He chuckles. “Or maybe you’ve gotten tougher.”
“I guess I’ve had to. Not to mention living with you is basically a crash course in learning how to handle myself. Oh, and there’s the whole dodging gunfire thing. Hard to get mad at mean girl comments when you’ve been through that.”
He leans in. “I like that you’ve gotten tougher. But be careful not to gettootough.”
I grin. “Why? Worried I’d take over?”
He laughs softly, genuinely. “No. Because I like you soft. In all ways.”
For a moment, it’s just us. The rest of the world fades away, and for a short time, I manage to forget the complications invading our lives.
The song ends too soon. As it fades, I remember the unspoken words between Sasha and me, the anger and possessiveness he showed. I remember how he hasn’t tried to make it right. And I remember the danger and violence living just outside the walls of this place.
Maybe within them, too.
Then, like a goddamn bad penny, Ruth reappears. Her lipstick looks redder, her smile tighter. I get the sense she’s spent the length of the song figuring out how to get back at me. Sasha leads me off the dance floor, and Ruth makes a beeline to us.
“Something I can help you with, Ruth?” Sasha asks.
The smile stays on her lips. “I was just wonderingsomething, love. You and Gabriella have gotten so close. It really makes me wonder, have you told her the truth?”
The words land like glass shattering. The truth?
Sasha’s whole body changes—shoulders tight, eyes cold. “Not here,” he says. His tone leaves zero room for argument.
“I mean, it’s a reasonable question,” Ruth asks, faux innocence dripping off her words. “There’s so much to the Sasha-Gabby story. I just have to wonder if she knows the finer points.”
Sasha’s eyes flash with anger. For a moment, I have no idea what he’ll do. “Ruth, we’re going to talk about this in private.”
“That’s all I’ve wanted since the evening began, love.”
Sasha doesn’t say another word. Instead, he places his hand on Ruth’s shoulder and steers her toward the far doors. The boy toy scrambles after them like a confused puppy. I watch as they make their way, Ruth turning to her date and saying something sharp, then only she and Sasha disappear inside the room.
The doors shut behind them. I scan the room, trying to find Angie or even Johan, but they’re nowhere to be seen. Heat rises up the back of my neck, and I can practicallyfeelpeople trying not to stare.
Mercifully, I spot a familiar face. Bogdan emerges from the crowd, walking towards me with long strides.
“Come,” he says softly. “Let’s get you a fresh drink.”
I follow him numbly to a quiet corner, anger simmering under embarrassment.
“Have a seat,” he says. “I’m sure he’ll be just a moment.”
Bogdan disappears for a moment, the seconds ticking by. He returns quickly, a glass of something pale pink with a sprig of mint.
“Grapefruit, lime, mint,” he says. “Came up with it on my own.”
I manage a small smile. “You’re getting good at this. You ever think of opening a mocktail bar?”
“I’ll keep it in mind if Sasha ever gets tired of my face.” Bogdan takes a slow, deep breath. He clearly has something he wants to say but isn’t sure if he should.
“Go ahead,” I tell him.
“Listen, I don’t know what happened on the dance floor with you and Ruth and Sasha. And you don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to. But I’m here.”
“Thank you. Seriously. Not sure I’m in the mood to talk, but thanks.”
He nods once, then drifts away.
