Page 13 of Sin in the Mountains

No way.

"What do you mean, what letter, Scarlett?" I say, grabbing her shoulders. "The one I left on your desk the night of graduation."

She shakes her head, her mouth open, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Oh, god." Realization sets in, and I step back, my shoulders slump. "Drake. He saw me come out of your room that day. Damn it. I told him I had loaned you a book, but I knew he didn't believe me. He went in there after I left, and you never saw..." I trail off, my eyes shooting to hers.

"This is why you hate me, Levi? Because of a letter I never got?" A sob escapes, and she clamps a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

"Scarlett—" I start, but an announcement from the DJ blares out into the hallway.

"Levi and Jameson please come to the dance floor. We've got a little competition for the best men."

Ignoring the announcement, I reach for Scarlett, but she shakes her head at me. "Go."

When I start to protest, she pushes me toward the open door. The DJ calls my name again. "Levi, this is Cole and Miranda's wedding, and we are not ruining it. I'll be here when you're done. And we're going to talk. But I have to make a phone call first, and you have to go play a wedding game."

I eye her with a desperation I have never felt before. I clench my jaw. "Don't run," I growl at her.

She shakes her head. "I won't. I promise."

I have to trust her. So I turn and walk back into the reception hall.

As I head to the dance floor I wonder,did I let happiness slip through my fingers once again?

Chapter 7

Scarlett

Ifindaquiethallway and dial the only person who can give me what I need right now.

"Hey, Nugget. I got your text, but I've been swamped." Drake sounds distracted, and I can hear him typing away on his computer. Typically, I'd beg off and let him call me when he's less busy, but I steel my spine.

"Stop typing and listen to me right now," I demand. The clicking immediately stops, and I know I have his full attention.

"Is everything okay?" Drake asks with genuine concern.

"I'm at Miranda's wedding. She was beautiful. It was beautiful," I say, unsure how to approach this with him.

"Okay," Drake says cautiously

"Did you take the letter Levi wrote to me on graduation?" I grit out. I'm so anxious, I blurt it out in a rush.

"What are you talking about?" Drake responds, but his voice sounds strained.

"I'm not asking again," I say, clearer this time.

A pause follows, and then Drake growls. "He shouldn't have written you that letter, Scarlett."

"Oh, god," I sob, my worst fears coming true. "I didn't want to believe it, but it's so typical of you, Drake."

"Scarlett, please," Drake scoffs. "You were headed off to school, about to start your life, and he was trying to lock you down in Duhring Park for the rest of time. I wasn't about to let you get stuck there."

"Damn it, Drake!" I yell, furious that I've let him think he has control over me for so long. "I love you. You are my only brother, but I need you to stop talking and hear me." I swallow hard and fight back the tears threatening to derail what I need to say. "I hate my job. I hate my boss. And I don't care how many clients he manages; Chad was a terrible boyfriend and a worse roommate. We broke up. Months ago. We broke up, and we were living as roommates for seven months. But then he stole my money and moved out without telling me we were being evicted, leaving me stranded and homeless."

"He did what?" Drake roars, and I know I'm going to lose him if I don't get it all out now.

"I hate living in the city," I whisper.

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