I get a lot of looks in the elevator, still too rattled to put my clothes back on. I just hold them like
an idiot while I call myself every name in the book. I’m spinning out, and it’s not until I spot the tall
tuxedoed man in the middle of the lobby that I realize what I need.
He watches me exit the elevator, a small grin on his face. But he doesn’t say a word about my
outfit, or lack of one. “Need a drink?” he asks simply.
“Yeah, I really do.”
Ransom nods, and walks me to the dimly lit bar, speaking softly to the waitress. Heads turn as we
pass, but as usual, he barely notices. Ransom has always, from the day he approached us in that group
home, walked with absolute confidence. It’s like he knew from day one who he was and what he
wanted, and never let anything sway him. He brought all of us together.
He saved us.
I slide into a booth, drop my clothes on the bench, and pull out my shirt, shrugging into it. Ransom
slides in opposite me, unbuttoning his tuxedo jacket. The waitress delivers two glasses of scotch, then
backs away with a polite smile. Weird.
“What’s that look for?” Ransom asks, taking a sip. The glass looks small in his hand. In mine, too,
come to think of it.
“She didn’t smile at me. Or flirt. It’s weird,” I murmur, spinning the glass, watching the flickering
lights twist and shift on the crystal. All waitresses flirt with me. All women flirt with me.
“Not weird at all.” I shoot him a confused look, and he laughs. “You didn’t look at her, Zach. You
didn’t give her that stupid fucking smile you use on the ladies. You didn’t encourage her in any way.”
“Oh,” I say dumbly.
Ransom’s chuckling, a wide smile on his lips. “I didn’t expect it from you. Honestly, I thought
you’d be the last one to fall. Clearly, I was wrong.”
“What are you rambling about?”
His look is knowing. He sees way too much. “Love, man. I didn’t expect you to fall for a woman
this quickly. Especially not one like Maya.”
The denial on my lips when he says ‘love’ is forgotten as I glare at him. “What’s wrong with
Maya?”
That damn chuckle again. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I really like her, actually. She’s a little
odd, and weird shit pops out of her mouth. But she’s a really nice woman. More than nice, she’s real.
