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I toyed with the spare pair of night clothes I kept here and rolled on my back, looking up at the popcorn ceiling.

“Remember when you used to say we were too old to still be on a family phone plan? But every month, you paid your half of the bill and never went to get a new plan no matter how much you fussed? Well, look at us now. I never have to worry about some random white man claiming your number one day because I’m still paying the bill. You’re stuck with me.”

I sighed, looking at her name inked across the inside of my pinky.

“I miss you, Promise. I wish Heaven had FaceTime so I could see your face again. I miss your smile and how much you used to suck your teeth at my genius ideas. I just miss…you. I know you did what you did and you felt it was the best, but I—I just want you here, sis. You were my ace. My partner in crime for every little thing. And now you’re…gone. You’re supposed to be here, Promise. I wish you’d just given me one more chance to hug you. I could really use one of your hugs right now.”

Tears wet up the side of my face while I continued talking into the phone, laid out across the bed in my grandma’s guest room.

Lady was at my side, her head resting on my torso like she knew I needed the extra affection.

“Anyway, I didn’t want nothing. Just wanted to tell you that. I love you so much.”

When I hung up the phone, I threw my arm across my mouth to muffle the sound of my sobs. I fell asleep like that, sprawled across the bed with the light still on. And when I woke up the next morning, Lady was gone but one of my grandmother’s quilts was draped over me.

I stayed with my grandparents Thursday and Friday nights. I wasn’t avoiding going home, notreally. But staying with them had its advantages. I was able to bribe Ruby Jean to go to her physical therapy appointment Friday afternoon.

And Friday around four o’clock, I went to the cabin and grabbed an outfit to wear to the Fall Festival Saturday. Neither of my neighbor’s trucks were home when I got there and I made my escape without being discovered.

My group chat with Noah and Greyson had been blessedly quiet, but Noah had message me privately, asking if I was okay and where I was.

Noah:

where are you, mama? Did you leave Bliss Peak? Are you okay? Just let me know you’re good

Guilt pulled at my heartstrings. I’d disappeared the day Greyson said Noah was having a bad day and I hadn’t been in touch with him since. After all the days he’d unknowingly cheered me up just by asking me to dinner, I’d abandoned him. I needed to get my shit together.

Speaking of shit I needed to get together, Greyson Wolfe was currently standing in front of my grandmother’s stall at the Fall Festival looking finer than he had thirty-six hours ago. He’d traded in the suit for a pair of dark jeans and a sweater that fit his muscular physique like a glove.

My throat bobbed at the sight of him and he smirked, telling me without words that he’d noticed.

“You look good, Red.” He raked those slumberous eyes over me, igniting heat in places I couldn’t handle in public.

I knew I looked good. That was the reason I’d put on the black body suit that was sheer enough to show my red bra and the mini skirt that was short enough to show off the thickness of my thighs. Even though they were covered in tights and knee-high black boots.

“Thanks, I’m a ladybug,” I told him, drawing attention to the pipe cleaner headband I’d made last night. Yesterday was Halloween but a lot of people had shown up at the festival in costume anyway. I was proud to be in that number.

Greyson bit his lip and unearthed the damned dimple that stole my breath.

“Where’s Noah?” I asked instead of losing myself in memories of what we’d done in the back of Noir.

He cupped the rim of his glasses and adjusted them, looking me in the eye the whole time. “Funny because he’s been asking me the same thing about you for the past day and a half.”

More guilt mounted before my grandmother bumped my shoulder and I remembered where I was.

“Can I help you?” After that, I recited the menu of items we had and waited for his response.

“I’ll take a basket of apples.”

A devious smile worked its way across my face when I realized my grandmother was now out of earshot and helping another customer. “Coming right up.”

Then I bent down behind the display table, grabbed what I was looking for and hopped back up.

“Here you go. That’ll be ten dollars.”

Greyson didn’t look at the apples I’d just given him and handed over a fifty without a second thought.

“Keep the change,” he murmured. “When can we talk?”