“Of course, you can have the day off,” Ransom says. “What’s bringing this on now?”
It’s a testament to their relationship that she answers honestly. If anyone else had asked, I’m not sure she would have been as truthful.
“Ah, Bree and I are having some trouble sleeping. Every time we go into the living room, all we can see is his body on the floor. We just...I just need to not be there anymore.”
Jesus. Of course, they’re having trouble sleeping. I’m shocked she’s managed to stay for the last three weeks. But the stress of finding a new place and moving? That’s a lot too. “We’ve got a two-bedroom on the same side as Evie’s. Why don’t you move there?”
Shit. I shouldn’t have been the one to say it. I know we’re all thinking about it. We still have three empty apartments on the thirty-fourth floor of our high-rise. Why shouldn’t she use one? But coming from me? I doubt it will go over well. Her eyes flash up to mine, a wrinkle in her brow. She’s already shaking her head. I glare over at Colt.
He clears his throat. “That’s a great idea, actually. They’re just sitting empty. They cost us money every month. We can have you guys settled in there in a couple of hours.”
Cara’s frowning. “I don’t know if that’s such a great —“
“Sounds good,” Ransom says, slapping the top of his desk. “We’ve got Kade and Colt’s trucks and Jonas’s minivan. We can have you packed up and moved over in no time.”
A smile blooms over her face as she shakes her head. “Pushy bastards. You guys realize you’re billionaires, right? You’re supposed to pay people to do shit like this. Do you even know where to find moving boxes?”
Colt hoots, throwing his arms up in the air. “Me! I know.”
She shoots him a dirty look, but her eyes are laughing. It makes my stomach ache to see it. “Only because I arranged it when you went to get Evie, and I told you where to pick them up.”
He sits back smugly. “Doesn’t matter. I recognized the place. We have a bunch of them here...one not too far away if I’m not mistaken. What the fuck would you guys do without me?”
And that’s how I end up standing in the middle of Cara’s bedroom, holding her panties.
7
CARA
“B ree,” I yell, throwing myself through the door. It’s an echo of that night three weeks ago, and it sends a shiver down my spine, even though I know she’s ok. “Bree, we’ve got company coming. All my bosses are on their way.” That last bit may have come out slightly panicked.
I don’t care who you are. No woman wants a bunch of men invading her space without having time to clean up first. Brianna and I don’t live like pigs, but even so, a bunch of fucking billionaires are coming through that door any minute and I’m freaking the fuck out.
I have to admit I’m grateful, though. Ever since that night, everything has felt harder, more unbalanced. I told the guys that I was uncomfortable going into the living room, but uncomfortable is too mild a word for the way I feel. I can’t even go near the spot where Tyler’s body was covered with that sheet. Every time I do, all I hear is Bree’s screams and the dull thump her head made every time he banged it on the wall. I remember the fear, the panic, the terror.
Bree comes out of her room, hair standing up on end. She’s been sleeping a lot, but the doctor says it’s normal. She’s not back to the old her, but I’m so fucking grateful that she’s here, standing, able to talk. It doesn’t matter what other deficits she might end up with. She’s alive.
“What? All your bosses? What is happening?” She looks completely confused, and I don’t blame her.
“I kind of mentioned to Ransom that we weren’t sleeping very well. I just wanted a day off so I could go and look at some new apartments for us, but the guys decided we should move into their building in one of the empty apartments they own. They’re on their way to help us pack up everything and move us.” I’m running around frantically picking up the shit we’ve left lying around. My bedroom is a mess since Bree, and I are basically living in our rooms. More nights than not, we’re both sleeping in the same bed.
That could have something to do with why we’re so tired. We’re both bed hogs, we both talk in our sleep, and ever since she was a kid, Bree’s thrown punches when she’s dreaming. Dad always teased she must be fighting off all the boys who love her.
“Wait, they have empty apartments? Just sitting empty, waiting for what?”
“They built the whole fucking building, and they own all the apartments under the gym. I don’t know why exactly. All I know is they’re empty except for the one Colton’s girlfriend lives in.”
“So what, we’re just gonna go live in one, just like that?”
I drop my pile of laundry on my bed and move back to the doorway of her bedroom. There’s something in her voice that makes me slow down and really look at her. She looks terrified, and she’s trying to hide it. Before this month, I hadn’t seen that look on her face in years.
“Oh, Bree, I’m sorry this is happening so fast. I didn’t plan on any of this happening tonight, but they asked how we were doing, and before I knew it, I had just told them the truth. We’re not sleeping, Bree. We can’t use our own living room, and I know you’re having nightmares. I am too. I can’t help thinking that the quicker we get out of here, the better it’s going to be for both of us.”
She wraps her arms tight around her body, hugging herself. She used to walk with her shoulders back, confident in the world. And I fucking missed it when she started to change. It changed when Tyler came along. It’s his fucking fault.
“No, I guess we aren’t sleeping. But this is all happening so fast.”
“I know. How can I help you? How can I make this easier for you? Because eight very large men are about to descend on us. And all of them are determined to help.” My voice shifts to a whisper. “And honestly, Bree, I think we need it.” Bree shuffles forward, tucking herself into my body. I wrap my arms tightly around her, worrying all over again about how thin she’s getting. We’ve always been thick, right from when we were kids. But since that night, it feels like Briana is wasting away. We need to leave here for so many reasons.