I held up both hands. “I’m not. He’s just a little odd. And he’s got that I-could-crush-you-with-my-bare-hands look about him.”
“I think he’s handsome.”
I chuckled. “You’ve made that abundantly clear. You and the rest of the female population of this island, who isn’t terrified of him.”
Caelyn set my scramble down in front of me and placed her hands on her hips. “Given everything he’s been through, I think it’s natural that Griffin has some walls up. But he’s always been perfectly polite to me.”
My brow rose. “Tell me, how does one grunt politely?”
Caelyn tried to fight her laughter, but it soon escaped and had me joining in. It was just what I needed to start my day. But as I finished eating, I couldn’t help but worry that my friend with the most tender of hearts might be developing a crush on the last man she needed to be fixated on. Who was I kidding? I was doing the same damn thing. Except I’d already surpassed the crush phase and was precariously close to so much more.
28
Crosby
I tugged off my tie as I walked through the door of my office.
Penny looked up from her desk. “That bad?”
I tugged the choking fabric free. “The Abbots are not good people.” It was the understatement of the century. It was only the first day of the trial, and Grant was already playing dirty. He and Hotchkiss were doing their best to convince the judge that Kenna, Dr. Kipton, and I were in cahoots in the hopes of stealing The Gables from Clark and Annabelle. It didn’t matter that there was no proof; they were spinning a convincing tale with conjecture alone.
Penny sobered. “Do you think they’re going to win?”
“Not if I can help it.” I’d do whatever it took to help Kenna keep her home, the refuge that Harriet wanted her to have. It just meant that I’d be looking for some additional witnesses to make our case.
“Glad to hear it. A few things came for you in the mail. I put a pile on your desk.”
“Thanks, Pen.” I made my way into my office, taking a moment to remove the uncomfortable suit jacket and hang it behind my door. I eased into my chair and began flipping through the mail. Bills and junk mostly, with one lone padded envelope.
I pulled scissors from my drawer and sliced the seal. Dumping the contents onto my desk, I froze. The photo that stared back at me felt like a lifetime ago. It was on a beach in front of my family’s house on the Vineyard. Alicia wore a red bikini and a large, floppy hat. I grinned down at her, my sunglasses perched on the top of my head.
It was the weekend I’d proposed to her. My parents had been over the moon. For the first time, I’d truly felt their love and approval. But it had all been conditional, dependent upon me playing a role I didn’t actually have any interest in. Partner at the firm. A vacation home down the beach from my parents. Alicia and two-point-five kids. But none of it was real. Hell, Alicia had already been cheating on me. She’d promised me forever while screwing my best friend.
A muscle in my jaw ticked as I picked up the card. It was like passing a car crash on the side of the road. I knew I would only see ugly devastation, yet I couldn’t help but look.
Crosby,
I know I messed up. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix things between us. Please talk to me.
Yours always,
Alicia
I let out a snort at the signoff. She’d never been mine, and she never would be. The difference was that seven years ago, I would’ve given anything for her to be mine. Now, I’d give anything for her to go away. Blocking her number had stopped the calls and texts, but you couldn’t block the United States Postal Service. I pulled out my phone and typed out a message.
Me: Tell Alicia to stop sending shit to my place of business.
I guess I should’ve been glad that my mother didn’t have my home address. Alicia probably would’ve shown up in person by now.
Mom: Don’t use that language with me, young man. You need to hear Alicia out. That’s the least she deserves.
Alicia didn’t deserve a damn thing from me, except maybe a taste of her own medicine. But Brent had already given her that. An old colleague from the firm had sent me an email letting me