Willing myself to keep it together, I got out and over to the sinks to wash my hands. I was out of breath and hot all over. I had to take a minute, resting against the counter. Maybe it was time for some pain relief too.
Ramsay waited outside the door and slid an arm around my waist before I could say a word. “Lean on me now,” he demanded.
So I did.
People were looking at us, but I no longer cared. I needed a seat, pain relief, and food. I told Ramsay as much.
“I should have brought the food to the damn car,” he muttered.
“I still needed to pee,” I whispered as I slid into a booth.
He grumpily took my order, and I didn’t get mad at his mood because I knew he was annoyed I was in pain.
And there I went getting all hopeful and optimistic again.
Because surely if he cared this much about me …
While Ramsay ordered the food, I googled the article. It was difficult not to start sobbing in the middle of the restaurant as I read Rahman’s, my parents’, and Ben’s story in black and white. Perri had added my attack and Halston’s arrest into the finished article. Now the whole world knew what had been done to my family for trying to tell the truth.
Pride, almost unbearable pride, burned through me.
My parents had been so strong in their convictions. They’d gone after the answers they needed, even if it hurt them.
With that in mind, when Ramsay returned with the food, I lunged. Verbally. “How did you find the guy who attacked me so quickly? How did you connect it to Halston? Where did you disappear to?”
“I called in a few favors.” Ramsay shrugged before taking a bite of his burger.
“What kind of favors? With whom?”
“Old friends.”
“Ramsay—”
“Eat your food before you pass out.”
I took an aggressive bite of my burger, glaring at him the whole time.
Something hot but tender lit his expression as he stared back.
As if he realized it too, he looked down at his food.
I waited until I’d finished my burger. “Who are these friends you speak of?”
“Just old friends.”
“Seriously.” I hissed, leaning across the table and then wincing with pain. “Fuck.”
“Stop exerting yourself.”
“Stop lying to me.”
He scowled. “I haven’t lied to you.”
“Then stop evading. Did you go after Halston?”
“I’m going to get your pain meds out of the car.” He got up before I could say a word and disappeared out of the restaurant.
Emotionally wounded, I sank back against the booth and reached for my phone. I wanted to talk to London. I wanted to tell her everything and ask her what she thought about Ramsay.
