CHAPTER 9

The drive home had taken her over an hour. She had debated going straight to Reece's but had thought better of it. It was Castle brunch Sunday and she knew he'd be at his parents at least until four; it was just now three o'clock. She headed home and prayed she'd find a parking spot.

She was quite a sight. No make-up, barely brushed hair, worn-out jeans, old converse sneakers and a glittery blue clutch. She thanked her lucky stars to have found a spot just a block from her building, hit the door lock to her father's Mercedes and walked home, freezing. She took the stairs not wanting to wait for the elevator, inserted her key in the lock and collapsed on the couch.

Hearing the door Jennifer walked to the living room just in time to see her roommate drop down on the couch. Well, if nothing else, she must have had a hell of a night. Sydney had left dressed to impress, in a dress which probably cost more than two months' rent, and returned in what looked, liked borrowed hand me downs.

"Reece was here looking for you. I told him to get lost. He was not happy. But on a brighter note, loved the pictures with the new guy," exclaimed Jennifer with a smile.

"There is no new guy. When was Reece here? What did he say? What did he want?" inquired Sydney.

"I'm guessing he wanted to talk to you. It was around ten-ish or so? Asked if I knew where you were. I told him if you wanted him to know where you were, you would have told him. Personally, I think you're better off," declared Jennifer.

Without a response, Sydney stood and walked to her bedroom. She looked in the mirror, groaned and plopped on her bed. She pulled her phone from her pocket and called Reece. Eight rings, no answer. She called him three more times and still no answer. Maybe he was at the library. Before she knew it, be it exhaustion or heartache, Sydney had drifted off to sleep.

It was six o'clock when she'd awaken. She changed, brushed her teeth and called Reece. By now he'd surely be home. Again no answer. Now she was worried. She grabbed her purse and headed out. Opting to take the subway Sydney walked towards the station four blocks away. The ride across town would allow her some time to think. Whatever happened, there was no way she was going to just let things go unresolved. She and Reece had been together too long. He had been wrong, she was not about to apologize for the whole affair, and she was not about to let him off the hook. As difficult as it might be, they needed to fix this or admit they now wanted different things. Perhaps her mother had a point. The thought brought her to tears.

Reece would not be happy. The forty-five-minute trek from her apartment was not something he liked her doing late at night, quite frankly some days it could be hairy. It was eight, she should have taken a cab or driven her father's car. She had not been thinking. By the time she got to his apartment it would be well past nine. As her stop approached she still had no idea what she would say. What she did know was Reece Castle owed her a proper apology. She exited the station, took a left onto Cathedral Parkway and walked the block and a half to Morningside Drive.

Jake was in the shower when he heard the front door. Afraid a drunk Reece was attempting a getaway, he grabbed a towel and headed to the living room. There to his surprise, he encountered Sydney walking in.

"Hey, Syd," Jake greeted.

"Hey. Is Reece home?" Sydney inquired.

"He's in his room. But…" Jake added as he walked towards Sydney.

Sydney's lip quivered as tears spilled down her cheeks.

"I tried calling but he didn't answer. He… he's… he's a pigheaded, self-absorbed ass," she'd finally managed.

Jake could not help the smile that escaped him. He took Sydney by the hand and guided her towards the couch.

"Come on, sit down. Reece can wait. Let me get some clothe on and we'll talk," a sympathetic Jake added.

Jake hurried back to his bedroom grabbed a pair of sweatpants and returned to the living room. Noticing the crying Sydney, he was tempted to make a military style about-face and head back to his room. But Sydney was his friend too, he needed to suck it up. Crying women always unnerved him.

"Did he tell you what happened? Of course not! Because he's probably not sure anything's wrong. He's so involved in his work, he doesn't see he shares the world with other people! I've been more than patient. I understand the importance of his work, but this last year it's like my life doesn't matter. I don't know this Reece! I'm tired of being taken for granted. Jake, God knows I love him, but if this is the life he expects me to live, I'll pass. This was an awful idea…" Sydney hiccupped as she stood to leave.

"Sydney, wait! Reece is in his room passed out. If you called and he didn't answer it's because he's unconscious, not because he's ignoring you. We stopped by your place on the way to brunch, but you weren't home. Apparently, Jennifer was less than welcoming. He was really upset by the pictures on Page Six. He was not impressed by your date."

"He was not my date! I don't even know the guy!" interrupted Sydney.

"I guessed as much. If it's any consolation, Reece has not been to class the past few days." Jake added.

Jake told Sydney how Reece confessed he had been responsible for the entire mess. Reece admitted his first apology was lacking and not what he had intended. Their father had mentioned the photos, innocently wondering where Reece had been. Reece had been blindsided. Jake advised her a drunken Reece had taken umbrage to Carter Gaylord Whitney, III not paying enough attention to her in any of the pictures.

"According to my brother you should be worshipped," a smiling Jake added.

"Look Syd, whatever happened between you and Reece is between the two of you. The only thing I know is that you guys have been together too long to let some stupid argument get between you. Hear him out, please. Just talk to him. Although right now he's in no condition to make sense of anything." Jake stood and headed back to his room.

Sydney walked to Reece's room and quietly opened the door. There, still fully clothed minus his shoes laid Reece. They would talk tomorrow. She took one of his tee shirts from a drawer, changed and laid down next to him. Sometime later she felt his arms pulling her close.