Page 4 of Chaos

That place is taken.

His brow furrows, and his hands close into fists. “I thought I was extending an olive branch. I didn’t know you were really the asshole you portray in the ring. Seems like there was a good reason Mom left you.” He turns on his heel and his boot grinds the slip of cardboard into the asphalt before he stomps away.

I don’t need this.

I just want to be left alone. Everyone’s always pushing me to get back up, go out, to do shit I don’t want to do.

Even Grayson, tonight, said to look forward.

The white of the card glares against the dark ground in front of me.

A sibling?

Nah. I’m leaving for Vegas soon. It’s already arranged. Why start a friendship with someone I don’t know so close to leaving New York forever?

He’s blood. He knew mom.

More than I ever did.

Fuck it.

Picking up the invitation, I knock some of the water from it, hoping it didn’t ruin it.

It’s the day before Frankie’s baby shower. I’m stuck in the city until then. I promised I’d be there.

Hell, weddings always have desperate bridesmaids. Maybe I’ll get laid one last time before starting over in Vegas.

THREE

SOFIA

“Brody, you can’t come in here!” I shove the door closed, pushing him out.

“I need to see you, boo. It’s important.”

I frown as his serious tone fills the room. Today is supposed to be a happy day, our wedding day. Why does his voice crack and quiver, as if he's holding back tears?

“Is everything okay?” I ask, holding my breath.

There is a thud as he rests against the door, and I hear him let out a deep exhale. A few moments of silence pass, and my heart rate speeds up. Our wedding is the sole thing that keeps my mind active following the loss of my parents. A distraction from my grief that stops my heart from shattering.

Even though it was four years ago now, it still seems like yesterday when I got the call. The cops called it a freak accident. They never got to see me graduate. My dad won’t be here to walk me down the aisle today. I’m lucky I had Brody. We met at college and he proposed shortly after their deaths. As soon as his own career took off, we moved back to New York. I was unable to focus on anything, so I made the decision to pause my schooling and prioritize his job.

And here we are.

I hold on tight to my mom’s diamond around my neck. I’ve worn it every day since she passed. Call me strange. It makes me feel like she’s here with me.

“I just needed to hear your voice, Sof.”

“You still aren’t coming in. It’s bad luck.” And I don’t want any more of that. Not today, at least.

“I just want you to know I love you.”

I stiffen at his words. I can’t get past the grief in his voice. I know him. I’ve spent the last four years living with this man. I’m a psychology major. I know when something is up.

My fingers press against the thin barrier of wood between us. “I love you, too, B. Are you sure everything is okay?”

The last three months, I’ve hardly seen him. He’s so busy with work, I’m asleep by the time he finally gets home. I’m hoping after the wedding is out of the way, we can go back to normal. He hasn’t even touched me in weeks. Every time I bring it up, he reminds me of the wedding we have to pay for.

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