“From everything I’ve ever heard about Patrick, it sounds like he’s pretty sharp, so he probably already knows it’s bound to be complicated with Ruko, and mentioning him would only make things harder on you.”
“Yeah . . .”
We both take deep breaths, and I love that we’re in sync—or as in sync as we can be when we’re more than three thousand miles apart.
“Okay, so I’m going to send you Tuck’s information so you have him to talk to when and if you want to. Don’t use it until I have a chance to tell him I gave you his phone number, though.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever use it, angel,” he says gently, like he’s letting me down and doesn’t want his words to be too harsh.
“I know that. I just want you to have options.”
“Didn’t he start working for the Demons in the summer?”
“Yeah, right after he graduated from Columbia. And I know you don’t know Jim personally, but believe me when I tell you he’d hardly give Tuck a place of power just because. He for sure thinks Tuck is the only person who can possibly take over for him but he won’t just give up control for shits and giggles. He’s not that type, which is probably the only thing I respect about him.”
“I still think it would be a conflict of interest, and I can’t afford to risk it.”
I mull that over for a second then shake my head sharply.
“Tuck isn’t the type to let business get in the way of two people talking. But I get it if you never contact him.”
Lex only hums to that, then a teasing smirk grows slowly on his lips, and I have no idea what’s coming.
“About those posts . . .”
I curse my body when heat blooms rapidly on my cheeks.
“I cleared it with Vinny,” I mumble.
He bursts out laughing, that big, bright boom that always makes me feel like I’m under the sun on a perfect summer day.
“I liked them, angel, and I’m not the only one. I’ve seen plenty of replies where people say how happy they are to hear from you. They think you have dirt on us.”
“I do have dirt on you,” I point out.
“Yeah, you do.” His smile turns soft, and his eyes crinkle with a tenderness that’s as familiar as my own name. “Thank you for doing that. I don’t know if I told you that, but thank you for trying to make this work. I don’t think I deserve this much trouble, but I’m really lucky to have you, angel.”
“Stop it,” I grumble. “You’re worth a lot more trouble, in fact...”
I pick up my phone and go check out these replies he’s talking about.
I snort when I see Vinny’s.
@eagle21
You get away with too much to be a younger sibling. It goes to show how little you had to fight over the remote growing up.
“Vinny’s reply has almost more likes than mine!” I cry out, and craft the perfect response while Lex laughs.
“He has more followers than you since you haven’t been on social media for almost five years!”
“It’s still unacceptable,” I grumble.
@eliellsworth @eagle21
See? Fun police.
I keep it simple and to the point.
