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She sounds defeated. I have the urge to march across the room and snatch the device out of her hand and tell whoever it is that deserves that ringtone to leave her alone, unless they want to deal with me.
The instinct is so strong I’ve taken a step without realizing it when my own phone summons me with a chirp. I pull it out to check the screen. When I see my notifications I want to hurl my phone against the wall.
“Everything okay?” Ivy asks.
“Hawthorne has been sighted in the city,” I push through my teeth.
“How—”
“I have Google notifications for that bastard. You’re supposed to keep an eye on a snake if it slithers into your yard. I keep mine on this prick.” Speaking of snakes…“Who was that?”
“My brother.” She glances at the device in her hand. “It was nothing. It doesn’t matter. Just wanted me to call Mom.”
“You sure?” When she doesn’t meet my eye I get the feeling that there’s more to the story.
Her breath catches and she swallows before she touches her fingertips to her mouth. “I…yes, I’m sure.”
“Okay.” I want to push her, but I don’t want her to shut down completely. The idea makes my pulse pick up and adrenaline course through my veins. “You know you can talk to me, right? You can tell me anything.”
“I know.” She comes toward me, reaches up and pulls my mouth down to hers. Gives me a closed mouth kiss. “And I appreciate it.”
“I’m in your corner.” I hold onto her. I can’t shake this feeling that right now she doesn’t trust that I am. And if that continues… “You’d tell me if there was something you were worried about?”
“Of course,” she says, but it feels like she’s water slipping through my fingers. The smile she offers me doesn’t reach her eyes. “Give me a minute to use the bathroom and we can continue this conversation over coffee.”
“That drink you like isn’t coffee.” I bought a whole drum of the syrup they use at the coffee shop near campus so she doesn’t have to leave the apartment to get her fix. It’s a huge supply. When she stops going to Cal State she’ll still have plenty of her favorite drink. “It’s sugar with a little caffeine.”
“That’s how I like it.” Her hips sway as she disappears into the bathroom.
She has no idea of the power she holds over me. Or the fear that rears its ugly head when she hides things from me. Her phone is on the bed, and I hover, pulled by the gravity of what secrets that piece of technology could reveal. A text pops onto the screen just before it goes black.
T-Swift: We need to talk.
Who the hell is T-Swift? The pop princess? One of those buff as hell drag queen guys that hangs out with Adira? Or someone else?
When my own phone rings it brings me back to myself. I have to give her time to open up. She’s been through so much, and what she’s told me is only the tip of the iceberg. But she’s a fighter. And I won’t give up. I roll my thumb over the screen, lift it to my ear as I head toward the kitchen. “Bro, what’s up?”
“You need to swing by,’’ Rebel says.
“Good morning to you too.” I lay on the pep extra hard, not that I’m feeling it. But if I don’t try to irritate his grumpy ass with sunshine and light he’ll think something is up. And unless he has the inside line to who T-Swift is I don’t need that kind of interrogation.
“Marty wants to ask you some questions,” he busts my balls. “So get your ass over here.”
I drop all pretense of a cheery mood at the mention of his ex. “She didn’t get enough when Ro relived the whole event for her?”
“It’s important,” he says.
“Give me the phone,” I hear Summer say in the background. A moment later her sweet-covered steel voice pipes into my ear. “I realize Marty isn’t your favorite person, but you’re doing this for your brother and Ro. Just come and answer her questions. Let’s make this article stick with people. Give them no reason to doubt Ro’s side of events when Alec’s team rebuffs them.”
“Yeah.” I rub at my temples. “Yeah. Of course. Give me an hour. I have to take Ivy home.”
“That’s fine,” she says. “Oh, and Rogue, Marty’s bringing a photographer to take some shots to include with the article so dress appropriately.”
“Fine.” I glance down at my bare chest and sigh melodramatically. “I won’t wear myI lost my virginity. Can I take yours?shirt.”
“That’s all I truly ask.” Summer laughs.
I hang up as Ivy walks into the kitchen. Still wearing just my T-shirt.
