Page 31 of Implode

I burst out laughing. “True. So true.” Not many people get to see this side to Collins. He is usually in full-on professional mode, never letting any real feelings break through. We both actually have more in common than I originally thought. We like to keep our emotion cards close to our chests. “Next time you have a real day off, let’s go grab a beer together or shoot some pool.”

“Sounds good,” he responds with a half smile. “In the meantime, I can keep an extra eye on Penny. Angie keeps me busy enough, but I can still keep tabs on Penny if that helps.”

“Thanks, man,” I say, shaking hands with Collins, “for your loyalty and top-notch work ethic.” I am not a man who hands out compliments often, but when I do, they are warranted. “When does my sister go back to Seattle?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

I nod. “I hope she enjoyed her freedom while it lasted. Is Graham taking her back?”

“Your father.”

“Okay, good. I don’t think either Graham or I are ready for the stress of Penny getting released early. I know she’s eager to get out, but a part of me worries over a relapse.”

Collins nods, understanding my fears. He’s been a huge help at monitoring Penny whenever Graham and I are unable to make it up to Seattle.

We say our goodbyes, and I head back to Cutlery to grab my car. Settling into the driver’s seat, I shoot Mitch a text to give him the green light on setting up an appointment with Dr. Zimmerman, who seems suitable for handling whatever it is I’m willing to throw at her. I try not to overthink it, and I vow that I won’t cancel the session prior to it occurring.

Despite working in the same building, Graham and I rarely cross paths unintentionally, so I decide to pay him a visit. While we keep in close contact via text or email, sometimes face-to-face interaction is necessary.

I call Graham ahead of time to grant me access without having to go through the added security features. Like my own place, he lives in a fortress. It is how we both operate and choose to live our lives.

On my way up on the elevator, I think of my vegan-meat-loving girl with her stack of meat she refused to share with me. I can’t stop smiling while thinking about her dedication to conquering the mountain. That girl never stops surprising me.

When the doors to the elevator open, I quickly wipe what must be a cheesy-ass grin from my face.

“How’s your weekend going?” Graham asks, greeting me in the foyer.

I follow Graham inside and we head into the kitchen, where he pours me a tumbler of bourbon without even asking.

“Ha, do I look that stressed?”

He sips his own and smirks. “Maybe.”

I am. I can’t get my sassy and smart girl out of my head.

“How’s the honeymoon planning going? Do you think Angie is catching on to where you are headed?”

“No, she is trying to figure it out, as I would expect she would. But as of now, she is clueless. I love being able to surprise her with something.”

“I’m sure she will love it.”

“Something’s wrong with Claire,” he says, doing a one-eighty on subject matter.

“What? Why do you say that?” I just saw her twenty minutes ago. I haven’t gotten any reports from my guy Tyler on her, other than that she and Angie are safely inside her residence.

Graham brushes hair off his forehead and takes a deep breath. “Angie is obsessing over her, and as much as I have encouraged her to give Claire her space, she is losing sleep over her at night. You know how close the two of them are. I need you to keep a close eye on Claire when we go away. I need Angie to not worry about her friend while we are gone.”

“I’ve been keeping a watch on Claire,” I mutter, my thoughts racing over what could be wrong with her. I have noticed the sadness, but I just attributed it to how she is when she is around me. However, if Angie is noticing some red flags, then maybe it is more than just her reaction to my close proximity. “Outside of bugging her phone or placing a listening device inside her apartment, how would we be able to figure out what is going on?”

“Yeah, none of those options will work. I promised Angie I would never be that intrusive on her or those she cares about—no matter what the circumstances. Trust me, I’ve been tempted. We both know how I snap when my girl is distraught.”

I get it. It’s exactly how I feel whenmy girlis upset. “I can only promise to watch over Claire while you guys are away. But if she won’t talk with Angie about her feelings, I doubt she will talk to anyone else.”

Graham nods and throws back the rest of the amber liquid, placing his empty tumbler on the counter. My empty glass joins his with a clink. “And then to add to everything else on my plate, Penny has only been home for a day and is already causing havoc with the security staff I had Collins hire to drive her around and accompany her on her short stay in Hillsboro.”

I sigh. “Yes, I ran into Collins and he filled me in. What a mess. I don’t understand why she is so difficult all of a sudden.”

“I think she is trying to make a point with us and let us know that she will be doing life on her own terms soon.”

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