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She looks at me worriedly. “Are you going to be alright here by yourself?”
“Of course.” I smile at her, ignoring the tiny twinge of unease. “Cash will be back soon. I’ll be fine. You go do your librarian thing, cataloging and referencing and shelving and stuff.”
Thea stands up, shooting me a little grin. “That’s not quite it, but close enough.”
I walk her to the front door, trying not to visibly wince as my aching body protests the movements. Now that my road rash is starting to scab over—so attractive, I justloveCash looking at thatwhile he checks my bandages—it also pulls uncomfortably whenever I move.
Not to mention the dozens of bruises scattered all over my body, now turning an array of purples and blues. To say I’m colorful looking would be a massive understatement.
Once Thea is gone, the silence is startling. In this house, I don’t hear the constant sounds like I do in the tiny ranch I rent over on the other side of town. I can’t hear the refrigerator kicking on, or my neighbors mowing the lawn, or the kids yelling as they play basketball down the street.
In Cash’s big house, with the acres of property around it, the silence echoes in the foyer where I’m standing.
It shouldn’t make me anxious, but I can’t help it. The silence reminds me I’m alone, with Sean still out there.
ExceptnotSean.
The only information the police have so far are the things that aren’t true about him. Like the photo, which was a stock photo found online—I felt reallystupid when I heard that one. And his name isn’t real, his identity—all of it fake.
So there’s a mysterious stranger out there somewhere, who may or may not decide to come after me again.
And now I feel sick to my stomach. Again.
I head back to the living room—it has the best vantage point of the first floor—and curl up on the couch, scrolling through news on the new phone Cash gave me.
When the police found my old phone in a dumpster near the restaurant—screen shattered and covered with trash—they asked if I wanted it back and Cash’s face got all funny and he said, “I’ll buy you a new one. Please don’t argue with me. I wantto.”
I wasn’t going to argue. I don’t want anythingnot-Sean touched.
A door closes in the distance, echoing. My stomach clenches, twisting and flipping. I know it has to be Cash, but still—
Cash comes into the living room and spots me, his expression clouding with concern. “Ari, hun, are you okay?” He rushes over and drops down next to me. “Are you in pain? I toldyou to call me.”
I can’t answer for a second.
I saw Cash as he was leaving for work, so I shouldn’t be surprised. But I was still groggy when he came into my room before seven this morning, eyes still bleary with sleep. I sat up to say goodbye and he hugged me but I didn’t reallyappreciate what I was seeing.
Not like now.
It’s not like I haven’t seen Cash in a suit before. But it was never likethis.
Crouched in front of me, so close I can see the faint shadow of stubble on his face, the flecks of gold in his eyes, the way the fabric of his jacket pulls at his arms and shoulders just enough to hint at the muscles beneath. His bronzed skin is accentuated by a crisp white shirt, tucked into tailored gray pants belted around a flat stomach. And the angles and shadows of his face as he looks at me with so much concern—
He’s entirely toogood looking.
Just friends, I remind myself. We’re friends. That’s all we’ve ever been. And it’s better that way.
“Ari?” Cash runs his hand through his hair, his forehead creasing as he examines my face. His eyes narrow, darkening. “Is it your wrist? Have you taken a pain pill lately? Maybe it was too soon to have company over.”
“No, no,” I rush to reassure him. “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?” He leans forward and touches my shoulder. “If you’re in pain, tell me. There’s no need to hide it.”
“I’m just a little sore. No more than usual.” At the skeptical raise of his brows, I give in. “I was feeling a little anxious after Thea left. Being alone.”
“Ah, Ari.” Cash’s face falls. “I’m sorry. I had some meetings… but I should have canceled them and worked from home instead.”
“No, Cash. It’s fine. I have to get used to it, right? I mean, I’m going to have to be alone, eventually.”
