Page 88 of Ruined

I let out a breath, running a hand through my hair, trying to force the irritation back down. How could someone be that raw and slam the door shut the second the world crept back in?

His reply took a few minutes.

Luca

Out. Will be back soon.

Guess I’ll have to tie you down next time.

You ruined me, sweetheart.

Luca

Not my problem.

You’re such a grump.

Luca

Keep pushing, and I won’t come back at all.

Where else are you gonna get what I gave you last night?

Luca

You’re insufferable.

And you’re still texting me. Guess we’re both addicted.

Luca

Stop texting me. I’m busy.

Why did he always do this?

Run. Hide. Push me away.

I wasn’t used to wanting someone this much. Luca clawed under my skin. I wanted to spend more time with him. He was stubborn, guarded, a total pain in the ass, but I needed him in my life.

Luca could play hard to get all he wanted. He melted every time I touched him. He’d been so beautiful last night. When I’d seen what that text had done to him, my heart ached. Maybe I wasn’t his boyfriend, but I meantsomethingto him.

I spent the morning fixing his apartment. After reorganizing the bookshelf, I made the bed. I ran my fingers over clothes he hadn’t folded yet. I looked around the room. No personal photos. Just a life stripped down to a skeleton.

My phone rang.

I swiped to answer. “Hello?”

“Mr. Caruso, we need to go over the latest developments with your brothers’ lawsuit.”

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. Of course. The universe couldn’t give me five minutes to deal with Luca without piling on more shit.

“What now? Still trying to overturn the will?”

“They are,” Harrison said. “Despite having no case. Their argument hinges on emotional appeals rather than any legal standing. It’s a waste of time.”

“Let me guess, they’re claiming I manipulated Dad into leaving me everything.”

“Exactly,” Harrison confirmed. “But we have their testimony contradicting that claim. They admitted under oath that yourfather made his intentions clear long before his death. It’s a circus act. They’re hoping to wear you down.”