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“There’s one man that isn’t so bad. But his baggage weighs a ton.”
I point at her pink cheeks. “Alright, so even though it is incredibly wrong, how cute is this criminal? Based on the color of your cheeks right now, I would say he’s pretty attractive.”
Ava shrugs a shoulder. “I wouldn’t say that he’s hard on the eyes at all, but…” she shakes her head. “Besides, you know the rules. I don’t get involved with the inmates.”
“Be hot if you did.”
She grabs a throw pillow and tosses it at my head.
I smack it out of the way, laughing as she downs her wine.
Ava’s face is bright red. She tries to smother the smirk playing at the corner of her mouth, but she can’t.
“Nothing is going to happen with him.” Ava sips her wine and looks out the window at the backyard. “I have other things that I need to be doing with my time. Even thinking about what could happen is trouble.”
“The entire job is trouble.”
She waves a hand. “Enough about that. Why don’t you go get your guitar and play some songs for me. I would love to hear what you’re working on right now.”
“Really?” I get up and head to the back door where I left my guitar when I came in this morning.
“Yeah.” Ava smiles and pulls her knees to her chest. “I know that I give you a hard time about your music sometimes, but you’re the most talented person I know. If anyone is going to be able to make it in the music industry, it’s you. Now, play me a song.”
I laugh and bring the guitar back over to the living room, strumming a melody I keep dreaming about. Though I don’t have the lyrics yet, when I close my eyes and focus on the music, all I can picture is Christian’s gaze and the conflicted way he makes me feel.
15
CHRISTIAN
Zoe walks into the kitchen, her hair a wild mess and her eyes shining bright. Dark bags circle beneath her eyes.
She takes a seat and reaches for the cup of coffee I push her way.
A soft groan fills the room as she takes her first sip.
“I shouldn’t have stayed up drinking and playing songs for Ava last night. It was a horrible decision. A smarter person would have gone to bed. I’m not a smarter person.”
I smile as she drops her head to the counter. “Hangovers can be a bitch.”
She groans again, covering her head with her arms. “Next time, remind me that going to bed is a good idea. Actually, scratch that. I’m still mad at you.”
With a sigh, I lean back against the other counter. “I know. I shouldn’t have reacted like that last night. I’m sorry.”
Zoe looks up, her eyes narrowing. “Do you mean that, or is it just a tactic to get me to agree to stay home and slowly go insane looking at the same walls every single day?”
“I mean that. I still have my concerns, but there would’ve been a better time to talk about it.”
Last night I was worried about her. I watched her sign those papers, and all I could think about was Demarco snatching her off stage and whisking her away.
I could picture her father waiting in the crowd to capture her and take her away from me.
When I saw that signature, all I could think about was losing her.
And the thought wasn’t just jarring because I need her for her dad’s help.
The idea of someone taking her, of losing her, made me lose my breath and my chest hurt.
“Thank you,” she says, sitting upright and running her fingers through her wild hair. “I appreciate that. Thank you for calling Ava over. I know neither of you are the biggest fan of my music career right now, but it means a lot to me. I know I can do this, but it means that I have to take risks.”
