Mr. Pearlman stood at his open door, scrutinizing Colin and his flowers, and when my dear, elderly neighbor saw me standing at my door, he stuck his head into the hallway. "I take it this gentleman is here to see you, Reese?"

"Either that or you've earned yourself an admirer, Mr. Pearlman." I couldn't help grinning. The scene was too priceless not to. "Gee, Colin. A gift box and now flowers. You're quite the romantic."

Before Colin could respond, Mr. Pearlman stepped toward him, craning his turtle-like neck to give Colin a closer inspection. "So, you're the fellow who gave Reese that unusual gift. A bold move, son. Sending a girl cherries."

Colin's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Oh, well... It was an inside joke, sir."

My cheeks caught fire as Colin stuttered out his response, and I felt compelled to interrupt before the moment grew more awkward. "Colin, is there something I can help you with?"

Colin held the bouquet out to me, looking relieved to have a reason to turn away from Mr. Pearlman's old man stare. "I stopped by to deliver these and see if you got my gift. Apparently, I misjudged the apartment number."

"Do you want to explain how you knew where I lived?"

"GPS," he said without flinching.

It seemed I was being forced to deal with the situation I'd been avoiding, and I tried not to scowl as I accepted the flowers. I didn't want Mr. Pearlman to worry that I'd attracted a stalker to our doors. Hopefully, Colin wouldn't prove me right. "Why don't you come inside, Colin, since you went through all the trouble and only missed by one number."

Looking relieved, Colin entered my apartment, and I offered Mr. Pearlman a reassuring smile. "Thanks for looking out for me, Mr. Pearlman. I can handle things from here. And I've always got my slugger close at hand."

Mr. Pearlman nodded uncertainly as he retreated indoors. I knew he thought of me like a granddaughter, and he probably didn't appreciate my irreverent joke. If I really was his kin, I  doubt I would get away with anything.

Colin hadn't made it far when he stopped to stare at the photographs on my living room wall. There was Saint Patrick's Cathedral, the Church of Saint John, the gargoyles of Notre Dame and Twenty Exchange Place, among others. The Notre Dame print was the most impressive though, spanning the length of my couch.

"These are nice," he said. "Did you take the photos?"

"I took all of them but the gargoyles. It's nearly impossible to get a shot like that without having wings of your own." I chuckled and he followed it with a forced laugh that had me feeling self-conscious, like I had somehow insulted him.

"I take it you have a thing for gothic architecture," he said.

"If you want to call an obsession a thing. New York has done a good job of preserving many of their historical buildings. I guess we can thank your brother for that, huh?"

Colin's expression hardened as he turned his dark eyes on me. "Are you talking about Vincent?"

"Yes. Do you have more than one brother?"

"There are three of us. I also have an adopted brother, so technically there are four."

"Oh? I come from a nontraditional family too. I was adopted."

He bobbed his head knowingly, as if my nontraditional nature was written all over my face. "So, I take it you've had a chance to ask Vincent about his obsession with gothic architecture, or did you read it somewhere? Every time I turn around, he's cheesing it up for the camera or championing some new campaign."

Hmm. Apparently, there was more to their jealous rivalry than just women. "I was the photographer for the Saint Thomas Church dedication today, and I caught most of his speech. I think it's wonderful what Vincent does to preserve history. Clearly, I'm a fan of antiquity." I pointed to the photographs to prove my point, but it only caused Colin's brows to bunch over his eyes. Time to redirect the conversation. "Is there something I can do for you, Colin?"

My question had him rebounding quickly, and he took a bold step toward me as I clutched the bouquet of flowers to my chest like a shield. "Yes. You can be my date for dinner tonight. I assume you read the note I left inside the package."  His mouth widened into a male model smile, making it even harder to tell him no.

"I read it, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not interested in being a pawn in your power play with Vincent."

"Who says you're a pawn? Is that what Vincent told you?"

"No. I figured it out myself, amazingly enough."

"He asked you out, didn't he?" Colin's lips curled in anger, although he made an obvious effort to control it. Sadly, his quick temper did not bode well for him.

"He wanted to ask me out, but he didn't because he knew you were interested in me. I'm actually not sure whether to be flattered or tell you both to get your heads checked, and not just the head on your shoulders."

Glancing at the floor, Colin released a long sigh. "You're right, Reese. He and I tend to act like dicks when it comes to...well, just about everything."

"Sibling rivalry is not uncommon among brothers, but it can be a problem when it affects other people. You shouldn't be dragging innocent bystanders into your war."

"I don't consider you a bystander. You're not like the other girls I've dated."

"First of all, we haven't dated. And second, you don't know a thing about me apart from the fact that I'm a photographer and I was adopted."

Colin appeared thrown for a moment, like he'd been caught in a lie, and his eyes darted around my apartment before they landed back on me. "Well, I have the perfect solution for that. Have dinner with me at The Purple Rose."

I dropped my head back and groaned, hoping my exasperation came across as I intended it. What good could possibly come from pursuing a relationship with Colin? Sure, he was cute, he was determined, and he was able to admit his faults. But he was hot-headed, and while his temper had not been directed at me, I knew from experience this would be the first thing to slip once we got comfortable with each other. It was Heath all over again, with the exception of admitting his faults. Heath would never do that.

"Listen, Colin. I'm going to level with you. I've been hurt by guys, like seriously hurt, and I'm pretty fucked up because of it. I don't think I'll ever be able to maintain a normal relationship for any duration. It's nothing against you personally, I just don't see things working out for us."

He offered me an incredulous look. "Damn, Reese. You make it sound like you're planning to stay single your whole life. That's not a very healthy attitude, especially for someone so young."

"Who says I'm required to get married? Times have changed."

"I'm not saying you need to get married. I'm saying you shouldn't discount the possibility you could feel love for someone and they'll return it. Not all men are assholes."

"I know, and it's the nice ones I'm most afraid of. I don't want to hurt them when I start getting...weird. It's hard to explain." I made for the kitchen, setting the flowers on the counter and grabbing the open can of lemon lime soda from the fridge. I downed a large quantity while I waited for Colin to react, knowing this could go a number of ways.

"Explain it to me," he said, continuing his appeal.

"I don't want to explain it to you."

"Why? The worst that can happen is I think you're weird and leave you alone. Isn't that what you want anyway?"

I couldn't argue with his logic, although I felt slightly insulted. "Do you want something to drink? I've got that other soda you gave me, and mango juice, and coffee. No alcohol, sorry."

"I'm good. We're kind of a rare breed that way, not using alcohol as a means of escape. Do you have a specific reason why you don't drink? Are you in the program?"

"No. I used to drink and indulge in drugs, but I quit when my brother died from an overdose."

Colin frowned. "I'm sorry. How long has it been?"

"Going on two years."

He took a moment to stare at the flowers sprawled on the counter, appearing to get lost in thought, and we both let the silence drag on. "Do you think your brother's death has influenced your relationships with men?" he said finally. "Maybe you're afraid to take on a boyfriend because you think he's going to leave you like your brother did."

What kind of question was that? Why was this guy trying to get inside my head? "My problems started long before Theo's death. I don't really see what you're driving at. I don't need a boyfriend, and I definitely don't need a therapist."

"I just want to understand you. I like you, and I'm willing to try a little harder to see if we can make something great happen between us. I hate that you've put up this wall. You're a bright, beautiful woman." He leaned over the counter, resting his elbows on it. "Talk to me, Reese."

I plunked the soda can down next to his arm and the sound rang like a gunshot. He had taken the interrogation past the point of annoying, and the only solution I saw was to show him just how hard he would have to try.

"You want inside my head? Fine. I was abandoned by my birth family at age four and didn't speak for almost two years after that. I'm sensitive to any kind of strobe lights. They give me vertigo and headaches. Even the television bothers me after a while. My hearing is freakishly acute. I hear things, voices, strange noises. I used to think it was in my head, but I realized I was hearing my neighbors. I even hear sounds on the street when the windows are closed. I have sleep issues and I've been known to sleepwalk. My previous roommate rescued me from the balcony of our apartment once. I climbed onto the railing claiming I could fly, although I'm afraid of heights. I have a volatile temper when I'm pushed. Sometimes the vertigo and headaches trigger my moods, and sometimes it's an asshole boyfriend who does it."

"It's okay. A lot of people have issues they constantly work on. Maybe I can help."  

I picked up the soda and drained the rest in one gulp, inhaling the last bit and coughing it out as I tossed the can into the sink. I felt the anger growing, prickling my skin like scalding water on a sunburn. Not a good sign, and the more Colin flapped his gums, the angrier I grew. He probably thought he was helping, but he had no clue what he was in for.

"I don't need your pity, Colin. I need you to go." I walked to the door and opened it, trying to suppress the sensation building inside my lungs, the one that felt like I was choking on concrete. Colin hadn't budged from his position at the kitchen counter, although his stunned expression made him look like I'd hit him with a baseball bat. If he pushed any further, I could make that a reality.

"Please, just sit down and take a few calming breaths. We can work through this together."

Wrongo!

"That's everyone's goddamned answer to everything, isn't it! Take a deep breath, Reese. Calm down, Reese. Is it so difficult to tell when someone is struggling to keep from bashing their head in? GET! OUT!"

My whole body trembled as I pointed toward the empty hallway, and Colin finally raised his arms in surrender, looking defeated as he slunk through it. Halfway out, he turned and appeared to be preparing to say something, but I shoved my hand in his face.

"Don't! I'm not worth it. Go find yourself a nice girl."

I flung the door into its frame, forcing Colin backwards to avoid a full-frontal assault. I knew Mr. Pearlman had heard the slam, and I listened for his door to open as I smoldered with rage. What just happened? What had set me off? Colin hadn't done anything but ask a few questions. He even offered to help. But I was beyond help.

I staggered to the couch and sprawled across it, covering my head with a pillow and blocking out the world as I gasped in stale air and couch fibers. All I could do, at that point, was wait for the anger to subside and hope the headache that followed didn't last too long.

PLAYLIST SONG: Gasoline by Halsey