Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

MARLOW

I walked out of the office, disappointed and worried I hadn't seen or heard from Spencer. I thought he would at least text me back, but apparently, he was off the grid. I hoped he came back tomorrow feeling refreshed.

I stopped by the supermarket, slowly browsing the aisles with my mind elsewhere. I spent some time in the produce section and perused through the assortment of fruits and vegetables.

I selected a few crisp red apples, oranges, and a pack of strawberries. I was mentally planning the lunches I would pack while also thinking about dinner for the week. I did try and eat healthy when I could. Although I usually ended up with a sandwich from the cart and whatever I picked up on the way home. Being so busy took its toll sometimes.

I moved on to the canned goods aisle, my hand absentmindedly reaching for my favorite canned soup. With the cooler weather, I added a few more cans. I loved sitting on the couch, curled up in a blanket with a warm bowl of soup.

My eyes landed on Dakota's favorite soup. Memories of nights we spent together in our apartment eating soup and planning our future. That had been so long ago. It felt like a lifetime ago. He felt like a different person. That was before I was successful. I missed those days, but I didn't want them back. Too much had happened.

Why was he always causing trouble? I wished he'd just grow up and move on. I didn't believe he loved me. He wanted what he couldn't have after he pushed me away. His insecurities were the problem—not my success. He tried so hard to make me feel bad because I was successful.

I shook off the thoughts and continued my shopping. My shopping cart was half-full by the time I reached the dairy aisle. The aroma of fresh cheese filled my nostrils as I selected a block of cheddar and some cream cheese. Lasagna. I was going to make myself lasagna when I got home. My mouth watered just thinking about dinner. I selected some bread and made my way to the checkout.

Back at my apartment, I carried my groceries in, kicked off my heels, and changed into my sweats and favorite hoodie. I opened a bottle of chardonnay, poured myself a glass, and turned on my favorite playlist.

As I diced the tomatoes and onions, I allowed myself to get lost in the music. It was a soothing mix of jazz and blues, the perfect way to decompress. The saxophone played softly in the background, relaxing me after a day of nonstop stress.

My mind navigated between thoughts of Spencer and Dakota. I poured myself another glass of chardonnay, washing away the worries.

I had just put the lasagna in the oven when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen and saw it was Rhett. I wiped my hands on a towel and answered.

"Hey, Crash," I teased. "Chasing down anymore deer?"

"Marlow, what's the deal between you and Spencer?" Rhett asked without even saying hello.

I could hear the accusation and frustration in his tone. My tongue got stuck to the roof of my mouth. Panic tore through me. Did Spencer take the day off to clear his conscience?

That was something I would have thought he might want to clear with me. My brain felt like a hamster wheel. What did I say? What if he didn't know anything and was just pretending he knew to get me to say something? It could be a bluff. It wouldn't be the first time he used that tactic on me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and decided to play it cool. "What do you mean? He hired me and?—"

"You know exactly what I mean! What's the deal?"

"There's no deal. I work for him. With him." I corrected myself, suddenly feeling warm. I fanned my face with my hand.

"And under him, apparently," Rhett muttered darkly.

"What?" I exclaimed, my mind racing. "Rhett, what are you talking about? How much pain medication have you taken today?"

I reached for my glass of wine and took a long drink. He wasn't bluffing. I tried to think of a good excuse. Unfortunately, nothing came to mind. I had sex with my boss, or colleague, or whatever we were in the office.

"Spencer drove all the way to Stone Ridge today to confront Dakota and try to beat him up," Rhett said.

"What? He beat Dakota up?"

"Then he got it in his head to lecture me about the company I keep," Rhett hissed.

A grin spread across my face thinking about Spencer going all rogue. "Is that so?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady even as my heart fluttered.

All of this—his absence, his weird excuses to Graham—was for me?

I didn't know what to think. Spencer never mentioned he was going to talk to Dakota. He never said he was bothered by it at all.

"Yes, he did," Rhett snapped. "And it's enough. You need to meet with Dakota once and for all and put this behind you. You've been stringing this out long enough."

"Rhett, I haven't been stringing anyone along," I said, my voice hardening. "I have done no such thing. You don't know what you're talking about and I'd appreciate it if you stopped trying to defend my loser ex."

"You have to cut the guy loose once and for all," Rhett insisted. "He's pining for you day in and day out, and you're all he can think about. I think he's losing his mind, Marlow. That's why he's being so?—"

"Crazy? Scary? Unhinged?" I interrupted sharply. "You know, stalking me?"

"I was going to say stupid." He sighed.

"What a vague word to let him off the hook and not keep him accountable, Rhett," I said, shaking my head. "Nice. What he's doing to me is definitely stupid. It's also obnoxious and it's harassment. How would you feel if this was your ex calling you nonstop? Showing up at your work?"

Rhett sighed heavily. "I'm sick of the bullshit, Marlow. I just want Dakota to go back to being the guy I used to be friends with, like how it was when you were married to him. Why is it so hard to give the guy a conversation, be nice, and let him go?"

"I already let him go," I hissed, my anger bubbling over. "When I served him with divorce papers. When I told him I didn't love him anymore. When I told him he didn't deserve me and I was done with his controlling bullshit." I gritted my teeth and shook my head. "And you know what, Rhett?" I added, my voice full of venom. "He didn't take it well. Not at all. He's been relentless ever since, despite my clear communication."

"I know it's complicated, Marlow. I'm not saying Dakota's right in the way he's behaving or anything. I… I just want to see some peace, you know?"

"And you think this peace is my responsibility to make happen?" I shot back. "You're my brother. I divorced him, not you. I'm not asking you to stop being friends with him. Just don't expect me to be friends with him. Or talk to him."

"You guys were together a long time," he said. "You can't just go from loving a man to hating him! At the end of the day, he's still an old family friend."

"Then you fucking marry him," I snapped. "I refuse to be friends with him. I would never be friends with anyone that acted the way he is."

"Marlow—" he began, but I cut him off, my anger rising.

"No, Rhett," I said, my voice stern. "You don't get to play the mediator in this, and you certainly don't get to make me feel guilty for distancing myself from a toxic relationship."

"He's Dakota." Rhett sighed. "Come on. You're making him out to be a monster."

"He is a monster!" I seethed, my chest heaving as I struggled to control my breathing. "You don't know the half of it. The messages, the constant badgering? It's beyond obsessive. It's not just me he's tormenting either, it's Kyla. She doesn't deserve any of this. And now he's bothering me at work, trying to air all this ugly business in front of my new coworkers. People I work with shouldn't have to know anything about my private life, but he's brought it into my professional life."

"Marlow, I just wish you both could find some common ground," he murmured. "He's my friend. All of this is awkward for me. And now you've got Spencer in the mix. He's acting like I'm encouraging Dakota to chase you. Spencer has no right to tell me a damn thing. The only reason he would come up here ready to fight is if you're sleeping with him now and he's jealous."

"Watch your tone, Rhett," I warned.

"Are you hooking up with another one of my friends?"

"Would you find common ground with a person who terrorized you?" I snapped, ignoring the question about Spencer.

"Marlow, Dakota isn't terrorizing you…"

"He is. Terrorizing. Me!" My words were punctuated with my hand slapping the counter for emphasis. The anger was overtaking me completely. I could feel my face flush and my breath come in ragged bursts.

"But—" He started again, but I would not allow him to finish.

"No more buts!" I exploded. "Just because you're friends with him, doesn't mean I have to be. You don't know Dakota like I do."

"I know him pretty well. And you didn't answer my question about Spencer."

"I'm not talking to you about this, Rhett. The next time you call, I hope it's because you got your head out of your ass and you're ready to apologize. Don't you dare call me and ask about Dakota again. I'm done."

I hung up and stood there for a moment, letting the anger ebb away. Spencer. What the hell? The fact that he had gone to such lengths to protect me made my heart swell. I knew there was something between us, something more than just professional respect or lingering tension. But why wouldn't he say anything? Why didn't he answer any of my texts?

The smell of the lasagna in the oven caught my attention. I opened the oven door and saw it bubbling with the cheese melting. I slid the bread onto the rack above the lasagna and waited. I wasn't even all that hungry anymore.

I couldn't believe Rhett was actually backing up Dakota. I was his sister. His little sister. He should be the one threatening Dakota. Spencer shouldn't have to be the one. I didn't know why Spencer went to Dakota. Was it because of his friendship with my family or was it because he was protective of me for another reason?

I was lost in thought when the smell of the garlic bread snapped me back to reality. I turned off the oven and removed my dinner. I was planning to freeze a lot of it for quick and easy dinners over the next couple of weeks. I thought about calling Spencer again but thought better of it. Maybe he didn't tell me because he didn't want me to know what he did. I wasn't going to throw it in his face. If he wanted to tell me, he would. Just like the sex in the office, we would pretend it never happened.

I grabbed a plate and scooped some lasagna onto it. I took a bite of a piece of bread and put the rest back in the oven to get a little crunchier. Then I carried my plate and half-full glass of wine to the table.

I sat there, wondering what the interaction between Dakota and Spencer looked like. Did they get into it?

Just as I was about to take a bite, there was a knock on the door. I didn't move. What if it was Dakota coming by to yell at me because of what Spencer did? But maybe it was Spencer.

I looked through the peephole and there stood Spencer. I guess he'd finally found a reason to stop by after I gave him my address a while back. I opened the door immediately. He looked drained, but the rugged, tousled look suited him, making him look drop-dead gorgeous. He could be sexy wearing a hazmat suit.

"Can I come in?" he asked, his voice soft.

"Of course." I stepped aside, letting him pass, and closed the door behind us. For a moment, I had half a mind to jump his bones right then and there. The tension between us was electric. I could feel the heat rising.

"Spencer, you look tired," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He gave me a weary smile. "It's been a long day."