She doesn’t bring that up, though, thank goodness. Instead, she says, “Garrett Ramirez isn’t Braden Black. He’s an architect.”
“So maybe he has a breakfast meeting with the boss. Or a racquetball date or something.”
“Then that’s what he should have said. But what he actually said was ‘I have an early meeting tomorrow.’”
I check my watch. After midnight. “It’s too late to order pizza. How about I run across the street to the convenience store and grab a few pints of Ben & Jerry’s?”
She smiles. “Would you?”
“I absolutely would. As long as you promise no more drinking. Alcohol solves nothing.”
“I know. I know.”
“This isn’t like you, Tessa.”
She sighs again.
“Are you really in love?”
“I think so. I realize I haven’t known him very long.”
“You’ve known him as long as I’ve known Braden, and we’re in love. Sometimes you just know.” I can’t help a smile.
“And sometimes one person feels something the other doesn’t.”
“Tessa, you’re a catch. We both know it, and so does Garrett.”
“I’m not sure he does.”
“Then honestly? He’s not worth it.” I grab my purse. “I’ll be back in a flash. Dump the rest of that.” I nod to the vodka bottle.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I smile and leave the building. I don’t like going out alone at night, but the convenience store is right across the street from Tessa’s building. She and I go there all the time. Boy, if Braden knew I was going out alone after midnight, he’d be pissed as hell.
I walk into the store and head to the freezer section. Only two selections. Chunky Monkey and Cherry Garcia. It’s more of a Chocolate Therapy kind of night, but any port in a storm. I grab a pint of each and head to the checkout counter—
Addison Ames stands at the cashier.
I nearly drop both pints.
Do I say something? She hasn’t seen me yet. I can put the ice cream back and sneak out.
Fuck that.
I hold my head high and strut right up behind her. “Good evening, Addie.”
She turns, her eyes narrow. She looks oddly unsurprised to see me. “You mean good morning, don’t you?”
Yeah, she’s right. It’s after midnight.
She eyes my purchase. “Trouble in paradise?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Looks like an ice cream binge to me.”
“Maybe we’re going to eat it off each other.”
She scoffs. “Braden play with ice cream? Not a chance. Besides, we’re not anywhere near your place or his. Nice try, though.”
For your information, bitch, Braden has licked chocolate mousse and crème brûlée off every inch of my body.
But the words don’t come. No matter how much I’d love to taunt Addie, I can’t bring myself to do it.
Interestingly, she’s buying a pack of cigarettes.
“Didn’t know you’d taken on the nicotine habit,” I say.
“They’re not for me. They’re for my sister. She’s staying with me for a while.”
“Apple?”
“Only sister I’ve got.”
Apple, who doesn’t drink and regards her body as a temple. Who also can’t stand Addie. Not buying.
“Why is she staying with you?”
“She’s having her place redecorated. Paying some ungodly amount to make it look like a dump from the seventies, apparently.”
Ungodly amount? That doesn’t sound like Apple, either. Of course, I spent only an hour with her.
Addie pays for the cigarettes and then waits while I pay for my ice cream.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I ask.
“Not really. Apple can wait a few minutes for her smokes.”
“You know what’s interesting?” I say. “We’re not anywhere near your place, either. And the last time I saw Apple, she wasn’t smoking.”
“When the hell did you see Apple?”
“Yeah, not your business,” I say.
“The hell it’s not. What did Apple say to you?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Something bothering you, Addie?”
She lowers her eyelids slightly, almost batting them for a second. “Of course not.”
“Really? Because I’m thinking those smokes aren’t for Apple. When did you start smoking?”
She scoffs. “I do not smoke.”
“And also, when did you start hanging around this part of town?” A light bulb flashes in my brain. “Which one of us are you following, Addie? Braden? Or me?”
“I don’t have to stand here and take this.” She flounces off, heading God knows where. I don’t see her car anywhere. This is a decent area, but no single woman should be walking alone after midnight.
“Whatever,” I murmur. I take my ice cream and head back to Tessa’s.
Once there, I knock.
No answer.
“Tess?” I say, trying not to shout too loudly. It is after midnight.
She doesn’t respond, so I turn the knob. It’s open. She didn’t lock up after I left, which is not like her at all.
So un-Tessalike. What the hell is going on?
I walk in. “Tess, I’m back.”
She must be in the bathroom. I jiggle the door handle, and—
“Oh my God!”
Chapter Forty-One
Tessa’s body is slumped over the toilet bowl, which is filled with vomit. Maybe that’s what she needed.
“Tess, come on.” I jiggle her shoulder.
She doesn’t move.
“Tessa! Come on!”
“What’s wrong?”
I jump out of my skin at the voice.
Addison Ames stands in the doorway to Tessa’s bathroom.
“How the hell did you get in here?”
“Same way you did. I walked in.”
“Why the fuck are you— Oh, hell. Never mind. Help me get her out of here.”