Page 111 of The Innovator

“Please don’t tell them. I want to do this with no ties to LaRue. I need to succeed on my own.”

“Okay, no worries,” the girls said in unison.

I didn’t remember driving home or getting into my apartment. Somehow the girls must have tucked me into bed. The last thing I remembered was thanking them for being my friends and imagining Grayson as the dummy in my self-defense class, where I kicked and punched him until his limbs fell apart.

CHAPTERSIXTY-ONE

GRAYSON

“What is wrong with you?” Audri yelled at me over the phone.

“What are you talking about?”

“You and Natalie. You’ve been cheating on her.”

I didn’t reply to her statement.

“Why?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Well, she got drunk last night with us. You broke her heart. I’ve never seen her so devastated. I can’t believe you!”

“She was drunk?” Guilt speared through me.

“Yes. But she told us she was staying in Providence to promote her new fashion label. We agreed to help her.”

“What? She’sstayingin Providence?” Fear tumbled in my stomach. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. This wasn’t the plan. She was supposed to leave me and go back to Paris, where she could be safe.

“Why do you sound so surprised?” Audri asked.

“Well, if she’s around, then she’ll see my new girlfriend. It’ll be awkward.”

“You’re such an asshole. I thought my brother was better than this. Stay away from all my friends!” Audri hung up on me.

I’d managed to piss her off too.

My heart ached, knowing Natalie was in pain. What she didn’t know was I hadn’t been drunk that day. Each word I told her had cut into my heart as well.

She couldn’t be here in Providence—close to me—where danger lurked in every corner.

Plan A didn’t work as I had hoped. Now it was time for Plan B.

I made a call to two women, but neither of them were Natalie.

CHAPTERSIXTY-TWO

GRAYSON

A few days later, I sent Natalie a text hoping she’d meet me.

Grayson:Can we meet up?

Natalie:Why?

Grayson:I have your belongings.

Natalie:Fine. I have yours too.

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