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“You rely on your friends,” he said with a gentle look. “Lean on me a little bit. Whoever you’re running from, I promise I won’t let them take you.” He leaned in and lifted his hand between them with his pinky finger extended.
Naia’s guard rose at the prospect of relying on anyone but herself. “Do not make vows you cannot keep,” she said in a hard tone.
“I would never.” Ronin held onto her eyes.
His disposition remained nonchalant—relaxed shoulders, his fingertips hanging onto his nearly empty plastic cup. She wanted to believe he was stupidly naïve, that his promise was all ego talking. She wanted to, but in the end, she believed him and his idiotic promise. He’d gotten her this far.
Naia glanced around at her surroundings, gripping her sweaty cup for grounding. The lampposts had flickered on, basking the sidewalk in a white glow mixed with the colorful neon of businesses. More vehicles filled the streets, and there seemed to be a collective rise in the number of pedestrians passing by Naia and Ronin.
Yes, they were out in the open, and yes, Marina could appear, and all hell could break loose. But, it hadn’t yet.
You are safe with Ronin.
She filled her lungs with a deep breath, refocusing on Ronin’s pinky finger. “Fine, but what does this mean?”
He chuckled. “It’s called a pinky promise. It binds my vow to you in a figurative sense.”
“It sounds like a load of nonsense.” She lifted her hand, unsure how to proceed.
Ronin hooked his pinky finger around hers. “There. Promise made.”
Naia’s entire hand buzzed from his touch. “Very well, now tell me where we are going?”
Their pinky fingers were still intertwined. Ronin’s pupils flared, swallowing his rich, brunette irises as he stared at her.
Naia’s heart sped up, eager to break their connection, but secretly wanting to make it last.
“May I hold your hand?” he asked.
A fire sparked to life in her chest. She bit her lip back, praying the dusky light hid the blush in her cheeks, and nodded.
He threaded their fingers together and led her down the sidewalk.
The sound of a clarinet and a saxophone touched her ears as they descended the concrete stairs of a cluttered alley.
Ronin led her through the underground entrance, and pops of eagerness sparked behind Naia’s sternum. The music thrummed up her legs and down her arms. A thin veil of smoke cloaked the room and the sea of people inside.
Naia squeezed Ronin’s fingers without meaning to as he led her further in. She bumped shoulders with strangers who danced to the energetic tune. The earlier conversation with Ronin came back to mind when he had asked her what her favorite music was. Her heart puddled at his kind gesture. She had to clench the muscles in her arms to avoid throwing herself around him to express her appreciation.
“You made it!” Avi waved them down before planting himself on a red leather seat in the corner of the elongated room. His copper strands were slick in a side part, and he smiled wide as they approached.
Crystal lights shimmered above. In the center of the club stood a smooth, marble bar surrounded by people sitting on stools. The stage was housed at the far end of the room. Naia counted six band members, all playing instruments with a synergy she was inescapably drawn to.
Violet hopped up from her seat beside Avi and greeted Naia with her arms opening for a hug. “Yay! I am so happy you came!”
Naia couldn’t help her grimace and the need to shrink away before Violet could touch her.
But to her surprise, Ronin stepped sideways, positioning himself in front of Naia at perfect timing.
Violet dropped her arms back down to the sides of her sequin dress. “What gives?” she pouted.
“Not everyone appreciates invasive greetings, Vi,” Ronin muttered.
Violet’s eyes grew slightly wide with understanding, nodding. “Of course. Silly me.” She slapped her palm across her forehead and shifted in her chunky boots to address Naia. “Gods, I’m sorry. I get carried away sometimes.”
An innate need rose in Naia to step outside of her comfort zone. To be okay with receiving a hug or a hand shake from another. The small steps she’d made with Ronin gave her the sliver of confidence she needed to believe this was something obtainable for her.
Naia released Ronin’s hand and took in a casual breath through her nose, plastering on a smile. “No worries.”
