Through the faint lights of the underground parking garage, I can see the storm raging in Milo’s grays. I wonder if he’s thinking what a terrible idea this is—it’s a train wreck waiting to happen, I can already see it—and yet I’m still toeing the tracks like I want to play this game of chicken.
“I should take you upstairs and let you get some rest,” I grit, using every ounce of willpower inside me to say it. The silence is broken, and I still hear the train horn tooting in my head.
“You can stay the night,” Milo says softly.
“No, I shouldn’t. Besides, you have a call to make, so I should leave you to that.”
“Right, I did promise to.” Milo’s expression falls, and he chews on his lips. He’s nervous about something, and my gut tells me it’s the prospect of calling his old bandmate.
I knew there was something strange about how Milo acted with Tate, and now I’m thinking the strangeness includes the entire band.
But again,none of my business.
“I’ll walk you upstairs,” I say again, more firmly this time. I need to get out of here while I still have my wits about me.
“Stay, please.”
The plea comes out in a whisper.
I’m not sure if it was intentional on Milo’s part, but a hint of vulnerability slips through, making it impossible to deny him.
A flash of memory pops into my head of the first day I met him. Of Ray showing me around his place and emphasizing that I didn’t have to stay the night if I didn’t want to.
I could leave if I desired.
Staying was never the problem.
It’s the fact that I don’t want toleave. I want to stay by his side and hold him until all his troubles drift away.
Ican’tdo that, so I settle for agreeing to stay the night and keep him company.
From a respectable distance, of course.
8
Milo
I dread the phone call I’m about to make, and I’m jittery the entire ride up the elevator. The one in my building is scarcely decorated, so there’s nothing for me to look at besides my reflection, the lone camera in the corner of the ceiling, and Rowan.
Rowan is themost appealing of the three, which is why my eyes naturally land on him. He’s wearing a suit tonight, and I still can’t get over how good he looks.
His eyes are closed, so I have full access to study him without looking like a creep.
Is it creepy to want to look at your bodyguard? Even if it is, I can’t take my eyes off Rowan.
When he asked me about my type, I wasn’t thinking when I answered, so I was mortified that every single thing I listed matches Rowan perfectly.
Now that his focus isn’t on me, I can appreciate the irony of it all. The perfect guy lands in my lap, and I can’t have him.
It’s inappropriate, right?
Right?
This is when I need Ray here to talk some sense into me before I do something stupid, but of course, he’s with the latest ofhisbad ideas. I haven’t met that guy in person, but I’ve seen his pictures floating around, tagged along with scandal after scandal.
Ray might have horrible taste in men, but he knows how to keep his relationships out of the news. He can handle himself.
Me, on the other hand…
