Page 74 of Roses in Summer

Before I can move away from him, Chris opens his mouth. “I told Mitch I saw you. He was surprised, said you haven’t reached out to tell him you’re back in town.” There’s reproach in his voice, and I want to kick him in the balls for implying I owe anything to him or Mitch. “He’s excited to see you again.”

“Stay away from me,” I hiss, keeping my voice low and steady. “And you can tell Mitch that he is not welcome near me or my family. Make sure to remind him of my restraining order.”

“Don’t be like that, Fin.” Chris chuckles as though I’m telling the funniest joke he’s heard all summer. “We were friends once, weren’t we? Speaking of, how’s your friend Olivia? I heard she’s back in town too.”

My brows furrow at his mention of Olivia, and I step back, placing more distance between us as he speaks. I can’t hold back the question that spills from my mouth. “How do you know who Olivia is?”

His smile turns feral, and chills race down my spine, a warning to get away from this man as quickly as possible. “We’re old camp buddies. Let her know Chris from Camp Discovery said hi.” I feel the blood drain from my face, pieces that should have never been assembled falling back into place. I know the camp he’s talking about, the one Mitch tried forcing me to go to the summer before college. What I didn’t know was that my beautiful, smart, incredibly strong friend was there that summer. That the demon in front of me must have contributed to the hurt she suffered.

Keeping my voice as steady as possible, I meet his eyes. “Stay away from her, Chris, and stay away from me. I don’t know what game you think you’re playing, but it won’t work.”

“Won’t it, though, Fin? I’ll make sure Mitch knows you send your regards. Who knows, maybe he’ll even stop by one of these days.”

“Stay the fuck away from us, Chris,” I repeat, putting more conviction behind my words before shoving past him. I race to the lobby, to the sanctuary of other people, and don’t stop until I find May still working at the computer.

If May is startled by my reappearance, she doesn’t say, just continues to click and move her mouse sporadically.

“Everything okay, Seraphina?”

“Mhm. Yes. Everything is great. I’m just going to run out for a coffee. Would you like anything?” My words cause her head to shoot up, eyes trained on me.

“No, but finish your coffee before you go downstairs. The administration would have my head if any more files were ruined.”

Nodding, I agree to her terms. “Of course. I’ll be back in ten minutes.” I resist the urge to look over my shoulder to verify that Chris isn’t following me as I make my way to the employee break room. It’s a surprisingly well-stocked room with two gender-neutral bathrooms, and I run into one of them and lock myself in. Part of me muses that I keep finding myself locked in bathrooms, but a greater part of me is just concerned about calling my brother and making sure he can drive by my apartment and check on Olivia.

Pulling up his contact, I listen to the ringback tone and bring my thumb to my teeth, biting down as I wait for his answer. When it goes to voicemail, I try again. And again.

On the third attempt, I decide to leave a message. “Rafe, I need you to drive by the apartment and check on Liv. She has work tonight, so if you don’t see her car in the lot, try the bar and then call me back, okay? I saw Chris again, and he mentioned O-Olivia.” I stutter at my best friend’s name, hating the way the confession feels in my mouth. “Just make sure she’s okay, alright? Chris mentioned her name, and it freaked me out. Love you. Call me soon.” I disconnect, bringing my phone to my side as I debate my next steps.

I know I can’t stay in here too much longer, but I’m also too agitated to go back out. I could call Bianca, though her voice and thought process typically induce a headache rather than repel it. The only other choice is Ava.

Bringing the phone back up, I dial Ava’s number and wait for her to answer. “Ser? Aren’t you at work right now? I’m just in the middle of a private chef event and can’t talk. Is everything okay?”

I wince at her words, guilt swarming me at the reminder that Ava had a big private dinner in the city and enlisted Serena and CeCe to help her serve the food tonight. “Shoot, I’m so sorry Aves. It’s nothing, I—”

“Nope, you wouldn’t have called me if you didn’t need me. And—wait, no, Celeste, don’t touch that pan, it’s hot—fuck. Dammit, I told you it was hot. God, she doesn’t listen,” she muses, and I can hear the eye roll in her voice. “Anyway, what’s going on?”

“I saw Chris Kopicki a week ago. And I saw him again tonight,” I confess, not giving any preamble. “He mentioned Mitch and Olivia, and it freaked me out.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ava’s voice loses all the mirth it usually holds. In its place, she sounds livid. “What a fucking dickface. I’ll kill him, I swear I will—”

“Ava, I’m just calling you to vent. I don’t need anything other than for you to ask Grey to try to get in touch with Rafe so that he can check on Liv. I’m sorry, I know you’re busy, but after the comment Chris made, I want to make sure Liv is okay, and Rafe isn’t answering.”

“Of course.” I hear the clattering of a knife. “I’ll have Grey handle it; after all, he’s going to be my husband soon, isn’t he?”

I let out a light laugh. “Yeah, Aves, he is.” I hang up without saying another word and lean against the bathroom door, breathing in a deep breath before mentally preparing myself to get back out there.

28

Lincoln

“Di, do you need anything else before I head out?”

“No, go. Your presence is annoying today, and I’ll be happy once you leave,” Diana responds, not looking up from her vegetables sautéing on the stove.

I snort at her words, shrugging off my coat and draping it across my forearm. “Sweet as always.”

“Fuck off and get out of the kitchen, Chef.”

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