putting him in with being associated with me.

“You can’t tell anyone Brit. It’s all kind of new and Chance and I didn’t exactly talk about what we’re calling it—”

“Does it even matter what it’s called? You just told me he came in, packed your shit and basically told you that you belong with him and you’re worried about how to label it because you didn’t talk? Sweetheart, this is one of those times when actions speak louder than words…you’re his. He might as well have pissed on you.” She tilts her head to the side, her smirk daring me to challenge her.

I smile, pushing my apprehension aside. I know she’s right on all accounts, except that pissing part, but she’s forgetting a very important piece that I can’t even bring myself to address right now. I still owe Paul money. Just the thought has the warm coffee rolling uneasily in my stomach.

“I just don’t want anything to jeopardize what we’re building.”

“I can understand that, but when you’re ready to let the cat out of the bag, please let me be the one to open it up down at the club. She’s going to blow a fucking gasket and I want to be there to watch it explode.” She giggles. “And you’re forgiven for not calling, by the way. Just don’t do that shit to me again. I was really worried.”

“I’m sorry, Brittany. Everything just happened so fast and then I got caught up in Chance.”

“That’s the only reason I’m letting you off the hook. I can totally see how that can happen and for the first time since knowing you Mia, you’re happy. It looks good on you.”

I try to fight back my smile, but I can’t and it beams brightly. “I am happy. He makes me very happy.”

“Speaking of happy,” she says, digging in her big bag, “I know we’re not the closest of friends and haven’t known one another for very long, but I’d love for you to come…if you can get away.” She slides a white envelope over the table. I lift it up and open the seal. “I know it’s an hour and half away, but they give each student four tickets and really, I’m pretty pathetic because, well you know my foster parent’s cut me off and I don’t have any friends…other than you—”

“Of course I’ll be at your graduation, Britt,” I interrupt, looking up from the tickets. She blows out a relieved gust of air and smiles. “I’m so proud of you and wouldn’t miss it.” I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze.

“Well, friend…what are you going to do with yourself now that you live with Chance?”

“I got my job back at the ballet studio. They’ve cancelled classes for the week because of some trees that snapped with the snow, but Martha was happy I wasn’t gone. She hadn’t replaced me, so I’ll report to work when the studio reopens, just like usual.”

“And Paul?”

My eyes drop to the table, considering my response. “I don’t know what to do. Talking to Audrey is useless. It’s like she comes to terms with where we are in waves. Sometimes she gets it and other times, she’s clueless, saying he’s not a bad guy.”

Her eyes widen. “You don’t think she’s talking to him, do you?”

“I didn’t think so before, but the way she said something that last time we talked, it’s crossed my mind.”

“Have you talked to Chance about—”

“No,” I say forcefully, garnering attention from a nearby table. I shrink bashfully. “No, I haven’t mentioned it. I’m worried it’s trouble he won’t want.”

“He could pay it off. I know I don’t need to tell you this, but your boyfriend is loaded.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not his problem. It’s Audrey’s and I’ll figure out something to get her out of it.”

“I’d give my left tit to have a sister like you. I hope she knows how lucky she is.” She reaches across the table and grabs my hand.

“Audrey doesn’t know how lucky she is to just have the air she breathes. She takes everything and everyone for granted. But I’m all she has, so I’m stuck with her.” I smile sadly, the reality of that sinking in deeper.