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“I’m Lexi,” she mutters. “Ruby’s sister.”
“Ah,” I nod. “So you’re here to fuck up the bastard who violated your sister?”
“Yeah, because he deserves it.” She glares at me, almost like she’s angry. I wonder if she felt it too when we touched—the spark. I wonder if it angers her because she’s determined to be miserable like me.
“As far as I know, the photo’s deleted.”
“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve it.”
“No,” I say, nodding. “But if you spend your life dishing out punishment to every prick who deserves it, the best you’ll get is life in a cage. The worst is no life at all.”
Reaching down, I grab the end of the screwdriver, gently but firmly taking it from her. She bites down, making me think about kissing her again.
“Anyway, you’re wrong,” she says.
“I’ve seen people throw their lives?—”
“No,” she snaps. “About the photo. You’re wrong.”
A light switches on in the front of the house. I take Lexi’s hand, more electricity sparking between us. Using the instincts I’ve honed over countless hours of stubbornly living in the moment and focusing on the task at hand, I ignore the hunger and guide her to the car.
By the way she follows me, I know she isn’t sure this is the right path. I open the passenger-side door.
“Can I trust you?” she asks. “I don’t make it a habit of getting into cars with strangers.”
Reaching into my jacket, I take out my pistol and hand it to her, grip-first. She takes it, the blue and green of her eyes filled with something like appreciation, as if she’s glad I respect her enough to trust her with a firearm. “If I do anything you don’t like, just point and shoot.”
She laughs, then kills the noise. It’s like she feels guilty for letting herself feel even a few moments of happiness.
Starting the engine, I drive her toward the end of the street before Nate or any of his asshole friends can come out here and antagonize us. Somehow, I know I wouldn’t be able to tolerate any disrespect to Lexi. She’s a complete stranger, but…
But nothing. She’s a stranger—end of story.
Shadow whines like a puppy, clambering between the seats and, unbelievably, trying to climb into Lexi’s lap.
“Aww, good doggie,” Lexi says, stroking the top of his head.
I swallow, not letting myself think about the fact that Shadow has never, not once, in all the years I’ve had him, acted like this with a stranger.
“Tell me what happened, Lexi,” I say, feeling much too comfortable using her name, like we know each other already on some level.
As Shadow awkwardly clambers into her lap, she turns to me and starts speaking.
CHAPTER 24
Ruby
Almost a week… Bursts of starlight move through me as I send the text, my world spinning over and over when I think I’ll soon be with my man again. And it’s been the hardest of my life.
Mine too, Luca replies. I would’ve gone nuts if I didn’t have work to focus on. Hell, more nuts than I already am, anyway. What do your parents think about us seeing each other again?
I spin around and around in my computer chair. I’m supposed to be reading a journal article, but it isn’t easy when my phone keeps buzzing. Not that I’d change that. Texting is the only way I’ve been able to stay sane during the long nights spent thinking about Luca, the days dreaming of him, and the longing in my belly getting hotter and more insistent every single moment.
Last night, Dad asked me how I was feeling. He was basically asking if I’d gotten over you yet. When I told him all I could think about was seeing you again, he got a bit… softer? I’m not sure that’s the right word, but I get the sense he sort of regrets how he handled things. “I just want you to be happy, Ruby,” he told me. I think that’s a good sign.
I hope so, Luca replies. A week is just about doable. It’s torture, but we’re almost through it now, but spending an entire life apart? There’s no way I could do that. I need you. I’m hungry for you, Ruby.
I feel the same, I tell him. I’m glad you’ve been so understanding about the baby thing.
We’ve both been honest about how we feel. We’re both determined to make this work. That’s more than most people will ever have. We’re a team, Ruby.
My heart feels like it’s glowing in my chest. Dad was wrong to think forcing us apart would somehow fix this, not that there’s anything to fix. He can’t come between us. He can’t stop us from wanting each other. Nothing can come between us.
What shall we do? I ask. For our big reunion?
He doesn’t reply straightaway, which seems odd since we were just going back and forth with no pauses. I push the neediness down, attempting to focus on the text of the journal article. I even read it aloud when my attention refuses to stay sharp and fixated.
