My neck muscles tense, and I find a knot in the wood to stare at. “Uh, good. I think.”
“You think? Are you guys not close anymore?”
“We are.” I frown. “I’ve, uh, actually been trying to reach her and can’t.”
“Oh.”
My eyes fly to hers. “That ‘oh’ felt very pointed.”
She pulls one leg into her chest. The red is streaming off her in stripes, turning her into a zebra. I’m sure I look worse.
“It’s just, you always protected her more than she needed protecting.”
I swipe the stinging sweat from my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your life kind of revolved around her. I always wondered whatyouwanted.”
She has no idea what she’s talking about. Ihadto protect Rosie because no one else was going to. I don’t need anything else.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but Rosie is a tough girl… at least she was eight years ago. I’m sure she can take care of herself.”
I roll my lips. “She microwaved a fork last week. Nearly burned her apartment down.”
Maya laughs. “Okay, so she can be a little ditzy, but she’s an actual genius.”
It’s true. She has an IQ of 145. Maybe I haven’t given her enough credit. I do tend to take over and fix things even if she doesn’t ask. But after what our parents did, the way they wronged us, I feel like I owe her that.
And now I see Maya was right. Again. I’m often too busy with this job and ensuring our future. I don't take time for myself. Except for my daily trip to the gym and a walk across the park.
I shift, absently rubbing the lemon on a particular red spot on my torso. Maya’s gaze connects to the spot, and I clear my throat. I didn’t know it could be possible, but her face somehow deepens in color, and she looks away.
That blush. I lived for that sweet, innocent look on her face. Those were simpler times, when I still had hope for the future. Before reality took its nasty whip to my dreams, and I used that whip to chase the rest of them away.
“So…” I clear my throat. “Now that you’ve dissected my life, should we talk about why you are working here and not as an archeologist? Unless this is just a fun side gig?”
Maya purses her lips, pointedly looking at her feet. I don’t plan on letting her off that easily.
“That was all you talked about. How you were going to go to Egypt and Brazil and find treasure.Rewrite history.” If she got her degree, she was halfway there.
She shakes her head with a harsh laugh devoid of humor. “And I was so close.”
I wait for her to open up more, but instead she drops her head back and closes her eyes. I watch her for three full minutes. I couldn’t take my eyes off her if I tried.
How is she so tantalizing, sweating rivulets down her pink skin, her dark hair matted and curling around her forehead?
I walked away from this woman—but not this woman exactly. This woman is stronger, yet afraid. What happened tomyMaya?
My internal clock goes off, reminding me I need to leave. Maya is okay. She doesn’t need me, certainly never wanted me to stay to begin with. I can’t justify remaining here. The longer I’m here the harder it will be to leave her again. I’ve overstayed my unwelcome; it’s time to move on.
I sit forward, ready to bolt before I can change my mind. But it’s like she can sense it.
“I’m done.” Maya stands abruptly. “That’s as good as it will get, but you can stay longer if you want.”
I swallow, ripping my gaze away from her.
“There’s a full bathroom in the gym you can use. I’ll go upstairs.” Then she’s gone, leaving me alone to gather my thoughts.
When Bella freed me from the balcony, I’d planned to hide the painting and then retrieve it before sneaking out after I was 100 percent certain Maya was okay.
