“I’m sorry about what happened when you came to New York,” I apologize, hoping it will help smooth things out between us. “You look good, Mia. I wouldn’t have recognized you if you walked by me in the street.” What I really want to say is she looks breathtakingly beautiful, but that would be pushing it with Rhett sitting right next to her.
“It’s okay,” she whispers, and finally she looks at me. I can see that she’s forcing her smile because it doesn’t reach her green eyes.
“Why did you drop out of college?” Rhett asks.
I lean a little forward, placing my elbows on my knees. We need to have this conversation with her.
She tucks some hair behind her ear and carefully looks at Rhett. I hate seeing this side of her, that she feels the need to be cautious around us.
I’m going to find out who has her phone and I’m going to beat the living shit out of that person.
“After the first trip to New York, I was
angry and hurt. I thought you’d all cut me off and I didn’t want to use any of the money. I wanted to prove to myself that I could make it on my own so I dropped out and started working.”
“Fuck, Mia,” Rhett growls. He hugs her as if he’s scared she’ll disappear again. “Where do you work? You need to start using the trust fund again. Shit, you’ve lost so much weight. Mom and Dad would kill me if they were around to see this.”
“It’s not your fault,” Mia says.
When she sits back she smiles proudly. She has a new found self-confidence that shines from her whole body, and it only makes her that much more desirable.
“I’m not starving, Rhett. I’ve been eating healthier and doing exercises. I work at a store close to where I live.” For a spilt second a self-conscious look flashes over her face. I would’ve missed it if I weren’t staring at her. “It isn’t great, but I manage.”
“I’m glad you’re looking after yourself,” Rhett says. “Which store? What do you do there? Where do you live?”
He’s asking her all the questions I would’ve so I’m okay with just listening … for now. But damn, the need to hold her keeps growing, and I seriously hope I get a moment alone with her.
“We’re renting a place in Washington Heights. I got a job as a receiver at Target. I know you won’t approve, but it’s only temporary until I can find something else.” She scrunches her nose and looks cautiously at Rhett, waiting for his reaction.
With a sigh, he wipes a hand over his face.
“I can’t believe this,” he whispers. He looks at me as if I have all the answers for this fuck-up. “We need to find out who has her phone. Who the fuck have we been messaging?”
“We’ll find out. I’ll get on it first thing tomorrow.” I don’t add that I’ll do everything in my power to make that person suffer the way Mia has.
“I can’t believe I let this happen,” Rhett says, clearly taking all the blame.
“We let it happen,” I say, wanting to lessen his guilt, but not backing down from taking responsibility for my own lack of action.
“Guys,” Mia says, “neither of you let anything happen.”
Rhett shakes his head. “You’re my responsibility, Mia. I’m a fucking poor excuse for a brother.”
Her chin starts to tremble, and she takes hold of his hand. “Don’t say that,” she whispers. “You thought you were talking to me. I’m the one who just gave up.”
“Hold on,” I say as I think of something else. “Didn’t you get our emails either?”
“Emails?” she asks, shaking her head.
Tension coils in the back of my neck. This is bad.
“I set up a will for all of us, including one for you, Mia. I emailed yours to you so you could sign it, which you did, or at least I thought you did. I also set up a retirement annuity and life insurance. Did you get those emails?”
She shakes her head, and I can see she doesn’t understand the severity of it all.
“If you didn’t sign them, then who did?” I ask the question so she’ll understand what I’m getting at. “We need to go to the police.”
“What does it mean?” she asks, her eyes huge with worry.