Page 64 of Craving Consequences

Yes, I’ve always felt that connection with them.

Yes, I always felt sad leaving them. But it’s getting harder.

Every time I’m with them and have to watch them walk away, the weight crushes me a little more each time.

If I spend another day with them, another night, I may never follow through with the final step.

Fisting the wheel a little harder, I turn down Huron Street and bypass Holland’s.

It’s too early for Teddy to be at work. I feel bad ambushing him at his apartment but time is a luxury I don’t currently have. Plus, a small, stupid part of me can’t be trusted not to abandon the plan. Already it’s thinking of all the ways I can make this work.

But I can’t.

I know I can’t. I’m too realistic and methodical to be so lazy.

Still, I park at the very back corner, tucked away behind a sea of shiny metal. I’m briefly relieved that Lauren’s apartment faces the front side of the building and, without a car, she never takes the backdoor to the parking lot.

I will eventually talk to her. I have no choice. I have an entire party planned for her tomorrow. It would be impossible not to. But not yet. I have a small bakery in my trunk that will not allow for that conversation.

I tell myself as I yank open the door leading up the back stairs.

Teddy is on the floor right beneath Lauren’s. It makes avoiding her easy as I cross the worn carpet to his door and knock.

It opens almost immediately. The man on the threshold is topless with a pair of Scooby Doo pajamas bottoms slung low — low! — on his hips.

I wasn’t surprised by his physique in high school. Teddy was captain of the basketball team. He taught swimming classes for kids. Was pretty active .

But as a fully grown adult who sits behind a desk most of the day, he’s built. Lean and muscular with a wavy chaos of hair falling over eyes he’s quickly covering with his glasses.

Jesus.

“Everly, hi.” He gives me a sheepish grin and scrambles back. “Come in. I was just starting a pot of coffee.”

I am very aware that this would not look good if anyone caught me coming out of Teddy’s apartment this early in the morning with him dressed like that, but there really isn’t another option.

I follow him in.

He shuts the door and practically sprints down the hall, yelling, “Kitchen is in the first doorway.”

All the apartments are the same. This one is the mirror of Lauren’s , except meticulously clean. Lauren has clothes and hair product all over the place like she’d just moved in and is still unpacking.

It’s been three years.

Teddy returns from the first door built into the far wall with a forest green top pulled down over his torso. His big hands ruffle back through his dark strands in some attempt at control.

“Sorry about that,” he says, cheeks an endearing shade of pink. “I thought it might be ... someone else.”

I wave his apology aside. “I’m the one who showed up unannounced like some crazy person. ”

He chuckles weakly and hurries to the kitchen where the coffee machine has started singing the song of life. The potent scent of freshly brewed dark roast tickles my nose, reminding me I forgot my muffin back at Maisie’s .

Drats.

“Want a cup?” Teddy asks, rummaging through neatly organized cupboards.

Yes!

“No, thank you,” I grumble, edging slightly closer. “I don’t want to take too much of your time. I was actually hoping you had the papers with you I could sign.”

He pauses and turns. His head cocks to one side and he peers at me through his glasses.

“I do...”

Abandoning his rifling, he stalks to the satchel slung over the back of a chair at the tiny table tucked into the corner of the kitchen. He flips the top open and unearths a small stack of papers.

“Normally, I’d have these at the office.

I was at home when you called so I just printed them here and was going to take them in this morning.

” He sets them on the table. “I thought you wanted to look at them next week.” He straightens, one finger poking the frames higher up on his nose. “Is everything okay?”

While I know Teddy isn’t a gossip and he wants this as much as I do, I know better than to trust anyone .

“I’m ready for this and I know if I wait too long, I’ll overthink things and confuse myself.”

His nod is slow, but there is a focus behind his eyes that makes me shift uneasily.

“It’s a big decision. I was honestly surprised by your call yesterday.” He taps the tip of four fingers on the pages. “You don’t have to make any kind of—”

“I want to,” I press quickly. “I need to.”

He studies me for longer than I like so I’m not surprised when he says, “It’s not my business but if this is about what happened with Bron...”

“It’s not ... not entirely,” I correct. “I want to travel and the money will help.”

Teddy hisses through his teeth like I’ve said something wild. His arms fold over his chest and he props a hip against the corner of the table.

“So, you’re leaving,” he muses. “That’s a big life choice.”

I’m hating this conversation. I hate that he’s not just letting me sign. Why is this necessary?

“If this is a problem, I can go to someone else.”

I know my voice is sharp and clipped, but I have a cake melting in the car and a house he’s not letting me sell.

“No. No. I can do it. I just want to make sure you’re really okay with this.” His expression softens. “It was your family home for a long time, and you have your whole life here. ”

Hot, angry tears well behind my eyes that I have to grind my jaw to keep from falling. Sharp nails cut into the heels of my hands as I stare at him trying not to fall apart.

“I’m okay with it,” I lie.

He lowers his hand and drags his palms across the grinning faces of Scooby along his thighs. “Does Lauren know? Is she going with you?”

A wheeze leaves me.

“Just let me sign the fucking papers, Teddy!” I snap.

His green eyes widen, head snapping back like I’d smacked him.

Taking a breath, I close my eyes. “I’m sorry. That was ... uncalled for. It’s been a long week.” Taking another slow breath, I look at him. “Can I please sign the papers?”

With a slow nod, he pushes upright and digs through his bag for a pen.

I’m shaking as I cross the distance to accept it. The entire room is a hazy blur behind the thick wall of emotions I’m having a really hard time controlling. I try to swallow, but it only lodges around the golf ball squeezed down my esophagus.

I sniffle. Unintentionally. Damn nose started running and I couldn’t help it.

Teddy doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t stop me as I peer down at the smudges of paper.

“Where?” I breathe .

Still silent, he starts flipping the pages and pointing.

I scribble my name fast and without asking a single question. I could have just given him my house for all it registered.

“I’ll grab what I need, but if you can find a couple of guys to load the rest into Safekeep Storage, I would appreciate it.”

I sign the last line as the first tear slips down my cheek.

“Everly...”

I pass him back his pen. “Lauren isn’t coming,” I tell him.

Tell the center of his chest. “She ... she doesn’t know.

No one does. I’ll leave the keys under the mat by Monday.

The reception is terrible where I’m going so you might not be able to get a hold of me right away, but I’ll check my messages as frequently as I can. ”

The spot I’m staring at expands with his sharp inhale.

“You should talk to Alana. Martin Parker’s daughter. She’s looking for a place like mine for when the baby comes.”

Teddy nods again, even slower if possible.

With a murmured thanks, I hurry from his apartment.

I sprint down the stairs and out through the backdoor without looking back.

Groceries then home — that’s the plan.

That’s what I tell myself the entire drive to the grocery store .

I dig out my list, toss my purse straps over my shoulder and roll out into the sticky aftermath of yesterday’s storm and the last two weeks of sweltering oppression.

It clings to my skin, a tacky gel that immediately fuses my blouse down the length of my spine.

I pinch the bottom and try to shake it free as I start towards the doors to Holland’s .

I’m thinking I should grab a couple slabs of water and a cart when the fingers close around my elbow. They’re ironclad, biting clamps that dig into bones.

I cry out and turn.

And stare straight into Bron’s writhing fury.