Page 43 of Close Your Eyes

With a quick Google search, I find her father’s address. I open the door to my condo, and run smack into my twin.

“Roman, what are you doing here?”

“I came by to check on you.” He studies me, raising a thick brow, his blue eyes focusing on me. “You okay? You look like a man possessed.”

I push a hand through my hair. “I’m fine.” My tone is harsh, and I try my best to appear normal. Whatever that is.

“Dude, you don’t look fine.” Roman places a hand on my shoulder. “What’s going on?”

I blow out an exasperated breath, not really wanting to let my brother in on why I’m such a mess. “I’m fine,” I say again, knowing full well he knows I’m lying. Call it a twin thing, but he’s always known when I’m lying to him. And vice versa.

He steps back. “I just stopped by to check on you. Adele told Dev you were under a lot of stress at the club. That you were snapping at employees and just acting like your fuse was burning on both ends.”

“I think it’s a candle.”

“What?” he asks.

“It’s the candle burns on both ends. Never mind,” I say, shaking my head. I need to get to Posey’s father’s house to check on her. Make sure she’s okay.

Maybe I just can’t wait until tonight to see her. A little light stalking never hurt anyone, right?

“Ledger,” Roman says, his tone determined, his eyes meeting mine. “Seriously, what’s going on? Talk to me.”

I blow out a breath. “Fine,” I say, walking back inside my condo.

Roman follows me, and we head into the kitchen. I grab us both a bottle of water, and Roman shakes his head. “I think we need something stronger.”

“I don’t know,” I say, not really feeling like having a drink.

“Get the whiskey. I could tell something was up with you today at Brunch earlier.”

“Fine.” I move around the kitchen, opening a bottle of Lucky Bastard, pouring us both a nice pour, and slide his glass to him across the kitchen island. “Here.”

“I got you this bottle. Remember, last year for Christmas. I said ‘open it when you are beyond stressed and need one helluva drink.’”

“I remember.” I lean against the island. “So what?”

“So? What’s going on?” Roman crosses his arms over his chest after taking a nice pull of the whiskey.

I tilt my head back, swallowing the whole drink in one gulp, and set my glass down. “I’m going fucking insane.”

“I can see that. Why?”

“It’s her. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I can’t fucking concentrate, man.” I tug at the ends of my hair, pulling as hard as I can. I blow out a frustrated breath, and curse again.

“Posey?” Roman says. “Of course it’s her. Don’t know why I even asked.”

“Yeah, tell me what to do. How do I make this pain of not being with her go away?”

“She’s engaged, Ledger. What are you thinking?”

I push away from the island and pace my kitchen. “I’m not thinking. I can’t think. I know how wrong this is, but I can’t stop.”

Roman blows out a breath. “Fuck.”

I spin around. “How did you do it?”

Roman’s face twists in confusion. “I’ve never been into somebody who was engaged.”