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Ah. Another Neo. Well, if I can handle Neo Saint, then I can handle Lev just fine.
“Maddox is the one you should ignore.” Lev raises his voice. “Take it personally, Riley. Take it very personally.” His tone is uncompromising and a bit unnerving. This guy doesn’t even know me, but that felt like a threat of sorts.
My eyebrows rise and I tsk. “Well then. I guess we won’t all be getting together for Monopoly anytime soon.”
Maddox chuckles, taking my arms in both his hands. “Seriously. He doesn’t know better.”
“Doesn’t know better?” I huff. “He’s what? Twenty? Twenty-one? He should know better.” I look over Maddox’s shoulder at Lev, who looks like he wants to squish me in his hands and eat me for dinner. He’s cute, but in a punky sort of way. Messy, almost spikey blond hair, and the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. All his fingers have rings on them and he, too, has tattoos on his hands, though I can’t see what they are from here. Curiosity has me wondering, though.
“Twenty-one. Buys all our booze. He’s good for something, I swear.” A smile parts Maddox’s lips and I’m reminded of how good they felt against mine.
“Well, at least he’s got that going for him.”
My phone vibrates in the front pocket of my hoodie and I reach my hand inside and pull it out. When I see the sender, my eyes widen, and I stuff it right back in.
“What’s wrong?” Maddox asks, while Lev lingers behind him like a bad case of herpes.
Instead of telling him who’s texting me, I force a smile on my face and say, “Nothing’s wrong. Go ahead and catch up with Lev. He obviously wants something. I’ll find you in a bit.” I go to walk away but stop mid-turn. “Oh, and sorry about the vodka. It slipped out of my hand.”
“It’s cool. Plenty more where that came from. You sure you’re okay?”
I nod. “Fine. Thanks.”
Once there’s enough space between me and Maddox, I take my phone back out and read the message from Ridge.
Ridge: I see you’re getting to know my friends. Beware of the blond. He bites.
My gaze sails from face to face in search of Ridge, but he’s nowhere in sight.
Me: Where are you?
His response is immediate.
Ridge: Around. You look beautiful tonight, by the way.
Me: Why now? Why are you texting me now, yet you ignored the message I sent you days ago?
Ridge: I never know what to say. You once asked if you make me nervous. You do.
There’s a tingling in my chest and I’m not sure what to think of it. I’m still pissed at Ridge, but after hearing what Maddox said about him not speaking under pressure, it’s all starting to make sense.
I walk backward a few steps as I type out another message.
Me: Why do I make you so nervous?
Unable to take my eyes off the phone, I sit down, almost missing the resting log.
Ridge: Why don’t I make you nervous?
Me: Maybe you do. But you didn’t answer my question.
Ridge: You’ve moved me, Angel. You’ve woken something inside my soul and now it will never rest again. I can’t risk fucking it up.
Me: And what if you already have? I did slap you. Have you forgotten?
Ridge: I’ll never forget. I’d happily let you do whatever you want to me, as long as your hands are on my body. In fact, I want to tattoo your handprint on my cheek as a constant reminder of the first day we kissed.
My breath hitches in my throat. No one has ever said words like this to me before. No one has ever made me feel so seen. They may be words on a phone, but they’re coming from Ridge. From deep in his heart, where he’s made a home for me.
