Page 28

“Keep it close.” Forcing an easy-going grin onto my face, I hand him my keys. “I won’t be here long.”
Before I leave him to it, I reach back into the truck and drag the box and bag across the seat and take them with me.
Crossing the lobby, I spot the desk monkey out of the corner of my eye but I don’t break my stride. He must take his job very seriously because he’s already coming around the side of the front desk to attempt an interception.
“I’m here to see Henley O’Connell,” I tell him, using my elbow to jab the call button for the elevator because my hands are full.
“That may be, sir but I still have to—”
“Gatsby.” The elevator lets out a ding and I step back. The desk monkey’s mouth snaps shut and he smooths a hand down the front of his shirt, over his tie. Gatsby is the code word Henley set up for guests who don’t need to be announced.
She didn’t give it to me.
She gave it to Tess and I happened to be listening.
I don’t feel so much as a twinge of guilt over using it without permission.
“Very well, sir.” He gives me a slight nod before disappearing.
The elevator doors slide open and I step inside.
I’ve never been here.
Never been invited.
Henley pretends to be my friend but she’s not. Not really. The truth is, she struggles with forgiving me for the way I treated her. The way I pushed her and my brother apart.
It’s okay. I get it. If I were her, I wouldn’t even bother pretending. I’d openly hate my fucking guts.
But I’m here and I’m going to ask her for help all the same.
Because there’s no one else I can ask.
Leaning the box against the wall beside her front door, I knock. I can hear voices inside—female voices. It occurred to me that she might not be home. What hadn’t occurred to me is that she might have company. That Tess might be here.
Fuck.
The door swings open.
“Dec—” Henley starts to say my name but stops herself.
“Who is it?” An unfamiliar voice. Must be Cari’s little sister, Grace.
I hold up the bag, showing her Anton’s shop logo engraved into the heavy black paper. Her eyes go round and wide.
“Nothing—I mean just a delivery.” She shakes her head at me. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She eases herself into the hall and shuts the door behind her. “What did you do, Declan?”
I don’t answer her because what I did is pretty fucking obvious. “You need to be the one to give it to her.” I shove the bag into her hands before reaching for the box. “Tell her you bought it.”
“Why?” She looks down at the box I push into her hand.
“Because she won’t take it from me and she’ll at least consider taking it from you, that’s why.”
“No...” She looks up at me, deep brown eyes narrowed on my face. “I mean why?”
I know what she meant, I just don’t want to answer the question. “Because she needs a dress—” for her date. The rest of it gets stuck in my throat. I can’t say it. I can’t even think about it. “for whatever she needs it for.”
Henley stands there, looking at me like I just dumped a bucket of rats over her head. “So you want me to lie. To Tess.”