I hit mute. I don’t need to hear anymore. I’m not sure if I’m going to throw up or start laughing hysterically until someone knocks me unconscious.
I’m the story. And somehow, so is my ex?
When Tani steps out of our elevator, I walk over to her like a zombie and lean my forehead on her shoulder. “Help me, Princess Tani. You’re my only hope.”
“We’ll fix it, Joey,” she promises softly. “It’s going to be okay.”
“We need to tell Elliot.”
“Oh honey.” Tani slips her arms around me and I soak in her strength. Those two words conveyed everything she couldn’t say.
You love him, don’t you? I should have seen it. I didn’t know things had gotten this bad.
Well, they have. And just like my hoarding, it needs to be sorted out fast.
“I couldn’t help but overhear your concerns.” Mr. Gordon’s voice is solemn behind me. “Mr. Ransom has already been informed of the situation, and is currently in the most capable of hands. As Ms. Finn intimated earlier, we are all on deck and ready for duty.”
My eyes are desert dry as I stare blankly over my shoulder. “Whose capable hands?”
He adjusts his glasses, the diamonds catching the light. “The owner of our building, of course. Mr. Kenneth Tanaka. I let him know the instant the news broke.”
“Brady’s man is on it?” Calamity grinned. “We’re all good then.”
Tani and I share a look. “My brother-in-law’s boss owns this building? I thought they just handled the security.”
“He wanted the best,” Mr. Gordon sniffs. “And he wanted to keep all things related to this building as insulated as possible, to protect our residents and their privacy. You understand.”
Not really. “Did Carter know Tanaka owned this building?”
“Not many people do. Or did. This is an emergency, and that takes precedence. You are our priority.”
“I appreciate that, Mr. Gordon.” I don’t understand it. But I appreciate it.
“See?” Tani tells me. “Elliot’s taken care of and you don’t have to worry about anybody but yourself. I swear I’m going to punch your ex in his man-boobs for keeping those pictures of you on his phone.”
My head is pounding. “He what? Pictures?”
She waves her hand dismissively. “They’re not nudes. Just kissing selfies. He told her everything and showed her the pics, trying to win her back. Now she’s saying some bullshit about fixing his broken heart or something. But forget them. That’s just a sideshow. The real circus is that someone saw you and Elliot together and got the right impression. They’ll get over it once he gives a statement, but until then, you have a flight out scheduled tonight. Matilda says Grant will be there to pick you up and keep the reporters at bay. It’s time to benefit from having two lawyers in the family.”
“No.”
She blinks at me. “What?”
I’m still shaking my head as I start to pace around the foursome of Derek, Mr. Gordon, Tani and Calamity. My disaster crew. This is all insane, isn’t it? All of it. From the moment Elliot hopped onto my balcony to this.
I only have a few options.
1. Disappear, which only adds fuel to this fire and creates a big question mark. Running away is the wrong answer.
2. Let all these wonderful people come in and rescue me. The family lawyer, the well-intended business partner, and even, apparently, Carter’s boss, the hacker. It still leaves that question mark, something Elliot could eventually resent me for.
3. Solve this problem now—or at least take my piece of it off the board—and break things off with Elliot completely.
I hate option three. There’s a physical pain in my chest because I didn’t get enough time with him. It’s way too soon. How can I give him up?
It’s only been a few weeks. That’s how. And we didn’t make any promises.
Someone else might want you, but I sure as hell don’t.
The craziest thing is, I think Elliot does. He’s helped me get over my failure with my foster sister. Helped me relax. And he’s wanted me like no one else ever has. Elliot made me realize it was possible for me to love like that. That I’m not broken.
That’s enough, isn’t it? That has to be enough.
I stop pacing.
“Change of plans, Tani. I need you to get yourself together, go out there with me and talk to those reporters.”
They all look shocked, and Tani’s eyes are huge.
“That’s crazy,” she says faintly.
“Yes, but you support my crazy, remember? That’s our rule. I don’t want to run away again, and I need my partner, more than I ever have before.”
She takes a deep breath and nods. “What is it you want me to say?”
“Lots of things you’ll feel bad about later, because we’re going to lie our asses off.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Mr. Tanaka?” Mr. Gordon says, his voice pitched higher than usual. “You might not have to make a statement at all. He’s usually quite adept at handling things of this nature.”