“Well, Valencia invited me up,” Iris said, narrowing her eyes. “So maybe it’s not too much food.”
“Hunter and Romeo are home so we might need double,” I attempted to chuckle, but it felt too forced.
“Oh, no worries. I placed our usual order,” Valencia said, threading her arm with Iris. “They will deliver it in about twenty minutes. Come on, let's take a load off, you guys look exhausted.”
“Thanks,” Iris said, before Valencia launched into a full investigation on how she had been since New Years.
I knew Valencia was trying to fish out Nash’s name, but Iris would never?—
“Oh, hold on. Nash is calling,” Iris said, as we reached Valencia’s floor.
Valencia’s eyebrows went up as we walked to her condo.
“Hey,” Iris said softly.
I felt a little guilty for stealing her when we were supposed to meet in Amarillo, but I wasn’t thinking right. I was scared out of my mind and even though I didn’t want Iris anywhere near my psycho stalker, having her here with me made me feel better, like I had some control of my life.
“Yeah, we are fine,” Iris said, as we were walking into the condo.
“The husband is asking about you too?” Valencia quirked an eyebrow.
I rolled my eyes feigning irritation when really, I was scared she would find out about this too. It would be another strike against my trust.
“He wants to talk to you,” Iris said, passing the phone to me.
“Oh, ok.” I grabbed the phone avoiding Valencia’s gaze.
“Hey,” I said, walking away from prying ears.
“Are you ok? Is Iris ok? What’s going on?” he asked immediately.
“It’s nothing,” I said. “I just?—”
“Don’t bullshit me. You might have Iris fooled, but not me,” he snapped. “You wouldn’t leave for no reason unless something big has happened.”
I sighed. “Someone broke into my apartment.”
“Shit, what did they take? What are the damages?” he asked quickly.
“I don’t know, we stopped at my friend Valencia’s home to pick up a key for the door she replaced,” I said, running a hand over my face.
“What do you need from me? I can be there in?—”
“Nash, you don’t have to come here,” I said, feeling my heart fill up from his offer. “I just want to see the damages and talk with the police so I can deal with the insurance and then Iris and I will be home soon.”
Damn, when did Sterling Ridge become home?
“Beau, what do you need?” he asked again.
I wanted safety, to be held, to be told everything was going to be ok, but I couldn’t ask him to come here.
“Nothing, I just need to get things in order here and then we will go back to Sterling Ridge,” I said with more confidence. “You don’t need to miss another rodeo, anyway.”
The line was silent for so long I pulled the phone away to see if he was still there.
“Nash?”
“You know you can ask me for anything, right? I know this started as just us having fun, but we—out—need—other?—”
