Page 86 of More Than Pen Pals

“You read it,” I tell Wendy. “If you think I need to know what it says, then I’ll read it. If not, you can burn it.”

I unlock the interior door and lead the way upstairs. Wendy rips open the envelope and reads silently as we climb. I let us into my apartment, drop my briefcase and purse by the door, and throw myself onto the bed.

“What’s the verdict?” I ask.

“He’s a flaming idiot. You got a lighter?”

“I don’t want to read it?”

“I guarantee you don’t.”

“Will reading it solidify my decision to date Ash?”

She cocks her head to the side. “If you need one last push over the edge into Ash’s arms, this letter is definitely the ticket. But I think you should take my word for it and let me burn it and then flush the ashes down the toilet, where they belong.”

forty-two

I’m not sure why my brother insisted on me coming to his place after work. He says it’s because he’s upset about Colleen again, but I’m not buying it. Well, he might be upset about Colleen, but that’s not why I’m here. I can feel it.

In the ten minutes since we arrived at his apartment, he has talked about everything but Colleen. He keeps looking at the phone and the door and his watch.

“Randall, why am I here?”

“To help me not be sad about Colleen.”

“If you’re sad about Colleen, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Being here with me is enough.”

I roll my eyes.

The intercom by his door buzzes, and he jumps up from the couch faster than I’ve seen him move since we were teenagers. “Yes?” He shouts into the speaker.

“There’s a Wendy O’Halloran here for you,” the doorman says.

“Send her up. Thanks, Jeff.”

“No problem.”

My brother slowly turns away from the intercom and avoids my gaze.

“Why is Wendy here?” I demand.

He paces by the door. “Something about work.”

“Do you know how many lies you’ve told me in the last minute?”

“You’ll get over it.”

I glare at him while we wait. He yanks the door open as soon as the knock sounds. I inhale sharply when I see who’s standing in the doorway, her hand still raised in a fist.

“Randall, why don’t we go out for a drink?” Wendy says from somewhere behind Leslie. Her hand reaches in, grabs my brother’s arm, and pulls him out into the hall. Then she nudges her friend inside and shuts the door.

I stand but don’t move toward Leslie. We stare blankly at each other for several seconds, and then she launches herself across the room at me. I catch her in my arms and hold her tight.

“What’s wrong?” I say into Leslie’s hair. “Tell me what’s wrong.” If somebody hurt her, I’ll kill them.

“Nothing’s wrong.” She shakes her head against my chest. “Not anymore.”

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