Page 132 of Rare Blend
“I should go,” I tell her, already sprinting away. It’s not that I’m worried about seeing Brandon again, it’s that I don’twantto see him again. How dare he show up in Red Mountain and encroach on my life here. Did he know? There’s no way he could’ve known. But he knew my dad lived here. I punch the button for the elevator repeatedly, as if that will make it come faster. I’m too frazzled to walk back up the stairs without falling on my ass, and embarrassing myself.
Come on, come on, come on!
It dings loudly, and relief immediately floods through me.
That relief is short-lived though, because when the doors open, there’s Brandon. He recognizes me immediately, as if he were expecting me to be there.
“Risy, what a nice surprise.”
CHAPTER 47
Ethan
TALL WHITE GUYS WITH MONEY
Marisa left to go freshen up a while ago. Normally, I wouldn’t care, but I haven’t seen her in the ballroom and my gut is telling me something is off.
I walk the perimeter and don’t see any signs of her. Her coworkers, Suzy and Raquel claim they haven’t seen her in at least twenty minutes, if not more.
Now, I actually am worried. Leaving the ballroom, I walk into the lobby, and run right into Elyse.
“Oh, good!” she shouts. “Just the person I was looking for.” She looks panicked, but I really don’t have time to deal with her.
“Not now, Elle. I’m looking for Marisa.”
“That’s why I came to find you.”
I still and look at her. My gut feeling souring even more. “What’s wrong? Is she okay?”
Elyse takes a long breath. “You know that corporate retreat thing downstairs?”
“Yes,” I hesitate.
“It’s her ex’s,” she squeaks with her eyes squeezed shut.
My spine goes rigid. “You’re fucking kidding me,” I shout, catching the attention of the few people hanging out in the lobby.
I race down the stairs, Elle following right behind me.
“You’re not going to do anything stupid, right? Because we could get sued.”
I wheeze a laugh. “Let him sue me. If he so much as touches her, he’ll be lucky to walk out of here with all of his limbs.”
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” Elyse mutters.
As soon as I reach the first floor, I instantly spot Marisa by the elevators. Arms crossed, shoulders hunched, and that son of a bitch is smiling at her.
Elyse grabs my shoulder from behind, her nails digging in like claws. “Think rationally. She doesn’t need you to kick his ass, she just needsyou. It’s not about him. Be the better man.” She lets go, giving my shoulder a push.
I take a breath to calm down. Elle is right. As much as I want to go up and punch him square on the jaw, it’s not what Marisa needs from me.
“Baby,” I say loudly, cheerfully.
Marisa’s head snaps to me, and her face immediately releases all of its turmoil.
There’s my girl.
I pull her close, draping my arm around her, and give her a kiss on the forehead, all the while ignoring the piece of shit next to us. My palm cups her face, and my lips are on hers, a possessive, crushing kiss. And despite the situation, she molds herself to me.
