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"Um, no I didn’t, but he’s ok"

"Co so just spill it I’ to lose it on you"

Nick shifted around unco to choose his words with care "Suzy, he’s at the hospital in Charleston with Reva She had a car accident last night and I guess Gray found out about it My dad said she was ok, but they were keeping her for observation II’ood reason why he didn’t call to let you know," Nick finished quietly

Well there it was The detailscause was the saht wondering where Gray was Suzy literally felt the life drain from her body as she sat there next to Nick She could feel his concerned gaze on her bent head, but he wisely kept quiet

When Suzy finally raised her head and looked at him, her expression was blank Her eyes looked eerily vacant and her face was co her head, she said, "Don’t Nick, leave it be Weren’t you supposed to fly out thisinstead I didn’t want to leave you here alone"

"I don’t need a babysitter Nick, but since you’re here, I could use soot it Let me fix us some coffee I think Beth is on her way over"

Suzy no longer questioned why Nick always seelad that they had finally called a truce and appeared to be friends now Even though she planned to see his brother as little as possible, she did still want to see Nick He at least had never let her dohen she needed hi Nick what she needed him for, Suzy turned and went back in the bedrooed into a co She was leaving the house that had been ho herself; this would never be her hoer in her relationship with Gray and there was nothing she could do about it The only way she could stop herself froht of the sorrow that threatened to drown her was to keepforward If she stopped now, she’d fall apart and she wanted to be alone when that happened

Just as she finished packing her suitcase, Beth walked in One look at her sister’s face had her wanting to curl up in a ball and sob her heart out She sternly said, "Beth, stop please I’et packed and out of here I don’t want to talk about this now or probably ever, ok?"

Beth quietly accepted her wishes, reaching for the handle of her suitcase and lugging it to the living roo his heart on his sleeve How had she ever thought there was no depth there? He looked almost as crushed as she felt Without a word he took the suitcase fro?"

No,here in the floor crushed into a lue it back together again before I leave? "That’s all, thanks" With a laugh that was too brittle and loud even to her own ears, Suzy said, "One last ride for the three aos in the mini-van I’ll miss that sucker"

Suddenly Nick dropped the suitcase he was holding and strode over to her Even though his actions were angry, his words were gentle "Suzy, just because you and Gray are having problems doesn’t mean shit where you and I are concerned I…um think the world of you and unless you say no, I plan to still see you as much as ays have" With a chuckle, he said, "Well except for the living together part" Then with the wicked expression she loved so well, he finished, "Unless you’re into it, that is"

Beth playfully slapping him on the head saved her the trouble "Thanks, Nick, and for the record I won’t say no You’re kind of like a bad habit that I’ve grown quite fond of and have no intention of breaking Now could you please take me home?" Before I lose the cool façade and break down in front of you both Please let ht now

~~~

When she walked into her condo for the first tier’s ho up the steps, but she’d made it without too much difficulty Nick had left her suitcase in the bedroo her as if unsure of what to do

"How about we co her head, Suzy said, "Thanks, Nick, but I’d just like some time to myself I really appreciate your help and I’ll see you both on Monday, ok?"

Both Nick and Beth began protesting at the sah love "Guys, I love you both, I really do, but you need to go now I’ on over here so please do as I ask"

Beth was clearly torn as to what to do, but Nick put his hand on her back and pushed her forward "Let’s give Suzy what she needs, princess"

Suzy hugged them both and promised to call if she needed the Finally they were out the door and she was free toin her grief

As she sat on the couch with a box of Kleenex in her hands, she discovered soe No matter how le tear fall She was quite simply numb She’d stared at the walls for hours when she heard her phone ringing Pulling it from the front of her purse, she saw Gray’s name on the caller id She dropped the phone as if it were a snake My God why nohy couldn’t he just quietly go away so she wouldn’t have to hear the voice that she loved so much while she was this raw

After the fifth phone call in about that h What the hell? Was he trying to torture her now? Maybe it was tiet it over with With a deep breath, Suzy finally took his next call

She answered the phone with a simple, "Gray?"

Some part of her was happy to hear his shaky breath on the other end of the line At least she knew that he was suffering as much as she was "Baby, I don’t even knohat to say I missed your birthday and didn’t even call to let you knohy I…I just feel like shit over it"

Suzy kept her voice steady and cool, refusing to let him kno much he’d hurt her Sht now "It’s fine, Gray, Nick told s to worry about than me"