Page 210 of Rogue Riders Duet

Don’t leave me on read, Pretty Boy.

I hit reply before I can talk myself out of it.

Alaina still at the hospital?

It doesn’t take long for him to answer.

Luc

Why the hell do you want to know?

I roll my eyes.

I want to talk to her.

Luc

You better not yell at her again. I swear to God, Payne, I’m gonna kill you if you even think about upsetting her. Enough shit’s going on right now.

Did something else happen? Or is he talking about her injuries?

I didn’t think I could feel any guiltier, but here we are.

I won’t. Promise.

There’s a pause, and I tap my finger against the side of my phone when his next text comes in.

Luc

Do you still have my hoodie?

My eyes flick down to the pink sleeves covering my hands.

Yeah. I’m literally wearing it.

What?

Luc

My hoodie. The pink one. You still have it, don’t you?

What about it? Want it back?

Luc

Just wondering if you slept in it :)

My brain short-circuits a little. I blink hard at the screen, like maybe if I stare long enough, the emoji will disappear.

I did sleep in it and am still wearing it. I only took it off to shower, because it’s warm and it feels weirdly safe, and I hate how much I don’t want to take it off. Dad gave me a look when I came back in it from the hospital, but didn’t say anything to me, just arched a brow and muttered something about “interesting color choices” before going back to his coffee.

Am I being flirted with?

Or is this just Delacroix’s natural level of French chaos?

Fuck it, I’ll just ask him.

Do you always flirt with people you threaten to murder?