“What’s that?” Gabby asked.
I slid the key into the door and stepped over the tiny box, putting the grocery bags on the foyer table.
“I’ll grab it,” I told Gabby as she stepped over it, trying to balance her purse and groceries.
I picked up the box, which was wrapped in gold foil and had a black ribbon crisscrossed on top.
“Looks like chocolates,” I said, grinning. “I guess Jason misses you already.”
Gabby turned around beaming as she held a bag of tortillas. “He’s so sweet.”
I handed her the box and she lifted up the tag.
“Um, Brandy. These aren’t for me. It’s addressed to you and there is no sender.”
My blood turned ice-cold as I shoved the grocery bags onto the counter.
“Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“No. Why would I be?” she asked, unwrapping the foil.
“Don’t eat them,” I almost barked.
“Why?”
“I’m probably being paranoid, but some weird things have been happening.”
“And now you’re telling me?” Gabby rested her hand on her hip, clearly not pleased.
“You know those flowers I got?”
She nodded.
“I really don’t know who they came from.”
“I thought Shane, your ex, sent them?”
I shook my head. “And I’ve been getting really weird texts and phone calls. At first, I thought maybe it was someone playing a trick on me, but I’m not so sure anymore.”
“Should we go to the police?” Gabby asked.
“And say what? Someone sent me flowers and left a box of chocolates. Can you help?”
Gabby laughed and shook her head. “Good point. But the messages and texts seem like something to report.”
“The messages have been completely nonsensical and never actually addressed to me so it could just be a fluke. Maybe it’s Shane messing with me.”
Gabby’s expression relaxed. “Maybe it is.”
I searched for my cell in my purse and quickly texted Shane, but after I sent the message I knew it made no sense.
“Why would he go to all the trouble to either borrow people’s phones I don’t know or get disposables? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well, maybe it’s two separate issues. Maybe he’s trying to get your goat by sending the flowers and candy, and maybe the other is just nothing at all.”
I liked that idea and was busily putting away the groceries, enjoying the release of tension, once I decided that’s what had to be happening.
And then my phone rang.
“It’s Shane,” Gabby said, tossing it to me.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Is everything okay?” Shane asked, his voice concerned.
“So I take it that you’re not the one sending me the messages.”
“I wouldn’t do that to you,” he said, his voice softening. “I know I was totally immature in college, but I wouldn’t stoop to that. And I have changed, which if you’d meet me for coffee, you might find that out for yourself.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I laughed but knew I couldn’t lead him on. He had been a good boyfriend—attentive, loyal, sincere—but there was something missing between us. I never felt that spark that I’d heard about, longed for. It was more like a friendship with benefits. I never found myself daydreaming about Shane, not the way I had about Aaron.
“Seriously though. What’s been going on?”
“I’ve been getting all kinds of random texts and calls. And someone sent flowers to my work and chocolates to my condo.” Once I said it aloud to Shane, the uneasiness rushed through my body, squashing all of my attempts to explain it away.
“And you don’t have any idea who it might be?” he asked.
“I was hoping it was you. Only not,” I said. Our breakup wasn’t horrible, but it was more one-sided.
“I actually don’t even know where you work,” Shane confessed. “So even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.”
Why didn’t I think of that? That’s right. I never told him where I got a job.
“Have you reported it?” Shane asked.
“I don’t think there’s anything to report. But if anything else weird happens, maybe I will. Well, thanks for calling me back.”
“It was nice hearing from you. I miss you,” Shane said, his voice hopeful.
“It was really nice of you to call me back,” I repeated. “Maybe we’ll grab coffee sometime.”
“Sure,” Shane said, his tone falling. “Talk to ya later.”
And he hung up.
“Well, that was great. I just added salt to the wound there.” I tossed my phone on a cookbook and let out a deep sigh.
“Maybe we should get the security cameras hooked up again,” Gabby suggested.
“That’s probably a good idea. Actually…” I hesitated and started slicing the chicken and caught Gabby looking at me suspiciously.
“Is there anything you want to tell me?” she asked, her brow raised.
“I think your brother mentioned something about being able to fix them.”
She turned around, brow raised. “Really and when was this?”
“Just that day at the hospital,” I said, which wasn’t a complete lie. It did fall during that twenty-four hour period.
“That’s a good idea.”
“I thought so, and it would save us some money. Plus—”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“I know you’re holding some stuff back so spit it out.”
“I’m sorry. I think I’ve been preoccupied with studying. I’m kind of freaking about starting law school. I’ve been planning this forever and I just don’t want to screw it up.”
And I can’t stop daydreaming about your brother who apparently got my message about being only friends and hasn’t called or texted since.
“You’ll do amazing. You always worry and stress and then by the end of whatever you set your mind to, you soar.”
“Thanks. I hope so.”
“How many of the incoming students do you think got a chance to volunteer all through high school and college at a law firm?” she asked, slicing the peppers.
“It wasn’t a law firm. It was at my mom’s non-profit law center.”
“Same difference and you know what I mean. But, regardless, I think what you need is to completely let loose this weekend at your brothers. It sounds like it will be so much fun, and I can’t wait to finally get to take part.”
I laughed at the thought. Every year my brothers hosted a weekend long party at some property they owned. I would always invite Gabby, but in the summer she was always off on some luxurious vacation with her stepmom. This was the first summer that they didn’t tour Europe or something because Gabby was working at the office.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” I teased. “We’re talking about a cabin owned by two guys who love to party, and tents propped up all over the place by fellow partiers.”
“It sounds like something we both need,” she said, tearing up as she moved on to the onions.
“I’m so happy Lily gets to come too. I think she was starting to get really sad that she never got to see you when she drove up here.”
“Which is why part of me is super sad that Jason can’t make it and the other is relieved. I wouldn’t want Lily to think I completely ditched her for a man, again.”
“If anyone would understand, I think it would be Lily.” I dropped the chicken into the skillet and began adding seasoning and stirring quickly.
Gabby brought me over a glass of wine as I made dinner.
“Well, here’s to a fun girls’ weekend,” she said, smiling and texting. “Aaron said he can come over next week to fix the system. Does that work for you?”
I nodded.
“I’m just gonna give him your cell number so he can text you the details.”
“Great.” Just what I needed. Now he had an excu
se to text without Gabby getting suspicious.
Within in seconds the first text came over.
So whachya doing?
I texted back
Not much. Just got done texting an old boyfriend
I waited for a reply and realized Aaron obviously couldn’t take a joke. My phone remained silent the rest of the night.
“How long have we been in the car?” Gabby whined. She was sitting in the backseat, handing out goldfish crackers and M&Ms to Lily who was sitting in the front. “It feels like forever.”
The music was on a constant turn between Lorde, Imagine Dragons, and Capital Cities, and the air conditioning was blasting. We had officially made it to the other side of the state, which meant hotter temperatures and not much scenery beyond wheat and hay fields and the occasional gas station. Or at least that was the road we chose to take. I remember seeing prettier scenery when one of my brothers drove.
“You are worse than my four year old cousin,” Lily laughed, unfolding her hand for more goldfish.
“We’ve been driving for a little over four hours, but that counts the multiple snack stops you needed,” I said, looking at Gabby in the rearview mirror.
“Whatever. All you brought was trail mix and fruit leather. When have I ever been a granola kind of girl?” Gabby narrowed her eyes at me and threw a couple M&Ms at me, and they bounced off the center console before hitting the floor.
I shook my head and started laughing as the GPS instructed us to turn off the road we were on. Flipping the blinker on, I took a left and spotted another country store with a half-burned out sign for a café.
“We’ve only got ten more miles, but the road looks a little sketchy so who knows how long it will be,” I replied.
“I thought you’d been here before?” Lily asked, scanning the playlist selection.
“I’ve been here a few times, but I was never driving.” The road led us to more greenery and I instantly calmed. This was the scenery I remembered, not all the brown everywhere. I had obviously taken a different route than my brothers.
“I wonder if there will be any hot guys there,” Lily mused, looking out the windows.
“You can only hope,” Gabby chimed in.
“I’m not hoping. I’m praying,” Lily laughed.
“Hey, aren’t your brothers single?” Gabby teased, catching my look in the rearview.
I nodded and grinned at Lily. “Yep. Both ready for the taking, Lily.”
Lily shot a devilish grin at me and then at Gabby. “I never wanted to mention the obvious, but they are pretty fine.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I’ll be sure to pass on the message.”
“You better not,” Lily quipped, throwing a goldfish at me.
“You guys are both going to owe me a car detail after this trip. I swear you’re worse than toddlers.”
“It’s not us,” Gabby laughed. “You’re the neat freak.”
I spotted the glimmer of water in the distance between the pines that were sparsely scattered along the road.
“So I know we brought a tent, but are we really going to have to stay in the tent?” Lily asked.
“We don’t have to, but the cabin is like a frat house. Ayden saved us a room to share, but I have a feeling you’ll learn to appreciate the tent as soon as you see—”
“Is that it?” Gabby interrupted, pointing at the one cabin in sight situated next to the water. It was about the size of a pencil eraser from our distance. There were miniature-sized people already on the lake in Jet Skis, and my heart began to beat a little faster. I needed this break.
“That’s it. Looks like the party has already started.” I turned the car onto the road that would take us directly to the cabin and immediately felt close to home.
I had been stuck in such a rut of studying and working that it was nice to think about letting loose. And if anyone knew how to throw a weekend-long party, it was my brothers.
As the road snaked along the lake, the people on the lake came into better view as well as the makeshift campsites peppered along my brothers’ property.
“This is going to be phenomenal,” Lily exclaimed, turning in her seat to watch the jet skiers.
“I wish Jason could’ve come,” Gabby groaned.
“Doesn’t the idea of a girls’ trip do it for ya?” I teased.
She stuck out her tongue and started rolling up the M&M bag.
“The nights are going to be cold and spooning with you guys isn’t the same. Sorry.” She pretended to pout and I grinned. It was awesome to see Gabby so happy.
Watching the jet skiers gave me the jitters and I shook my head. “Please promise me you guys aren’t going to go out on the water on those.”
“Please promise me you aren’t going to stay on the shore,” Gabby mimicked.
“Really?” I asked. “You want to do those?”
“Hell, yeah,” Gabby said. “It’s like a bike on water.”
“Exactly my point,” I replied.
“You’ve never been on one even with all the times you’ve been over here?” Lily asked, perplexed.
“Nope, and I don’t plan on it. I don’t have to feel like my life is on the line to have fun, you know.”
Approaching the long, gravel driveway I hugged the left side so I didn’t knock off anyone’s side mirrors. This party looked bigger than any of the others they’d held over the years, and I was kind of nervous about it. I didn’t want anything to go wrong as the weekend went on. I couldn’t even guess how many people were here. The liability always worried me, which in turn, was why I was meant to be an attorney. At least, I could turn my worries into something useful.
I saw two orange cones with pink and silver balloons tied to them with a large sign written in a sharpie.
“Guess that’s your parking spot?” Lily said, laughing. “I’ll get out and grab the cones.”
“Thanks.” Leave it to my brothers to keep a watchful eye out for me. They always treated me like a princess but not in a bad way. I had come to expect certain things from men because my brothers always put me first, and I was grateful for it. My standards were set high because of them. But maybe that’s why I was so leery of Aaron. Maybe it really had nothing to do with him being Gabby’s brother, but what if he could never be that perfect person or offer me that imaginary life? Maybe no one could. I thought back to the chemistry with him. Everything felt so right.
I let out a sigh, which Gabby caught as soon as it slipped.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on. Spill the beans.”
“Honestly?”
Gabby nodded.
“I was just wondering if my brothers ruined me for ever finding the perfect guy. They have always treated me like—”
“Like you deserve to be treated,” she finished for me. “Don’t lower your standards. The right guy will appear and when he does, you’ll know beyond a shadow of doubt that he’s the one. He might not be perfect, but he’ll be right for you.”
What if that someone was your brother?
Lily took the orange cones and held them out in front of her chest as if they were attached to her, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I doubted that she’d ever grow up.
“Nice,” I hollered out my window.
“You like?” she laughed.
And that was why the guys flocked to her. A tall blonde began making his way over to her with a beer in hand, and Gabby busted out laughing.
“She never ceases to amaze me,” I muttered, as I pulled the car forward and watched Lily joke with the newcomer. Putting the car in park, I watched Lily work her magic and wondered if I should start adopting Lily’s carefree attitude.
“He’s a cutie. Do you know him?” Gabby asked.
“Nope.” I opened the door and stretched as Gabby followed my lead.
“Hey, knucklehead,” Ayden called from the stoop.
Gabby started laughing and waved at my brother. “Some things never change.”
“Tell me about it.” I crinkled my nose and waved back at my brother.
Ayden walked down the stairs and glanced at Lily. “Be careful of that one,” he shouted in her direction.
“Is he that bad?” she teased, smiling at the blonde.
“I wasn’t talking about him,” Ayden chimed back.
The guy next to Lily started laughing as she crossed her arms in front of her and flipped my brother an evil look.
“I’ve got the master saved for you three,” Ayden said, spying the tent tied to the roof of the car. “Why’d you bring that?”
“Brandy said we probably wouldn’t want to stay in the cabin. It was what… like a frat house?”
I nodded.
“Well, we’ve got new rules in place, so I’m sure it will be just fine. Let’s at least haul everything up there and if you still want to tent it, then fine.” He began untying the straps on the roof and released the tent. Gabby opened the trunk and grabbed her bag and Lily’s.
“I’ll get Lily’s stuff.”
“Hey, where’d she go?” I looked around the driveway, noticing Lily’s absence. “That didn’t take long.”
“I’m sure she’s just getting us some drinks,” Gabby chuckled.
“When pigs fly,” Ayden muttered.
“Hey, now,” I warned. “She’s my friend.”
Ayden winked and grinned as he hauled the tent bag and my duffle bag off the roof just as Mason walked along the side of the house.
“There you are,” he called. “I saw Lily and knew you couldn’t be far behind.”
He came up and gave me a big hug and then switched to Gabby. “How are you two doing? Ready to party like it’s—”
“Don’t say it,” Gabby said holding up her hand. “You’ll make us feel older than we already are.”
He laughed and grabbed the cooler out of the trunk. I’d brought some meat for the grill and some drinks. It was kind of a do-it-yourself setup, and I knew my brothers had already footed the bill for most of it.
Beyond Doubt (Beyond Love Series #2) Page 8
