I constantly felt restless, as if I were waiting on something—someone.
“It’s Vega’s birthday,” Ryder said with a shrug, his gaze on the double doors where people were coming out in clusters.Teachers and students left the school, none of them standing out past their cheap clothes and backpacks slung over their shoulders.
“Great,” I muttered, slouching a little more, irritation climbing my spine.Now I was going to be stuck with some little sidekick all evening.If I’d wanted to babysit some idiot, I would have gone to dinner with my parents.
Without taking his eyes off the exit, Ryder laughed low and deep.“It’s gonna be a good night, man.We’re going straight to dinner as soon as Vega comes out.I want tonight to be perfect.”
“Only the best for your BFF,” I sneered.
“Just wait.You’re gonna love Vay as much as I do,” he chortled.
“Doubtful.”
“Hundred large, you’re hooked before we even make it to the restaurant.”He stuck out his hand, ready to shake on it, gaze still glued to the high school.
“Easy money,” I groused, shaking.
His hand barely fell away when he sucked in a sharp breath.Before I could figure out which of the new group of kids had left the building, he was out the driver’s door and sprinting.“Vega!”
A feminine squeal hit my ears as I slowly opened my own door and stepped out in time to see a pair of legs wrap around Ryder’s waist.Golden-bronze hair was tossed around as he swung her in a circle, earning a happy giggle from the girl he’d just swept off her feet.
Frowning, I scanned the other people walking around.A few teachers looking tired and fed up shifted paths to get around Ryder and the girl, but everyone else was headed in different directions, not sparing the couple more than rolled eyes and a huff.Where the fuck was this Vega dude that Ryder couldn’t stop talking about today?
With the girl still wrapped around him, Ryder hugged her to his chest hard, rolling his forehead against hers.“Missed you, little star.”
“Missed you, Ry,” she whispered back as I reached them.
“Why the fuck did you let me think Vega was a guy all this time, asshole?”I grumbled.
Arms tightening around the girl, Ryder shifted his head to grin at me.“Figured once you knew I had such a beautiful best friend, you’d try to steal her away.Couldn’t let that happen too soon.I was greedy for a little more time keeping her just for myself.”
Adjusting his hold, he placed her on her feet then turned her to face me.A set of green-gold eyes lifted to my face, and I suddenly felt gut punched.Next to Ryder, who was a solid six-three, she was tiny.A heart-shaped face with a curved jaw; small, upturned nose; full lips that had a rounded, defined Cupid’s bow.Her eyes were large, with the thickest natural lashes I’d ever seen on anyone, the gold looking like an actual starburst in the middle of that magnetic green.
Unconsciously, I found myself taking a step closer, needing to erase the distance separating us.Enchanted.Bewitched.Motherfucking enthralled.A booming sensation filled my chest, like a goddamn bomb detonated where my heart should have been.I almost pressed a hand to it but stopped myself before I could rub away the ache that settled there, not wanting it to fade.
She stood before me, eyes widening, mouth agape, just as stunned as I was.
Jesus Christ.
Ryder had been hiding this perfect little angel away from me, denying me access to the girl he knew would be my heaven and hell.My bloody ruin.One look into those huge green-gold eyes and I knew she was it.That boom wasn’t just an explosion.She was a thief, stealing my heart straight from my chest with nothing but a flutter of her lashes.
“Hello,mo réiltín,” I husked.
“Vay, this is my buddy Kane.We work together.”
I shot him a glance, his blue eyes shuttered, telling me without words that he was keeping more than a little about himself from her.Which meant I needed to as well.Fuck.
Did she not know who he really was?
Did she not know about Amadea?
Double fuck.
Thinking of Raffaella, my stomach soured.No, I didn’t want Vega to know about my fiancée either.I needed a new plan.There was no goddamn way I was going to be tied to another woman, not now that I’d found this beautiful little star.Keeping secrets from her felt wrong, but I knew instantly that telling her more would cost Ryder and me too much
“Kane, this is Vega, my best friend and the birthday girl,” he finished the introduction.
“Hi,” she breathed, offering her hand.
