Page 14 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

And by the time I make it down to the garage, her car is gone.

The only positive?

I still have my cookie.

Five

River

“Dumb,” I whisper as I drive out of the parking lot. “Stupid. Ridiculous. Dumb,” I repeat as I turn onto the street and start for the freeway.

But I can’t even lie.

I’d been waiting for Thorn to show up all day, eyeing the door to Brooks and Briar’s apartment, knowing he was coming to dinner and delaying my tasks, slowing them, hoping I’d have a chance to give him the damned cookie I painstakingly decorated last night.

Delaying.

Working slowly.

And—

God, I’m an idiot.

Beep!

I gasp, realize the light’s turned green and slam my foot down onto the pedal, hurrying through just as the signal goes from yellow to red.

Wincing, I flick my gaze to the rearview, see the driver who’s now missed the signal tossing up their hands in frustration.

“Whoops,” I whisper, vowing to pay more attention.

But that doesn’t last long.

Because my mind drifts back to Thorn, back to the apartment, back to?—

“The man doesn’t like chocolate.” I shake my head. “Inconceivable.”

Then I laugh.

Clearly, I’ve watched The Princess Bride too many times of late.

“Still”—another shake of my head—“to not like chocolate is…” My lips twitch. “Inconceivable.”

Thankfully, I make it to the freeway without further incident and then I’m heading in the direction of my apartment.

But I find that the closer I get to it, the tighter my shoulders become.

I don’t want to go home.

I don’t want to be alone.

But Brooks and Briar have only recently figured out their relationship, and I don’t want to cramp their style by hanging at the apartment like a pathetic…well, hanger-oner.

Plus, Thorn needed to discuss some security things with Brooks.

I didn’t need to be there for that.

Whatever decisions they’re making, whatever protections they’re putting in place for Briar—none of them involve me.