Page 13 of Close Your Eyes

It was like a certain cigar.

Just before the attack, I noticed the aroma of the cigar. Could that be something?

I remembered something about the night I was attacked. Can we meet?

Not long after, my phone beeps with Ledger’s reply.

Name the place, and I’ll be there.

Now I just need to figure out how I can get to him.

Chapter 5

Ledger

I’m sitting at Devereaux’s house as Greer gets brunch ready in her older brother’s kitchen. Chloe and Dev don’t want to travel with the baby yet, so Sunday brunch has shifted from Greer’s house to theirs.

I stare at my twin brother, Roman. “You love her, admit it,” I tell him, glancing over at Greer.

The one thing about having a twin is you can sometimes read their mind. I think it’s because we’re so close. So in tune with each other.

And I know he’s lying right now as he tries to deny loving Dev’s little sister. “I don’t,” he says, and I laugh.

“Bullshit,” I say. Roman’s been in love with Greer for as long as I can remember.

Finally, he admits the truth. “Fine, I love her. But she deserves so much better.”

“Then be the better man. Go fucking find yourself or whatever shit you need to do but be that man she deserves.”

Dev walks in right at the moment my phone chimes in my pocket. I retrieve it and glance down at a message from Posey.

I remembered something about the night I was attacked. Can we meet?

My heart skips a beat as the thought of meeting with Posey takes root, blossoming into something more.

I’m busted by Roman and Dev as they ask me about who texted, and I pocket my phone, trying my best to pretend it’s nothing. It turns into another five minutes of them teasing me, until Greer, Chloe, and little baby Devvie Jr. get in on the action.

I take the baby from Chloe’s arms, telling him that everyone else in the room is crazy. Because they are.

There’s nothing going on with Posey, but I can’t seem to not be excited at the thought of seeing her again.

I tell her I can meet her at Danbury Park later today, and she says she’ll meet me there at five. After I leave Dev’s place, I head to the park and wait for Posey.

I’m a nervous wreck, and I don’t know why. It’s not like I haven’t spent time with her. However, every time I’m around her, I want to touch her in an inappropriate way. Honestly, every way with her is inappropriate because she’s engaged. Something I won’t let myself forget.

I sit on a bench, overlooking a gazebo in the distance. There’s a large group of people, and as I watch them mingle, I let the cool air hit my face.

The sun shines down on me, and I smile as I spot Posey off in the distance. She’s really so pretty. She’s perfectly dressed for the occasion. She’s wearing a flowy sundress with small purple flowers all over the material. She’s got on a pair of white sneakers, and her long hair flows down her back in soft waves.

Again, I can’t help but take notice of how beautiful she is.

Her long legs bring her closer to me, and I stand when she approaches.

“Hey,” she says, nearly a whisper.

“I’m glad you called. What did you remember?” I say, getting right to business, because if I don’t, I might stand here gawking at her all day.

She settles onto the bench, and I sit next to her.