Chapter 44

CHAPTER 44

MARLOW

I woke up in Spencer's guest room, the unfamiliar surroundings momentarily disorienting me. I stretched my toes and looked around the room. It was simple but comfortable, with cream-colored walls and a plush carpet next to the bed. The sheets were expensive. I could tell. The comforter was soft and heavy. There was a small desk with a lamp in the corner and a single painting on the opposite wall, keeping things very basic. The guest room had its own private bathroom. It was absolutely beautiful.

It took a while to fall asleep last night, but once I did, I had been out like a light. It was good.

I felt a lot better than I had when I went to bed. I rolled over and reached for my phone on the nightstand. There was a text from Spencer. I rubbed my eyes and opened it. He'd gone to my apartment to install new locks and security and would be back soon. There was coffee in the machine. I just had to hit brew.

I smiled as I read the message. He was very thoughtful. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, feeling the tension from last night still coiled in my muscles. But the thought of fresh coffee was a small comfort. His sweats nearly fell down when I stood. I rolled them at the waist to keep them up. I walked out of the guest room and made my way to the kitchen. The blinds were turned to allow some light in but not too much. I had a feeling that had been on purpose as well. How could he be so thoughtful in moments like this but such a complete monster at work?

If only people could see this side of him. They might give him some free passes for his snarling ways in the office. Or they might wonder if he had multiple personalities.

I found the coffee machine and hit brew. While it worked its magic, I took the opportunity to explore Spencer's penthouse.

The art collections on the walls surprised me—beautiful, eclectic pieces that hinted at a deeper side of Spencer. I wandered into a library full of fiction novels, classics mingling with fantasy. I ran my fingers along the spines, impressed by the variety. He had some first editions on one shelf. The leather-bound books were clearly collectible. Another surprise. I never would have imagined Spencer as the type to cherish books.

I walked out of the library and into his office. I promised not to read anything that looked private. I just wanted to explore his shelves. You could tell a lot about a person from the things they surrounded themselves with.

One thing missing was family photos. My apartment was filled with candid and professional pictures from my childhood on up. I loved my pictures. When I got home after a long day, I felt like I was surrounded by family via the pictures.

My eyes did land on a picture of his high school football team from Stone Ridge. The eight-by-ten photo caught my eye. I picked it up from the shelf to study it closer. There was Rhett, looking young and carefree, and Dakota, standing apart from both of them. Spencer was in the middle, the team captain, looking as serious as ever.

I smiled at the image that felt like a lifetime ago. I remembered the guys getting back to the house after a game one night.

They were all muddy and laughing, high on adrenaline and youthful exuberance. They looked like they owned the world. Spencer had been the hottest guy in the senior class. At least I thought so. Most of the girls in the school would have agreed with me. I remembered him wiping sweaty hair off his forehead and catching my eye across the room. He had offered me a sheepish grin before ducking out to wash off the grime of the game. I remembered thinking I was so lucky he smiled at me.

I put the picture back on the shelf, making sure it was exactly where it was when I picked it up. I moved on and was surprised to see there was another picture. It was covered in dust. It was of Spencer and his parents at his high school graduation. None of them were smiling, the tension palpable even in the photograph. As I picked it up, another picture, stuck to the back, came loose. I peeled it off carefully, revealing a photo of Spencer with Rhett and my parents at his graduation. My dad had his hand on Spencer's shoulder, my mother beaming. And Spencer? He was smiling, a genuine, big smile. The kind I hadn't seen in a while.

The picture made me grin. I ran my thumb over Spencer's boyish face, remembering the teenage boy I'd had a wild crush on. I never realized how much my family meant to him until now. These photos showed two sides of him: the boy who deserved better from his own family and the boy who found a family with us.

The smile in the picture with my parents was genuine. It made me sad to know he wasn't as happy as I thought he was back then. I thought he had it all. Looks could certainly be deceiving.

I heard the front door open and quickly put everything back in place. I left his office and met Spencer in the living room, trying to compose myself. I hoped he didn't notice the guilt on my face. I suddenly felt very guilty for snooping in his office. I wasn't sure he would appreciate me looking at pictures he obviously wanted to keep private. If he wanted them seen, they would be in the living room.

I smiled at him. "Hi."

He looked tired but relieved to see me. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Better," I replied. "Thank you for everything."

He waved it off. "Rhett feels terrible. The locks and security are done, but Dakota made a mess. I helped Rhett with cleaning it up some."

"A mess?" I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the details. "It didn't end when we left?"

He slowly shook his head. "No. I'm sorry."

"What did he do?"

He sighed, shrugging out of his jacket and hanging it in the coat closet in the foyer. "I think it would be easier to say what he didn't do."

"Oh no," I groaned.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. He got the shot glass collection."

I wanted to cry, but I reminded myself it was just glass. It was kitschy. Yes, there were memories attached to those glasses, but I couldn't be that upset.

"Asshole."

"Rhett did stop him before he made his way through the whole collection." He walked to the entryway table and picked up a bag from a bagel shop. "I brought breakfast. I figured you might be hungry since you didn't get to eat dinner last night."

"I am starved, and I love that place!"

We moved to sit at the table. He unpacked an assortment of bagels and a variety of cream cheese flavors.

My stomach growled audibly, causing us both to laugh. I reached for a poppy seed bagel and cinnamon raisin cream cheese. We ate our bagels and sipped coffee. It felt almost normal. Almost.

Spencer was nursing an everything bagel, his eyes deep in thought. The silence between us wasn't awkward—one of the many things I appreciated about him. He didn't have a lot to say, which was the total opposite of me. I tended to have a lot to say all the time.

Suddenly he spoke, breaking the comfortable silence. "I'm sorry about Dakota," he said. "I've been thinking about all of it. I can't help but wonder if he attacked you because I confronted him."

I shook my head. "I think this was in the works for a long time. Rhett being at my place was just the perfect way to worm his way in."

"It was still fucked up," he said.

"I agree." I nodded.

"But your apartment is secure," he said, a little more upbeat. "If someone happens to get in, there are panic buttons in your bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room."

"Wow," I said with surprise.

"I want you to feel safe in your home," he said. "I don't think Dakota will give you a problem, but if he does, you'll be ready."

"Thank you," I said. "I'll pay you for the installation and equipment and whatever it cost."

"No, you won't," he answered firmly.

I took another bite of my bagel. I couldn't shake the image of that picture on his desk. "Come home with me for Thanksgiving," I blurted out.

He hesitated, looking surprised. "Sorry?"

"Come spend Thanksgiving with me in Stone Ridge. Unless you have other plans."

"I don't," he said.

"Good, then we'll go to Stone Ridge. I know you miss my mom's food too."

Spencer looked conflicted. "Your brother might not like that."

"I don't care what Rhett likes. That idiot liked Dakota."

He laughed. "True."

"I want you there. Please?"

He studied my face for a moment before nodding. "Okay."

Relief washed over me. "Thank you, Spencer."

"Don't thank me." He chuckled. "Thank you. I was just going to hang out here with a takeout meal."

"No way," I said, frowning. "You're going to have my mom's home cooking. Sweet potatoes covered with brown sugar and marshmallows, and I know you love her pumpkin pie."

He responded with a soft laugh that rumbled deep in his chest. "You got me there. I can't deny that."

"That's settled then," I said, my heart beating strangely. I was feeling too much and too fast. Perhaps that was the effect of the recent events.

He nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. He watched me for a moment, his gaze steady and soulful. He quickly looked away.

"When you're ready, I'll take you home," he said. "But only if you want to. If you want to hang out here for the day or several days, that's cool."

"Thank you, but I'm not going to hide," I told him. "Besides, I need to clean up my apartment."

"Rhett was supposed to be finishing up what was left when I came home," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "My brother? Please. His idea of washing dishes is licking them clean. Add in the fact he's hobbled, I don't think I'm going to appreciate his cleaning abilities."

"I'll stay and help," he offered. "I did do some, but I wasn't sure where everything went or how it was supposed to look. And I didn't want to go through your private stuff, like pictures and whatever."

Heat rose to my cheeks and I waved his comment away. "It's fine. I'm going to get dressed. Do you mind taking me back? If not, I can certainly take a cab."

He gave me a dry look. "Really? Do you really think I'm going to send you off in a cab?"

I grinned and got to my feet. "Nope, but I had to pretend I would take a cab. It's the polite thing to do."

He laughed. I walked back to the guest room and quickly changed into the clothes I wore yesterday. I emerged from the guest room and made my way back to the dining room. He looked up from where he'd been busying himself with clearing the remains of our breakfast. He paused at my appearance, his gaze staying a little too long over my hastily tied-up hair and rumpled clothes.

"Ready when you are," he said, wiping his hands on a dishtowel and tossing it over his shoulder.

"Let's do this." I sighed. "I want to get it over with."

The ride back to my apartment was peaceful. He parked outside the building, glancing at me before turning off the engine. "Are you sure about this?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Is Rhett still here?"

"I got the impression he was hightailing it back to Stone Ridge," he answered.

"That's probably for the best. I'm not sure I'm ready to see him just yet."

"I think he figured that. He did ask if you were okay."

I snorted. "Time will tell on that one."