Kelsey doesn’t say much on the subway. She’s tense, strained, and I can’t even begin to imagine what is going on in her mind.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say as we get off at my stop.

“I’m sure it is.” Her smile is forced. “But, I tend to borrow trouble when things are going bad.”

“Your own worst enemy?” I chuckle.

She stills, turns and looks at me.

“What?”

“That’s what Brandon always accused me of, in the beginning. I didn’t have much hope and expected what was around the corner was usually worse than what was around the one we came from.”

My stomach knots at the mention of Brandon’s name. I know I shouldn’t be jealous, but I can’t help it. Even if the guy is dead, he still had a history with Kelsey. Hell, he lived with her for two years, got her pregnant. And even though she insists she’s not holding on to him, I can’t help but fear that she is.

Only time will tell if she spoke the truth or if I will always have to battle the ghost of Brandon.

The brownstone is silent when we walk in. All five of them were here when I left, but I don’t monitor their schedules either. And, I’m glad Kelsey won’t have an audience for this call. If they were here, I’d take her to my room.

“Can I get you anything?”

She sits down at the dining room table and puts her phone in front of her, along with the piece of paper with the telephone number. “Water?”

I grab a bottle out of the fridge and set it on the table. She’s still staring at her phone.

“The longer you put this off, the more difficult it’s going to be.”

She sighs, then punches in the numbers.

“Mrs. Cross, this is Kelsey Fry.”