I go over the words I’ve been practicing and then, taking a deep breath, I ask the question.
“Your phone. Could I have it?”
Cole’s head hits the table with a dull thud.
What is wrong with me?
I sounded like a polite phone thief.
I can’t believe there are people who call me Jackpot. I feel more like a jack-in-the-box no one ordered, but I keep springing up anyway.
Antonio stares at me.
“You want my phone?”
I clear my throat.
“Your number. Please.”
Cole lets out a strangled noise.
Several emotions flash in Antonio’s eyes before he gets his expression under control. Heat, regret, anger, sorrow.
Why does he look sad?
I hate that I can’t reach him.
“Sure,” he says.
For a thrilling moment I think he means it, but then the sarcastic tone clocks in.
“I’ll scribble it on your ego when it deflates.”
Then he pivots and vanishes into the kitchen.
Cole lets out a low whistle, but he looks sympathetic. “That was brutal.”
Yeah, it was.
But what bothers me most is not the snarky dismissal. It’s the hurt I saw in his eyes.
He looked like someone who’s waiting for a blow I have no intention of delivering.
CHAPTER 25 – ANTONIO
They’re gone. Caspian is gone. Everything will go back to the way it was. I wait for the relief to hit, but apparently it packed its bags and booked a flight.
I stare at the door. The urge to run after Caspian is so strong my body almost moves before my brain catches up and forces me to stay put. I think about Ryan’s hand on my shoulder, squeezing—like testing fruit for ripeness. I think about his low and menacing voice saying my name.
Some traitorous, stupid part of me hopes that Caspian will come back. That he’ll ignore my barb and say something that would make this hurt less.
Maria appears next to me.
“Please tell me you gave him your number. He looked ready to collapse with nerves when they came in.”
I shake my head. “Ryan’s friend. Remember?”
“But you like him.”
