Page 72 of Ruined

I didn’t skip out.

You just happened to vanish before sunrise?

Luca

I needed some air.

Push, pull, vanish. Repeat.

Whatever. You need to drive me to the meeting.

Luca

I’ll be there.

I tossed my phone onto the counter, leaning back against the kitchen sink. Last night replayed in my mind. The way he’d looked at me, lips swollen and red. The sounds he made when he stopped pretending.

The bastard was still in denial.

I drained the last of my coffee, setting the mug down with a dull thud. My phone buzzed again. I checked the screen. Anothermissed call from my asshole brother. I scoffed and shoved my phone into my pocket.

I spent the rest of the morning tidying up the apartment. A couple hours passed. Luca had better show up soon. Irritated, I picked up my phone again.

Don’t keep me waiting.

Luca

I’ll be there. Stop texting me.

I smirked, shaking my head.

He wasn’t getting away that easy. He might think he could keep his feelings compartmentalized, but I knew better. The walls he kept building between us? I’d tear every single one of them down. Minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed behind the door.

Finally.

I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door, pulling it open.

Luca stood there, leaning against the doorframe. His hair looked like he’d run his hands through it all night. Dark shadows clung under his eyes. He’d rolled up his sweatshirt, revealing tattoos down his forearms. Every line of ink told a story. I wanted to trace them with my fingers until he confessed every secret.

“You look like shit,” I said.

“Thanks, boss.” His usual cocky demeanor had vanished, replaced by something raw.

My chest tightened. “Did you sleep at all?”

He glanced back. “I showed up, didn’t I?”

“That’s not an answer.”

He shrugged. “Didn’t realize you cared so much about my beauty sleep.”

I stepped closer. “You disappeared. That’s not okay.”

His jaw tightened. “I needed space. That’s it.”

“You can’t run every time things get real.”

He stared at me, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. His eyes burned so hot that I thought he’d snap. Instead he turned around, heading toward the car.