Hardwired(43)

* * *

New York was unseasonably warm when I arrived a few days later. I had avoided Blake’s messages and was grateful when he didn’t seek me out. Thanks to our living situation, simply knowing his proximity was distracting enough, and I needed time to think. The past few days had been intense.

I cabbed a short ride from JFK to an address Alli gave me in Brooklyn Heights. The driver pulled up to a stone multi-story building with an ornate overhang. I entered the expansive lobby and greeted the doorman who smiled politely.

“I’m Erica Hathaway. I’m here to see Alli Malloy.”

“Certainly, you’re expected. She’s in Mr. Landon’s suite, number forty-two.”

“Thanks,” I said, trying to hide my surprise. So much for my grand plan of staying under the radar for a few days in New York.

I knocked once and waited a few seconds. I knocked again louder—still nothing. I huffed and tried the doorknob. Just as I did, Alli opened it, her eyes bright and her skin flushed, looking like...well, I knew that look. She reached for me and pulled me into a tight hug.

“You’re here!”

I hugged her back. I had missed her terribly. She felt small and warm in my arms. Had she lost weight? Before I could mention it, she pulled back and appraised me. New York was beastly hot today, so I had dressed in cut off denim shorts and some layered tanks, topped with a white fedora, just for fun.

“You look so cute,” she said.

“Yeah, um, you too.” I wished I meant it.

“Oh God, no, I’m a mess. I just, um, I just got up from a nap.”

“Some nap,” I said, noting the just-fucked hairdo she was trying to smooth out as we walked into the enormous open layout of the condo with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline.

She laughed a little and blushed. I looked around, expecting to see Heath right around the corner, but he was nowhere in sight.

“Nice place,” I said.

“I know, right?”

The condo itself was nothing short of impressive, everything and more than I expected from someone in the Landon family. The ceilings were high, characterized by exposed dark wood beams and matching hardwood floors. The furniture and décor were muted with periodic pops of color, mainly deep reds, a color that seemed to suit Heath, though I wasn’t entirely sure why. The decor reminded me of Blake’s place in Boston.

“Can I get you a drink?” Alli asked.

“Sure, anything with ice. I’ve been melting out there.”

She busied herself in the kitchen while I settled at one of the bar stools at the island.

“So when were you going to tell me you were staying with Heath?”

She leaned into the counter. “I’m sorry, Erica. I just figured it might be easier to explain in person.”

“You can stay with whoever you want, Alli. It would have been nice to know though. Blake doesn’t know I’m here.”

She frowned, and I heard a door open down the hallway. Heath emerged, freshly showered and dressed, a content smile on his face. He looked more like Blake than I remembered. I couldn’t shake the sense that something lay hidden beneath all of his charm. Sure, Blake had layers. Many in fact, but he didn’t mask them as conspicuously.

“Erica, long time no see.” He gave me a quick hug before joining Alli in the kitchen. He kissed her and I looked away.

My chest tightened, and my thoughts went to Blake. What lengths would I go to have him here kissing me that way? Still, I knew better. Whether or not he agreed, I needed some space to make sense of what had happened. The way Blake had pried into my life was completely unacceptable, and illegal. The violation had left me raw and vulnerable.

I swiveled on the stool, stood, and walked to the massive windows overlooking the park below. I wondered how much of this was a result of Blake’s support, or if Heath actually contributed to his lifestyle in any way. Maybe I was being too hard on him. He was obviously sweeping Alli off her feet, which I’d never seen happen in the three years I’d known her. I hoped it wasn’t too good to be true, for her sake.

“Are you hungry? I was thinking we could get lunch,” Alli said.

“That’d be great.”

“Let me show you your room.” Alli reached for my bag.

Heath took it from her swiftly and led us both down a hall opposite to the one he’d previously emerged from.

I peeked into a nice-sized bedroom decorated with the same muted off-white tones and a deep red bedspread. I regretted I wouldn’t be sharing it with Blake. The vision of him spread out under me, or vice versa, was more than appealing. The memory of our last time together washed over me, and my eyes misted. I shook my head. I needed to get Blake out of my system.