After the Ex Games

Chapter 13

Greyson

I couldn’t seem to get to sleep. Meg was in the same bed as I was, but she was lying on the edge of the mattress in her attempt to not touch me. I knew she was pissed and I understood why. She knew there was more to the story than I was letting on, and it was breaking my heart not being able to tell her. It seemed to me that we’d come to a crossroads. A part of me knew that Meg was never going to trust me if I didn’t tell her everything before we all sat down and had the talk.

“Are you still up?” I whispered into the dark, not sure if I was hoping she was awake or not. Silence greeted me, and I rolled over onto my back and stared up at the ceiling. I turned over and attempted to put my arms around her.

“Get your hands off of me,” she hissed and slapped my arms away.

“You’re up.”

“I’m going to sleep now.”

“Are we already in this place?” I sighed, feeling hurt inside.

“Well, you don’t trust me, so what did you expect?”

“It’s not about my trusting you, Meg.”

“What’s it about then?” She turned around to face me, and I could see the tears in her eyes.

“You’re crying?” I saw the traces of tears on her face and reached out, touching her cheek.

“It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged, but her eyes looked hurt.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that I wish I’d gotten to know you a bit better before sleeping with you.”

“I see.”

“Is that all you have to say?” she shouted at me, and I was taken aback by the anger in her voice.

“You’re really upset,” I said dumbly, and she laughed bitterly.

“Wow, you’re fast.” She rolled her eyes, and I leaned forward and kissed her. “What are you doing?” She pulled away from me.

“I was kissing you. I thought I was allowed to kiss my girlfriend.”

“Whatever.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Fine. I’m going to tell you.”

“Don’t do anything you don’t want to do,” she retorted back at me.

“Of course I want to tell you. I just didn’t think it was my place. Not right now. I thought—I still believe—I owe it to Brandon to tell his side of the story, but I’m not going to lose my relationship with you because I don’t tell you. However, I’m going to need you to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” She stared at me with a serious expression.

“Actually, two things. You have to promise me that you won’t say a word to Katie no matter what I tell you. You also have to promise me that you’re not going to judge me. You have to promise me that when I tell you everything, you’ll reserve judgment. You have to promise me that you’ll still give me a chance. If you can’t get over what I say and still feel that way in a month, fine, but please, still try and give me a chance.”


“Okay.” She nodded. “I promise.”

“I’m scared to tell you.” I ran my hands through my hair and pulled her towards me. “This is new for me.”

“What’s new?”

“Loving someone and caring what they think of me.” I made a face. “I don’t want you to hate me.”

“Oh, Greyson.” She grabbed ahold of my face and gazed into my eyes. “Love can forgive a lot.”

“Yeah, but how much?” I gave her a tired smile. “Just how much can love forgive?”



***

The mood in the office the next morning was tense. Meg had been shocked and angry, but she hadn’t said a word. Her eyes had done all her talking for her. When I’d finished speaking, she’d kissed me lightly on the lips and then turned on her back and gone to sleep. The world had seemed to end in that moment. Talking about everything had made it seem more real, more horrible. I’d seen myself through her eyes and I hadn’t liked who I’d seen. Even though she had promised to be open-minded, I knew a part of her had felt disgusted by me.

She knew that I was a cold-hearted son of a bitch now. There was no disputing that fact. I’d been unable to sleep. I’d felt sorry for myself and I was scared about what was going to happen with Brandon and Katie. If he lost Katie, it would be all my fault. A part of me didn’t understand how I could have been that person before. What sort of man allowed those things to happen?

Knock knock.

A loud tapping at my office door made both Meg and me look up.

“Come in?” I stood up and walked to the middle of the room.

“Mr. Twining, I found someone you may want to see.” David walked into the room, looking disheveled and crazy.

“Yes?” I nodded, hoping he wasn’t about to show me a dead body.

“Come on.” He grabbed ahold of someone and then pulled them into the room with him.

“Nancy,” Meg ran over to the terrified-looking girl and pulled her into her arms. “Oh my God, Nancy, you’re okay.”

“Yes.” Nancy nodded and attempted a weak smile. “I’m okay.”

“Where were you?” Meg pulled her over to the small couch and sat down with her. “Did someone take you?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I needed to go and think for a bit.”

“It was a bit much, wasn’t it? Looking to find out what happened to Maria? David shouldn’t have put you through that.”

“I didn’t put her through—” David started and I walked over to him.

“Shut up, David.” I grabbed his shirt and leaned towards him. “If I find out you did anything to that girl, I will kill you.”

“I wouldn’t be the first one you’ve killed though, would I?” His eyes looked up at mine with hatred. I tightened the grip on his shirt, brought my fist up to his neck, and blocked his air supply.

“Do you really want to play this game?” I hissed.

“Don’t worry.” He choked and tried to push me off. He started sputtering and his face was turning red. I stared at him with hatred, thinking about the letter and bullet he and Patsy had sent me.

“Stop!” Meg jumped up and ran towards me. “Stop it, Greyson. He’s not worth it.” She touched my shoulder and I released my grip on him.

“You think you can threaten me and my family and I’m going to just let you walk away?” I pushed him back against the wall hard. “You think I’m going to have a bullet left on my table and I’m going to—”

“A bullet?” Nancy jumped up in shock. “Oh, David.”

“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” David sputtered. “I didn’t leave no bullet.”

“I don’t believe you,” Nancy said softly and started crying. “How could you, David?”

“I didn’t put no bullet on his table.”

“You pulled a gun on me last night!” she gasped. “You pulled a gun on me! I thought you were going to kill me.”

“What?” I felt a surge of anger run through me. “He did what? You did what?” I pushed my knuckles into his throat and his eyes bulged wide in fear. “I should kill you now.”

“It wasn’t me,” he choked out. “Please.”

“Greyson, don’t.” Meg’s voice was gentle next to me. “I understand why you want to hurt him, but this is not the way.” Her hand rubbed my shoulder, and I looked over at her. She smiled at me and I saw the look of love in her eyes sending me a message. We were going to be okay.

“You need to get out of here.” I released my grip on David. “You need to take your f*cking girlfriend Patsy and you need to get out of town. If I see either of you again, I will kill you both. You do not threaten me or my family. You do not put a gun to anyone.”

“I couldn’t kill her.” He looked at me with wide eyes. “I wouldn’t have done it. I love her. I loved Maria. I just couldn’t.” He looked down at the ground. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”

“David, don’t you see?” Meg began. “Everyone here is sad that Maria is gone. We all wish that things had been different, but she killed herself.”

“I don’t believe it!.” he shouted. “I don’t believe she killed herself. Maria loved life. She loved everything about life: the love, the pain, the hurt. She was strong. She was the strongest woman I’ve ever known.”

“But she wasn’t the best woman, was she?” Nancy spoke up, and I froze. “If she was, she would have made different decisions.”

“Nancy.” David looked at her in shock.

“You know it’s true. I loved her too, but she made many mistakes, David.” Her voice cracked. “She made many, many mistakes.”

“One of those mistakes was not killing herself.” He shook his head. “She was murdered. I’m almost positive of it. She didn’t kill herself, I’m telling you.” He looked at me then, and I could see pure hatred in his eyes. “I know she didn’t kill herself.”

We all stood there in silence, and I was immediately taken back to the day she died.



***

“You need to speak to Brandon for me, Greyson.” Maria barged into my office.

“What do you want?” I didn’t even look up at her as I continued balancing the club’s checking account for the month.

“Do you think I’m going to keep silent?” Her voice rose. “Do you think I’m going to let him treat me like this? After everything?” She walked over to my desk and banged on the table.

“Silent about what, Maria?”

“You know what.” Her eyes bored into mine. “I think it’d make a great piece on the news, don’t you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said softly, but I looked up then. She had my attention.

“Yes you do. I could bring you both down.” She laughed. “And bye bye to the private club.”

“Maria,” I said slowly. “Maybe you need to go and lie down. Do you need a rest?”

“Do I need a mothaf*cking rest?” She laughed bitterly. “I’m going to take you both down.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“You’re a f*cking bitch. Do you know that? You and Brandon are spawns of the devil. You don’t give two shits about anyone.”


“Anything else?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“I’m going to go to the news and so is Patsy. We’re going to take you both down so far you won’t know which side is up.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I grabbed ahold of her wrists and squeezed tightly. Her eyes widened at my hard grip. “If I were you, I’d go and take a nap and see how you feel in the morning.”

“You wish.”

“I’m telling you, Maria. I’d be very careful about what you decide to do.” I let go of her hands and looked back at my ledger.

I heard her walk towards the door, but I didn’t look up until I heard the door close. I grabbed my phone and texted Brandon. Maria is acting crazy again. She seems more serious this time. Take care of it.



***



My face flushed red as I remembered that text. I’d not thought about it until today. I’d forgotten about it in the craziness of that day. I’d never put two and two together before. I’d sent the text that morning and that evening she’d been found dead with a suicide note.

“David, you need to leave now.” I looked at him coldly.

“What about—”

“Leave!” My voice was harsh, and he paled.

“I’m sorry, Nancy.” He reached out to her, and she pushed him away.

“Leave me alone.” She took a step back, and Meg put her arms around her.

“It’s time to leave now, David.”

“Who’s leaving?” Patsy walked into the room and her eyes widened as she surveyed the scene. “You’re back, Nancy?” Her voice was soft, and I could see her eyes narrowing. Nancy stared back at her with a scared expression, and I knew that Patsy was the one who had something to do with her disappearance.

“You’re leaving, Patsy. You and David.”

“What?” She looked at me with hurt eyes.

“I want you both out of here now.”

“Greyson.” Her voice cracked. “You can’t mean it.”

“I mean it.” My eyes were cold. “You need to leave now.”

“Come on, Nancy. I’m going to take you home with us.” Meg glared at Patsy. “We’re going to go to Brandon and my friend Katie’s house. I’m sure you want to see the back of the club.”

“Wait.” I looked at Meg, but I could tell from her expression that there was no changing her mind.

“Look at you playing happy families,” Patsy cackled and leaned towards me. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Really? I thought you fantasized about this for you and me?” I looked at her pointedly, and she gasped. “Let’s go.” I nodded at Meg and Nancy, my heart feeling full, even though I was pissed as hell. “I expect the two of you to be gone by the time I get back. You’re not welcome on property again. Leave a forwarding address with my secretary. I’ll send you your last checks. If I see you here again, you’ll be arrested for trespassing.” I walked towards the door and waited for Meg and Nancy to leave before looking back at them. “You’re lucky that both of you are leaving without bodily harm.”

“Go run back to Brandon,” Patsy hissed. “Go try and make everything right! You think it’s all going to work out?” She laughed. “We’ll see about that.”

“I don’t know what I did to make you hate me this much, Patsy.”

“I think you know, Greyson.” Her eyes narrowed. “I think we both know what you did.” We stared at each other for a few moments, and I felt bereft that she had become this person. She leaned towards me, grabbed ahold of my arm, and paused. I waited for her to apologize, to say something that would make up for all that she had done. Instead, she whispered in my ear, “How does it feel knowing you’re going to ruin your best friend’s life once again?”