I continued up the stairs only to find the second-floor door open and more voices and a party inside there as well. Was the entire building having a party? Did these people not have jobs to worry about tomorrow?
I walked up to the third floor quickly before anyone came out of that door to greet me. When I reached the top floor, that door was also open, although the voices weren’t as loud and there was no music coming from inside. I didn’t know what I was going to face since Presley had already begun sharing her dislike for me with the others in the building. Mack didn’t seem to care about her opinion. I hoped the others felt the same.
Stepping inside I saw silver balloons and a Happy Birthday banner across the entrance. Was the entire building celebrating one birthday? I could hear laughter coming from the great room and kitchen, but I didn’t feel comfortable asking whose birthday it was. I hadn’t been told there would be a party, so I assumed I wasn’t invited.
I paused to decide if I should head straight to my temporary room or make an appearance when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Looking down the hallway, I found Stone there. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes locked on me.
I made my way down the hallway to thank him for my job once again and then maybe he’d tell me what I should do. I was secretly hoping he’d suggest I relax in my room. All these people made me nervous.
“It’s someone’s birthday I see,” I said as I approached him.
He scowled and glanced at the decorations at the entrance of his apartment. “Unfortunately.”
That response didn’t surprise me. Stone didn’t appear to be the kind of guy to enjoy a birthday party in his space. “I guess you didn’t plan this.”
He sighed and shifted his eyes back to mine. “Most years I leave the country. Alone. I do something I want to do. Check something off my bucket list. But this year . . . this year I stayed. And Presley did this.”
“It’s your birthday?” I asked feeling terrible for not knowing. No one had said anything. Not even Geraldine.
“No. My birthday is in two weeks. However, Presley was afraid I would disappear, so she did this early.”
I had two weeks to find a gift to thank him for all he had done for me and to wish him happy birthday. I would ask Geraldine for help. She’d know what he liked. I felt bad for him because it appeared Presley didn’t care if he’d enjoy a party or not.
“I’m sure she means well,” I said trying to remain positive about her.
He raised his eyebrows. “Is that what you really think, Beulah? Or are you just being nice because that’s what you do? I’d like to know what you really think. Not what you think you should think.”
He was asking for my thoughts. I wasn’t sure anyone had ever asked me that. Who would? It wasn’t polite to corner someone like that. But it was honest and real, and those were two things I missed lately.
I opened my mouth and readied myself to say what I thought. It wasn’t nice but it was correct. Zero sugar coating just as he’d requested. “Presley is selfish and spoiled. She may have some childhood issues I don’t know about, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior. She had a party because she likes the attention. She isn’t worried about anyone but herself.” My mouth snapped shut, and I had to fight the urge to cover said mouth in horror. Had I ever said something so incredibly blunt? Without thought to another person’s feelings?
Stone grinned. It was that grin that sent my heart rate into a frenzy. “That’s better. Sounded real and not rehearsed. I prefer honesty. Brutal, harsh but fucking real. There’s enough bullshit in my life.”
He pushed off from the wall and came to stand in front of me. His body towered over mine and his scent was a dark and tempting fragrance that made me inhale deeply.
“I trust you. You’ve got a kind soul. Even when you’re honest, it’s not cruel. That’s rare in my world. You have to know that I won’t ever get close to you. I won’t ever open up to you. Understand?”
His words had gone from complementary to something else. Did he think I wanted him to get close to me? Had I given off that vibe? Maybe the way he smelled or the way he smiled made me feel lightheaded, but I wasn’t pushing myself on him. I wasn’t hoping for anything more. I concluded that his comment had insulted me.
“I don’t recall asking you to. I’ve already fallen in love once, and it shattered me. I’m not looking for a replacement.” I kept my voice cool and was rather proud of myself for the way I responded.
He leaned down making sure my eyes locked on his. “No, you didn’t,” he whispered before he straightened and walked down the hall toward his room. I stood there until his bedroom door closed behind him. He didn’t turn around to look back at me. He just left me with those last words.
I was angry. I shouldn’t feel upset with him. I owed him too much. But his need to be brutally honest wasn’t always acceptable. Especially when he didn’t know what he was talking about. He couldn’t tell me what I felt.
I spun around, walked into my room and closed the door behind me. I locked the door and growled in frustration.
The one thing I hated about his last words? He was forcing me to involuntarily question my feelings. I was asking myself if I had been in love with Jasper. If there had been time for that. In reality, I didn’t know Jasper, not really. I had figured out he’d deceived me even if the deceptions weren’t that big of a deal. The issue was he had deceived me.
Dropping my purse on the bed, I sank down on the bedspread and fell back to stare at the ceiling. Every moment I had with Jasper had been magical. He’d made me feel a way I never had before. I didn’t want to think any of that wasn’t real. It had felt real. I wouldn’t lose those memories because Stone was cynical. My memories with Jasper were something no one was taking from me.
THE NEXT MORNING, I WOKE up to shouting before my alarm went off. I glanced at the clock—it was only five. Sitting up in bed, I listened. The thick walls and doors muffled most of the shouting. A few words were clear, but I wasn’t sure what it was about. Going back to sleep wouldn’t be possible now.
My first thought was it was Jasper. He’d come back here to talk to me.
I climbed out of bed and glanced down at my faded pink pajamas my mother had given me for Christmas when I was sixteen. Changing into clothing before I went out there to face whatever was happening seemed silly. I didn’t care what anyone thought of my pajamas. Especially Stone. And Jasper had already seen them.
If it was Jasper out there causing a scene at five in the morning, it was time I dealt with him. Stone had been helpful, and he shouldn’t have to fight with his best friend over my staying here. Hiding from Jasper forever wasn’t going to be possible anyway. I’d had a full day to get myself together. Life would go on. Heidi was always going to be my sister. And other than the Van Allans paying for her care, they wouldn’t be a part of her life.
Opening my door, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves and prepare, then headed down the hallway toward the voices. Stone was demanding that she respect his home. I paused and waited. Maybe I’d been confused. I thought I’d heard two male voices, not Presley’s.
“Jesus, Stone, relax. You’re always so fucking wound up. She threw you a party. Everyone left late. It’ll get cleaned up,” the other male said.