Page 64 of Not A Whisper

“No, I didn’t but I will. Maybe during spring break? Then I have the whole week.” I trudge up the single flight of stairs to my apartment.

“Alright. Let me know. Talk to you later!”

Just as I reach for the keypad to my place, someone calls my name.

“Bri!” I turn to find Lance jogging down the stairs. Worry creases his brow.

I frown. “Lance? Everything ok?”

“Ok? Oh, yeah, I’m fine. I came to check on you.”

“Me?” I blink rapidly, trying to understand. “I’m fine… Why?”

Lance sighs heavily, one hand coming up to rub the back of his head.

“Look, I know it’s none of my business, and we don’t really know each other, but I felt sick leaving you last night. You didn’t look happy about those guys being in your apartment, and, I don’t know, the whole thing felt off. But, like an asshole, I just left. I shouldn’t have done that.” He shakes head slowly. “I didn’t think about it until I got back to my place, but… do you, um, need help? They aren’t giving you any trouble, are they?”

Blood gathers, hot, in my cheeks. Lance is here because he thinks I’m in some sort of toxic relationship and he’s trying to help. I’m both touched and absolutelymortified.

“What? No! It’s not like that. Things were a little tense last night due to some, ah, miscommunication, but that’s all.” I stumble over my words as I rush to defend them. “They’re really good guys, you’d like them if you got to know them. They’re just under a lot of pressure and came off a bit—”brutish, cocky, like jackasses“—rude. But, like I said, they’re good.”

Lance doesn’t look convinced. He looks from me to my door then back. Taking a step forward, he lowers his voice and asks, “Are you sure? I know they’re in there…”

“You do?” I frown. “How?”’

“I saw two of them arrive not all that long ago?—”

I shake my head. “Wait, what? And then you seemeand decide to come down here and talk? Are you spying on me?”

“No, no! Nothing like that,” Lance says quickly. “I was waiting for my ex to drop off my daughter and I was hanging out on the balcony when I saw them pull up. Then we were playing out there when you came home. I figured I could just come down and apologize, you know, for leaving you in a sketchy situation with your, ah, boyfriend and his friends.”

Sketchy situation. Internally I cringe. This issonot how I thought any interaction with my neighbors would go.

“Lance, we’reallseeing one another.” I can’t believe I’m admitting this for a second time today to someone. I give him a tight smile as Lance’s eyes widen in surprise. “I promise they mean well. I’m sorry we gave you the wrong impression. I appreciate you checking in on me though.”

Lance opens his mouth to say something more but, from the stairs, a little voice calls, “Daddy!”

Taking advantage of the situation, I step closer to my door. “Sounds like you’re needed elsewhere. Have a good night.”

With that, I turn my back on him, tap in the keycode, and push open my door. Inside, I find my guys waitingfor me. Jason’s legs are stretched out along the couch, his hands rest behind his head, and Grant sits in the small leather chair, his foot resting on the coffee table. Neither of them looks up as I enter, but I’m very aware of the palpable tension in the room.

“I’m not sure I appreciate your new friend,” Grant says as the door shuts behind me.

I roll my eyes. “He’s just being a good Samaritan.”

At this, Grant looks up from his phone and at me. Though his expression is neutral, his eyes harden.

“He’s being nosy.”

With a heavy sigh, I sit my purse down and kick off my shoes. “Don’t get me started on why he’s sticking his nose in my business, Grant. Rehashing it is only going to annoy me more than you already have. Honestly, I’m surprised that, after all the shouting, the cops weren’t called.”

“Annoy you more? Is this annoyance in regard to what transpired yesterday or because I told your friend that we’re engaged?”

I glare at him. “Both. Keep it up and you’ll never get your dick free.”

“Good thing I enjoy a bit of pain,” Grant replies with a shrug. “Keeps my head clear.”

“Ok, psycho.”

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