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So this Nick character was an ex.Excellent.I wanted to know more, but I didn’t want to push, so I just let it go.For now.“Do you want to talk about it?”Fuck it, I figured I’d ask for good measure.
“No,” she said almost too fast.“Maybe some other time,” she added just as quickly.“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster today and I think I just need some rest.Plus, I have to get ready for our date tonight.”I saw her eyes light up then, and seeing her happy was really all I wanted.Turned out Damon did good inviting us out tonight of all nights.
I replied, “Sure.You should head inside, then.”I opened my door when she opened hers and said, “I’ll walk you up.”
When we got to the door, there was a box sitting on the floor.Before she picked it up, I saw it was from New York and then I read the name and knew exactly who it was from—Nick.As though she knew I was thinking about it, she said, “He’s probably sending me the rest of my things.It’s no big deal, really.It’s right on pace with the rest of this day.”
“Did you just break up?”
She swallowed hard.“Um, yeah, I guess you could say that.But, truthfully, we haven’t really been a couple for a while now.His doing.”She unlocked and pushed open the door to her apartment and turned to me.“Thanks for driving me to and back from the service.Meant a lot to me that you were there for me today.”
“Of course.”Then I added, “And I’ll see you tonight?”
“Absolutely.”
“Try to take a nap, you’ll feel worlds better.”
“Thanks, I think I will.That and a shower should do it.”
“Okay, then.I’ll stop by and pick you up later.”I felt like I was treading on water whenever she brought up her ex.It seemed like there was a lot more to the story that she wasn’t ready to share, but I could see the fear and pain in her eyes.It made me want to pay the guy a visit and punch his face in.Scarlet didn’t deserve to be going through this on top of everything that was happening.
She smiled, leaned over and gave me a chaste kiss on my cheek.“I cannot wait.”Then she closed the door and left me standing there like a dork, thinking about how badly I wanted that kiss to be so much more.
Chapter Seven
Scarlet
Rafe’s not finished.”That was all the paper read.Asshole stuck it right on top of all my belongings, probably to ensure that I didn’t miss it.Fat chance in that happening.Now it was just sitting on my coffee table, staring me right in the face.I didn’t know what it meant or what the heck Rafe was looking for from me, but whatever it was, he wasn’t going to get it.I didn’t give a damn about Rafe or Nick, to be honest.I just wanted my life back, and I already said I wouldn’t utter a word.If law enforcement ever found out about their machinations and illegal activities, it wouldn’t be from me.
I clasped my hoop earrings and decided to forget about the whole ordeal when I heard a knock at the door.For the briefest of seconds I thought it might be Nick or Rafe here to finish whatever it was they had in mind.An outsider would’ve thought I was blowing this out of proportion, but I knew better.I wasn’t an outsider.I knew Rafe.Unfortunately.And the bastard wasn’t ever done with someone until they were gone.Then there was Nick—loyal to the very end.He would do anything Rafe asked of him, even if it meant doing his dirty work.He’d done it before without blinking an eye and he would do it again.I just wasn’t sure if he would go so far as silencing me for Rafe.After all, there was a point in time when Nick loved me.When we were planning a future together.Only, that was well in the past and Nick probably felt burned over my ending things with him the way I did.
“Scar, it’s Colt.”The sound of Colton’s voice was all I needed to silence my racing heart.I took a deep breath and answered the door, so grateful that it was him.
I smiled when I saw the bouquet of red roses.“Right on time.”
“Old habits.Being prompt is sort of engrained in me.”He handed me the roses.“These are for you.”
“Thank you,” I said and lifted them up to my nose.“They’re beautiful.I’m going to go put them in some water.”When I walked inside, I prompted him to come in.
“Are you sure?We don’t want to be late to—”
I chuckled.“It’s fine.Unlike you, I’m never on time.I’m always fashionably late.”
Grabbing a vase from my kitchen table, I added some water from the kitchen sink and popped the roses in.“All right.We’re all set.”That was when I caught him looking at my coffee table.His eyes scrolling over the paper I forgot to hide.Damn it.Maybe he didn’t see anything.“Those are just bills,” I lied.
“Scar,” he softly responded.“I know they’re not bills.”He raked a hand through his hair.“Are you okay?What’s going on?”
“Nothing, really.”
“Who’s Rafe?I thought your ex was Nick.”
I walked closer to him and took his hand in mine.“Colt, not now, please.Maybe one day I’ll explain everything, but we just met.It’s not the right time and frankly I’m not ready.”
He squeezed my hand.“Scar, I can help.If you’re in trouble, I can help.I want to.I feel something for you, don’t minimize that.You just have to let me in.”
I sighed.“I know and I appreciate that, but I can take care of myself.It’s my mess, I’m going to clean it up.I just need a little time, that’s all.”
He didn’t push, which I was grateful for.“‘Kay.But if you need anything, I’m here.”
