AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Trey just called,” Liv relayed as she slides into the back seat. “He’s already at the airport, so I packed up his things for him.”
“That’s good. Are you going to be okay flying sober?” We each had a couple mimosas with lunch, but that is nothing compared to multiple margaritas.
“I’m nervous as hell, but I don’t want to be sick again. I have to meet Trey’s entire family when we get there.” She gives me a horrified look.
“Here, try one of these,” I reply, giving her one of my muscle relaxants. “I use them whenever I get muscle spasms in my back. It will take the edge off and help you sleep.”
“Are you sure I should take it after having cocktails with lunch?”
“You’ll be fine. It will just make you sleepy, which is what you want, right?” I assure her.
“Yeah, I guess so.” She pops it in her mouth, tips her head back and swallows it. I don’t know how people can do that. I always feel like they get stuck in my throat.
“All your bags are in the trunk,” the limo driver says as he takes his seat. “Do either of you need anything before we go to the airport?”
“No, we’re good,” I reply for both of us. I want to get Liv on the plane before that pill kicks in. She’s going to get awfully drowsy since she’s not used to them.
This time the driver takes us through downtown instead of driving along the lakeshore. It gives me a chance to see all the incredible, old buildings that have stood here for centuries. “Aren’t these buildings amazing?” I ask Liv as we weave down the street. “The architecture and the amount of detail that went into each one is breathtaking.”
“Yeah, but I hate how they always smell so funky. I guess I’ve gotten spoiled on that new smell.” She pulls a nail file from her purse and begins touching up one of her nails. I find it unfathomable that she would rather fuss with a hangnail than take in the beauty that is all around us. I get a sudden urge to open the sky roof, so I can stand up and really take a look around. But I refrain.
“And here’s the ghetto.” Liv looks up from her nail work and sighs. “No matter where you go, they’ve always got one.”
I think the word ghetto is an over exaggeration. There are rows of large apartment houses and off in the distance you can see there are dozens of smaller houses. It is obviously where many of the service workers live. Many of them don’t have cars, so it makes sense for them to live close to downtown. Liv obviously has no appreciation for who they are or how they live, but who does she think is cleaning up the room she stayed in last night? I really hate when someone thinks they are better than others, just because they were born into a wealthy family.
Trey
I head straight back to the airport so I can return a half-dozen calls to family and friends. Everyone who hadn’t seen it on the news the night before was finding out about it now. Luckily I had gone in and disabled my Facebook notifications, as there were hundreds of messages and posts. I do appreciate their condolences, but it’s getting harder and harder to read them and maintain my composure.
Finishing up the last call with my aunt, I turn my attention back to what had been on my mind earlier in the morning. I had been thinking about Ray Gray ever since dinner last night. That name didn’t make a bit of sense to me. So I type “Ray Gray Lynchburg Tn” into Google to see what I can find. Who do I find instead? Rayfield Grayson Jr. Holy shit! That name is a blast from the past.
I instantly type in “Mandy Grayson Attorney San Francisco” and the first link right at the top brings me to Amanda Grayson, a Staff Attorney for the SEC. My stomach immediately drops. I knew all along there was something suspicious about her, but I never imagined it was something this big. This is going to be an interesting flight home. I glance out the window as their limo pulls up. I stuff my laptop back into the bag and take a deep breath, trying to quickly figure out a gameplan. I definitely need a cocktail.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your Dad!” Mandy throws open her arms and comes over to me immediately upon entering. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think the shock is finally starting to wear off.” Standing with my arms around her, I feel completely conflicted. Part of me wants to keep holding her tight, while the other part wants to get right down to interrogating her. She is putting up the most impressive façade I have ever seen. If I didn’t know better I would think that she actually cares about me and that is what makes her so dangerous. I decide to go with the passive approach and give her a pat on the back. “Go grab a seat, I need a large glass of bourbon.” It’s too early in the day for scotch.
