“I need the distraction. I’m bored.”
“And whose fault is that? Last week, you promised you’d get out more.”
“I always keep my promises, Ry baby.”
Fuck him. Why does he need to say my name like that?
“I went to see a friend two days ago, but her life is not as entertaining as yours.” He frowns, as if the thought of this person irritates him. “Please.”
“Fine.” I sit back and stare at the ceiling. “The date was good, and I had high hopes. But…turns out, he’s married. Found out today, when he came to pick up his daughter from my ballet class, wedding ring and wife in tow.”
He drops his head back and lets it loll to the side. “Are you serious?”
Blinking back the sting of tears, I face him. “Mm-hmm.”
“Jesus.”
I focus on the ceiling again, my chest tightening. “I’m the biggest loser of all time when it comes to love and relationships. I genuinely think I’m cursed. Maybe someone hexed me, and I’m forever cursed to attract emotionally unavailable men and pathological liars.”
He chuckles throatily. “You’re not cursed.”
I huff a humorless laugh. “I’m chronically unlucky, and I have the data to prove it. Years of receipts. At this point, my love life is nonexistent, and my relationship history is a tragicomedy.”
“I’m sorry. You deserve better.” His voice is deep, guttural.
Brows furrowed in surprise, I study him. He’s angryforme. It’s weirdly comforting—and maybe a little heartbreaking, because he clearly doesn’t believehedeserves better.
“Thanks.” I tamp down the urge to reach out and touch him. “I’m going out with Nastya this Friday. Gonna drink tequila anddance until we’re too exhausted to stand. I need to let loose a little. It will do me a lot of good.”
His expression turns more thoughtful, his lips tugging down. A heavy emotion shifts behind his eyes, but he doesn’t speak. He doesn’t let it out. Not just with me, but with anyone. He never told me what happened to Owen. I know nothing outside of what is available on the web, and he didn’t tell Piper either.
It’s eating him alive. He’s consumed with guilt, but I don’t understand why.
“I should probably go,” I say.
“Maybe you can stay,” he says, his voice barely audible. “WatchFast & Furiouswith me?”
The request sends a thrill through me, but I’m afraid of who I am when he’s around, of what being near him does to my body, my head, my heart.
I want to stay, to keep him company, to be here for him, but spending more than a few minutes with him is a terrible idea. Plus, I have an early class tomorrow.
With a sigh, I rub my chest. “It’s late. I’ve got a bunch of little ladies to teach at eight a.m.”
“Next time then.” He gives me a half smile, a pretense at best.
I stand slowly and hover over him. “Will you please turn your phone on? That way the family won’t send a search party—a.k.a. me—again.”
He brings a hand to his face in a quick salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Eat something healthy. And go take a shower, for God’s sake. You need to take care of yourself.”
That gets a laugh. A real one, low and tired, but real. It works its way under my skin, flows deep in my veins, and heads straight to my heart.
Before the sensation causes me to drop back onto the couch and give in to the temptation to stay longer, I turn and stride for the elevator. “Bye, Hade,” I yell over my shoulder.
“See you, Ry baby.”
Without my permission, a smile blooms on my face. At least hecan’t see it. He doesn’t need to know I have a crush on him. He doesn’t need to know I’m still that silly schoolgirl who fell in love with her sister’s best friend.
