I woke for another day of hiding out in Ashlyn’s apartment, another day of allowing my thoughts to strangle me. I had barely said anything about what I was now referring to as the ‘incident.’ Ashlyn had tried; Josh constantly came to visit and my phone was relentlessly bombarded with messages from Ky but really who could I trust? My days were spent editing photos, watching daytime television, and conversing through email when I needed to discuss the project. I had one more shoot and then I was leaving.

I stumbled into the small guest bathroom in Ashlyn’s apartment and was slapped in the face by the distinct smell of Ky that lingered in the air. It was the same scent that had the ability to send me over the edge and into an unknown land of bliss within seconds. It had been three days since my past crashed head first into my present. Three days since I had run out of his apartment, since his lips had been on my body, and three days since I’d had any sleep. I was a narcissist—that was the only way to explain the thoughts zooming through my mind. I wanted his scent to attach itself to my needy body; I wanted to wash in his familiarity; I wanted him to imprint himself so deeply within me that I would never forget the little things. I missed him. I never wanted this vulnerability, or this need, and I never wanted these feelings. Confusion swept through me. I needed a distraction; I need to get him out of my head and fast.

I pulled my robe around my body and made my way through the apartment to find Ashlyn making a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen.

“When was Ky here?”

She looked up and greeted me with a wary smile. She was dressed and ready for work while I was getting ready for another day on the couch. “He came to use the shower this morning, his bathrooms are getting some work done to it.”

“Oh okay.” I nodded, a shiver running down my spine at the thought that Ky had been so close.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“I know that you two are in some kind of crazy agreement but everyone can see that it is beyond that.” Ashlyn walked across the room and grabbed both my hands and pulled me toward the couch. “Please talk to me.”

I collapsed on the couch and pulled the comforter around my body. “I don’t know what is real with him. The past month has been incredible; I have experienced emotions and feelings I never could have imagined but how do I know that anything he has said was real or if he was just saying them to make himself feel better. It’s obvious that he has this guilt when it comes to me but he has no reason to feel guilty. He wasn’t the one who raped me. He wasn’t the one who ripped my innocence away from me.”

“I have known Ky a long time. He doesn’t do things he doesn’t mean. If he has said anything to you then he means everything. He doesn’t open up to people or allow himself to get close, and he doesn’t just bring a girl into his world. You need to talk to him.”

“When did you meet him?”

She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath.

“It was just after you left. I went back to school after Christmas break and that’s when I met Josh. In a drunken moment Josh and I hooked up and as I was leaving his apartment Ky walked out of his room. That was my introduction to Ky Crawford. I knew who he was from around campus and we got to chatting and he mentioned you and then I told him we shared a couple of classes.  He wanted to find out where you were and when you were coming back. I’ll never forget the sound of his voice. He was so panicked.”

“Why wouldn’t he have told me?”

“I can’t answer that. You have to ask him that.”

“Is he working today?”

“He is.” She swiveled on the couch and faced me. “What are you thinking?”

What was I thinking?

I missed him.

I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

I wanted answers.

“I want to see him.”

An hour later the cab was pulling up in front of the building. The trip from the island was spent going over what I would say to him, how I would react, and what I would do. I had no answers, no plans, and absolutely no expectations. I pulled my trench coat tightly around my body as I stood on the sidewalk. I felt my nerves rushing in and the thought of leaving barreled in.

“Eden?”

I turned at the sound of my name. Josh stood near the entry and looked at me completely flustered. Obviously I wasn’t who he expected to see. I smiled and dropped my eyes.

“What are you doing here?” He pulled me into his body and his warmth soothed me. “Are you here to see Ky?”

“I think so.”

“You think so?”

“I don’t know.”

“Come and have a coffee with me. I want to chat with you about something.”

A coffee couldn’t hurt, and maybe it would help me come up with some game plan for when I faced Ky. If anyone would know what was going on, it would be his brother. I nodded and followed him to the nearest Starbucks. After ordering we sat at a quiet table at the back of the coffee shop and a nervous silence fell over us.

“So how have you been?” He finally spoke.

“I’ve been okay.”

“Have you spoken to Ky?”

“No.”

“I don’t want to get involved in your business, because it’s not my place, but I’ve been carrying something around with me since this whole thing went down with hope that I would see you. Fuck, he is going to hate me for doing this, but I think you need to see this.”

He handed me a beaten up looking envelope. It was torn at the edges and had weathered over time. My name was written on the front in the familiar handwriting of Ky Crawford.

“What’s this?” I asked with wide eyes. My hands shook as I grabbed the envelope from the table.

“That right there is my brother’s inner thoughts to you. He has been sitting on that fucking letter for four years. I found him writing it, completely fucked up on whiskey the week after—” He didn’t have to say it, his eyes said it all. “He sent it, but it got returned. He became obsessed with finding out about you. He just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Josh, I had no clue.”

“Please go and talk to him. Let him at least explain. If you are going to run off back to the West Coast he will need closure.”

Closure. That was what I wanted all along. It was what I craved. Ky and I had a reason for this month, I just never knew. I felt stronger than I had in years, and it was thanks to him. I felt like I could once again be in this town and not feel weak and it was all thanks to him. He ignited hunger within me—desire, expectation, need—and it was all him.

I stood from the seat, holding onto the envelope with dear life. I would know Ky’s words, but I wanted him to read it. I pushed back from the table and Josh copied. We walked out of Starbucks and back toward the office. If I didn’t do go and see Ky now, I wasn’t sure if I would or not. We walked in silence. I was comforted with Josh by my side. God I hope he was still there. It was closing in on six pm. Winter night had fallen over New York City. We stood in the elevator, I paid close attention to the floors, and it felt like it took forever.

“He will be in his office. I’ll make sure you have no interruptions.”

I walked through the nearly abandoned office, a couple of enthusiastic staff still lingering at their desks. The door of Ky’s office was closed when I reached it and no sound seeped through. With a deep breath I knocked firmly and waited.

“Come in.”

His voice hit me square in the heart. Okay, I could do this. My shaking hand grabbed hold of the doorknob and twisted, the door opened, and I stepped in.

He sat at his desk, the skyline glistened behind him through the windows. He looked so young sitting there. When I didn’t say anything he finally looked up. Shock spread across his face as he took me in.

“Eden?” he asked in shock, clearly not believing I was standing in his office. I closed the door behind me and turned the latch. “What are you—” His eyes dropped to the envelope in my hand.