“I should,” I tell her and walk away before I do something stupid like kiss her.
CHAPTER FIVE
Ruby
My heart is in my throat my whole walk home. God, that was intense. Theo is right. He should scare me. I looked him up earlier today. He’s a gangster. Allegedly part of the Bolero Crime Family. I should change my name and move to a new country.
People in his life meet violent ends. I remember reading about his father and about what happened to his sister online through one of those community forums. Maybe that’s who the catswere for. I smile at the thought of my favorite boys being some comfort to her. But what happened to her… I shake my head as chill bumps pebble across my flesh. What happened to her should have me running away screaming, not wondering what would have happened had Theo kissed me back there in that alley.
He wanted it.
We both did.
I truly am a stupid girl with no self-preservation. I don’t know why I thought talking to Alex was a good idea. I knew better than to give him an inch. He always tries to take a mile.
Speaking of the damn devil, he’s waiting outside my building looking like a wounded pup licking his tail.
“Where’ve you been?” he barks at me the second he sees me.
“Walking home. Not that it is any of your business.”
“Who was that guy?”
“Again, Alex. Also not your business.”
“I worry about you.”
“I could say the same for you, but not quite in the same way, I’m afraid. Why are you here?”
“To apologize. I came on too strong, too fast. I’m sorry. I just miss you and I want what we had back.”
“You’ve got to let this go. We will never get back together. I don’t know how many times or ways to say it.”
“Are you fucking him?”
“No, but if I were you, I'd have zero claim on me. I am free to date or fuck anyone I want.”
“So what? You were just trying to butter me up to take some stupid mutt.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath to keep myself from assaulting an officer of the law. “Stay away from me. Don’t text. Don’t call or come by my work or here to my apartment.” I shove past him as he shouts he’s sorry.
That’s the problem, isn’t it? He’s a sorry piece of shit who will never change.
“Hey girl, hey,” Brookie screeches from the back of the cab as I exit my building.
I should have canceled after the day I experienced. But a night out and some drinks with my bestie is exactly what the doctor ordered.
I blow out a breath and put on a smile as I slide into the back seat.
“You look hot,” she says and takes a sip from a mini bottle of vodka, clearly getting an early start.
“You do too.” I smile at my bestie who doesn’t even have to try. She could be a supermodel with her sleek blonde bob and legs that go for days. Brookie has always been skinny and has the clearest skin. I swear she doesn’t even have pores. Her skin is flawless, and sometimes I secretly hate her for it.
Not really, but I do get envious. It takes me thirty minutes to do my makeup and another fifteen to style my hair, and I still look below average. I’m medium height. I have curvy hips and thick thighs. My breasts often force me to purchase shirts that make me look larger than I am. My hair is what I refer to as mousy brown. I get highlights added every so often to give it a little oomph, but there’s nothing overly special about me. People would often be vocal about how lucky I was to land a guy like Alex. I got their message loud and clear. A fatty, average girl, she’d feel blessed he wanted to date me.
“Are you sure this top is okay?” I glance down at my creamy colored off the shoulder shirt that’s my favorite. It is one of thefew shirts I own that fits me correctly and gives my waist some definition.
“Honey, if I had that cleavage, I’d flash it every day. Am I right?” she says to our driver. He smiles in the rearview mirror. “See.” She grins. Her bright red lips spreading wide to show off her pearly whites.
