Page 176 of Show Me

Straight to the point. No dramatic looks. No pity. Oddly enough, I appreciate that.

“So whoever did it just disappeared?” I ask.

“For now.” His tone stays calm. Matter-of-fact. Not trying to scare me. Not pretending everything’s fine either. “We’ll keep digging. I’m going to stop by this morning and take a look around in daylight.”

“Thanks.” A cabinet closes somewhere farther down the hall. My shoulders tense before I can stop them.

Footsteps sound a second later. Xavier appears in the doorway, hair messy from sleep or running his hand through it, T-shirt wrinkled as he threw it on without paying attention.

His eyes find me. Checking to see if I’m okay. “You’re up.”

That tight feeling in my chest eases a fraction before I can stop it. “Yeah.”

“I’m glad you were able to sleep in a strange place.” He rakes his hand through his hair, eyes trained on the cabinet behind me.

It’s as if he doesn’t know where to look. Or what to do. Or what to say to convince everyone that he only had me stay in his room because someone is stalking me. Wonderful. I don’t know why I keep thinking this is going to turn into something it isn’t.

“Thank you.” The coffee sours in my stomach. “I was.”

“Good.” He nods as if it’s a newsflash that I was able to sleep when I slept in his arms.

After pouring himself a mug of coffee, he sits beside me, knee brushing mine beneath the table as if to reassure me that everything’s okay between us. But it’s a quick brush, and then he scoots his chair to the left, putting more space between us.

With the added distance, the tension returns. Nothing is okay at this point. I brace my shoulders. “Jake says there's nothing yet.”

Xavier nods once. “I know.”

My phone buzzes against the table before I can think too hard about that. Mr. Cole’s name flashes across the screen. I answer. “Good morning.”

“Ruby,” he says. “You alright?”

“I'm okay.”

“I heard about the windows.” Of course he did…. Small town. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” he continues. “None of this is your fault.” Something about the gruff honesty in his voice makes my throat constrict.

“I know.” And that much, I do know. I’ve done nothing to deserve someone harassing me. Scaring me and threatening me and driving me out of my own home.

“Xavier said you two might be late this morning.”

“I’ll stop by the house first. Clean up the glass. If Xavier wants to go on to work, I can ride with Jake when he goes to do his walkthrough.”

Not that he’ll find anything. Whoever this person is, they’re always one step ahead.

Xavier is watching me. Reading my expression when he can’t make out everything his father says.

“That’s fine,” Mr. Cole says. “Take your time.”

I relax into the chair. “Thank you.”

The call ends. The kitchen settles into silence.

“I’ll go with you to the house.” Xavier pushes his chair back.

“You don’t have to.” The last thing I want is to be an obligation. Things are awkward enough as it is.

“It’s not up for debate. I’ll drive you to the house, and if you’re feeling up to it, I’ll take you to work or bring you back here.”

“Fine.” There’s no point in arguing with him when he’s made his mind up.