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As soon as he exits, I rush to the door, turn the lock, and walk to the kitchen counter to unpack the meal kits. When I looked up its price online, I nearly fainted. My subscription contains three meals a day, including smoothies and desserts.
I never have to buy food, my rent includes utilities, and the people I work with are more concerned with providing a quality experience for their students than with asking questions. My situation is perfect, so why am I always miserable?
A knock sounds on the door, and I roll my eyes. Why does Mr. Wilder always have a sixth sense for when I’m at my loneliest?
With a huff, I walk to the door and open it, expecting to see the old man standing at the other side with his hands clasped, but it’s not Mr. Wilder.
It’s Roman.
SIXTY-THREE
ROMAN
Emberly staggers backward, but I catch her before she hits the floor. Her soft curls tickle the side of my face, and my nostrils fill with her cinnamon and vanilla scent.
Being close to her feels better than the first sip of cool water on a hot summer’s day. More intoxicating than the first taste of a cigar in five years, and more liberating than my first steps off death row.
My heart has been in a cage the six months I gave her space to breathe. Now, I’m free to bask in her presence. Our surroundings fade and my world concentrates on Emberly.
Her green eyes widen, darting around as though not believing the sight of my presence. Her bottom lip trembles, and her chest rises and falls with panicked breaths.
“How did you find me?” Her voice is urgent, tight, and bordering on alarm.
My heart sinks. Does she think I’m here for revenge? I walk her to the sofa and help her sit.
“Let go of me.” She snatches her hand out of my grip.
When I drove here, I expected a cold reception, maybe even tears. Emberly is still hurt at my deception, yet this rejection lands like a slap.
“Emberly—”
“No.”
She rises off the sofa and glares up at me, her features hardening, her hands balling into fists. “Answer my question. How the hell did you track me here?”
“I’ve been watching over you since before you moved to Carmel.”
“Why?” she snaps.
“I was trying to give you space.”
“If you’re here for the rest of my inheritance, I haven’t got it.”
I flinch. “God, Emberly, it’s not like that.”
“Then what do you want?” She shakes her head. “Never mind, just get out.”
I don’t move.
“Get out of my apartment.” She shoves me in the chest with enough force to strain herself and then winces.
My stomach plummets and my throat tightens in a fist of worry. I choke out the words, “Are you alright?”
Emberly lowers herself onto the sofa and grimaces. “I will be if you fuck off.”
I kneel at her feet. “Baby, I can’t leave you in pain. Let me call you a doctor. Tell me what you need.”
The weight of her emotions presses down on her shoulders, and she slumps forward in her chair, defeated. Avoiding my gaze, she turns her head towards the window, her eyes fixed anywhere except on me. “Why did you wait until now to haunt me when I can’t kick you out of my apartment?”
