Page 64 of Ridge's Release

“I surrender,” I said when the final course, a dessert made of strawberries, sheep’s yogurt, and pink peppercorns, was put in front of me. “Please bring the tab to me,” I said to the waiter.

“I’m sorry?” he said with scrunched eyes.

“The bill? Check?” I looked from the confused man to Noah, realizing he’d already taken care of it.

“That’s hardly fair. I lost the wager,” I said when the waiter walked away.

He shrugged. “You made a valiant effort. Besides, you did say it wouldn’t count if you couldn’t eat more because you were full.”

“Yes, but you tasted everything too. We should’ve at least split it.”

I did manage a small taste of dessert before Noah requested it be boxed to go.

“See? You won, after all. I didn’t try this one.”

“You let me win.”

He shrugged. “I like seeing you smile, Sera.”

I realized I had been for most of the evening. While part of me felt guilty for enjoying myself when my sister was in the bowels of hell, I knew Noah’s only agenda was to help keep my mind off the next few days.

I didn’t doubt they’d be the hardest of my life. Harder than seeing my father languishing comatose for four years.

“Thank you,” I said as we walked two doors down to the apartment. “Both for dinner, and for keeping my mind off my sister for at least a little while.”

“You’re welcome.”

I tucked my arm through his and was about to rest my head on his shoulder when Noah abruptly spun around.

“Stay behind me.”

With my face buried in his back, I watched him pull out his gun, then put it back.

“Come on, let’s get inside.”

“What happened?” I asked once we were safely in the apartment.

“I overreacted.”

“To what?”

“I saw someone watching us. When he reached in his pocket, I assumed it was for a gun.”

“What was it?”

“A phone.”

“That’s odd. Someone menacing-looking enough you believed they’d pull a gun?”

“I believe he may have been taking photos.”

“Of us?”