Page 6 of Just a Little Crush

She frowned. “I hate that Alyssa is doing this to you. That joint custody of Owen isn’t enough for her.”

“You can’t be surprised,” I said, both of us well aware that Alyssa didn’t really give a shit about how much time she spent with Owen. The custody suit had never been about that.

“No, I’m not surprised,” she said, sounding sad. “Just disappointed that she’d use Owen as leverage to try and get back together with you, and if that doesn’t work, then hurting you is no doubt her second option.”

“Not gonna happen,” I assured her.

“Good.” Raven nodded succinctly. “You deserve so much better than what she’s put you through.”

“Hey, I’ve been looking for you, wife,” Remy said, interrupting our discussion—thank God—as he strolled up to where we were sitting.

Raven’s entire face lit up with adoration, and she grinned at her husband. “Ahh, the sound of that word,wife, never gets old.”

“It better not,” he said in a low, possessive growl that made me chuckle, and Raven blush. “Samantha and Dex are heading out and want to say their goodbyes, so I’m stealing mywife,” he said again.

Smiling and enjoying their dynamic, I waved a hand in the air. “She’s all yours.”

“Damn right she is.” Remy extended his hand toward Raven, and she placed her own in his, allowing him to pull her up from the chair.

Raven glanced back at me. “Just think about what I said, okay?”

“Sure,” I said, mostly to appease her.

After Remy and Raven walked away, I stood up, needing a breather after that conversation. I strolled over to the far side of the terrace, away from the party and where the music was more muted and the area provided some quiet and solitude.

The lighting didn’t extend to this far corner of the rooftop, and it wasn’t until I was in the secluded area that I realized someone else was already there, standing at the decorative stone balustrade that secured the perimeter and overlooked Manhattan. Stevie, to be exact, who looked to be texting someone on her phone, the light from the device the only thing illuminating her beautiful features and blonde hair.

“And here I thought I was the only one who needed a break from all the noise,” I said as I approached her.

She jumped at the sound of my voice, obviously not expecting company. But as soon as she saw that it was me, she relaxed and smiled. “Yeah, I wanted to find someplace quiet to check in with my sister.”

“She left already?” I asked, surprised. I hadn’t noticed and assumed she’d been sitting at a table while Stevie was out on the dance floor.

Stevie nodded. “Yes, a while ago.” She put her phone in her small purse, then set it on top of the wide stone wall before meeting my gaze in the shadows, caused by the reflection of the city’s lights. “She’s had a rough couple of weeks and I’m just worried about her.”

I stood next to her at the railing. “Is everything okay?” I ventured to ask.

She exhaled a soft sigh. “I hope so? I mean, she’s fine right now. She’s assured me that she’s in bed watching trashy reality TV but…well, she went through a bad breakup, one that required a restraining order against her abusive ex, and I’m just worried that the asshole isn’t going to leave her alone. Narcissistic, entitled men like Mark don’t like being put in their place.”

I winced. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

She nodded and gave me a murmured thanks. “It’s just that I keep having flashbacks of the whole Lance thing with Raven and what an unhinged psycho he was…” Her words cut off and her eyes suddenly went wide. “Oh, shit. I’m so sorry. That was inappropriate.”

I tipped my head, not the least bit offended. “Why? Because he’s my twin brother? Trust me, I know who Lance is and it’s not a solid, upstanding citizen. We were never close and we couldn’t be more different.”

“I just…” She shook her head, causing her soft blonde waves to brush across her shoulders. “I forget that he’s your twin brother. The two of you don’t look identical.”

“No, we’re fraternal, thank God.”

She nodded, then leaned against the concrete railing and glanced out over the city. “So, where is Owen tonight?” she asked, making casual conversation.

“His mother has him for the weekend.” I settled in beside her, arms braced on the top of the barrier. “I get him back tomorrow afternoon.”

She gave me a curious, sidelong glance. “Is that hard…splitting time with her?”

“Always,” I admitted. “It’s too quiet when he’s not around. I’m used to him running through the house no matter how many times I tell him not to, or playing his video games and the animated sounds he makes, or his constant inquisitive questions. Don’t get me wrong. Having a bit of silence is nice, but I definitely feel like something is missing when he’s gone.”

“He’s a great kid,” she said softly, having interacted with him many times because of Raven being Owen’s aunt. “He seems very well adjusted despite…”

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