Page 20 of The Masks We Break

I need something to keep my mind busy. Something that can burn the memory of him, root and all.

“No, but thank you, Lily. I’m already pulling up. I’ll text you soon.”

“Okay, hun. Goodnight, and don't start reading without me.”

We both giggle, knowing I probably will, if I actually read this one. “Night.”

Turning into the Square, my headlights hit a familiar face leaving the center’s gym. A face I know doesn't live here, and when his bright blues find my car, a smirk crosses his mouth.

I park and watch as Ricky crosses over to my side of the lot. My phone vibrates, but I decide it can wait and shove it into the bag over my shoulder and close the car's door, hitting the fob to lock it.

“Funny meeting you here,” I say with a light wave.

Ricky huffs out a laugh and pushes back the limp blond strands from his face. “Buddy of mine lives here, and wanted help starting his new workout plan. Guess our weekly frat parties are giving him a little bit of a gut.”

I let my gaze drift down over his dark tank and loose basketball shorts. Even in the dim streetlight, it’s easy to see Ricky is incredibly lean and packed with muscle.

I groan inwardly.Am I the only person I know who isn't a walking ad for a magazine?

Swallowing down the self-inflicted hit to my confidence, I gesture to his frame. “And what's your secret?”

Ricky’s smile pulls higher, but it seems forced as his eyes narrow slightly. “Not a big drinker as of late. Causes too many problems.”

Now that’s something I can relate to. “You’re telling me. I almost burned down the kitchen trying to bake with my roommate.”

We laugh in tandem, and it seems to lighten whatever darkness had crept over him, making the little fib worth it.

“I’m glad I ran into you, Remy. I was planning on doing this the next time I ran into you. I would love to take you out sometime. Dinner?”

A genuine smile graces my face, and I bite into the corner of my lip. The lip I purposely haven't touched since Blaze’s kiss.

Seriously? Right now, brain?

I swallow it down, answering before I let the thought steal the moment. “Yes, I'd like that. I’m a little swamped this weekend, though.”

Ricky’s perfect teeth make an appearance, lighting up his face, and my heart flutters. “I get it. Here, let’s exchange numbers, and we’ll come up with something later. I don’t want to keep you.”

“O-Okay.” I curse the sudden stutter and take Ricky's outstretched phone, hoping he didn’t notice.

It’s not that my stutter bothers me too much, but it does add to my list ofuniquenessthat my father isn’t super proud of, making me more conscious about it. I tap in my number and push call. After feeling my phone vibrate somewhere in my bag, I hand it back to him and grin.

“Did you want me to take you to your door?”

I shake my head, an indecipherable feeling sweeping over. “I’m just over there. Drive home safely.”

He nods, walking backward. “Will do.”

It’s dumb, but something about him accepting my refusal and letting me walk alone sends a wave of disappointment through me. I don’t need him to do it, I mean, I do it multiple times a day, but I can’t shake the strange sensation.

I sigh, making the trek to my door. I don’t know anything about Ricky, and already I'm comparing him to someone else.

Pathetic.

Reaching my apartment, it takes every fiber of my being not to glance at the dark window across the grass, but I manage to get inside without doing it. Amora is strewn across the couch, her favorite anime fuzzy socks sticking up from under my pink blanket.

She squeals, jolting up and bouncing on her knees. “You’re home! How was your meeting? Did they pick your book?”

I kick off my shoes, drop my keys in the entryway bowl, and hang my bag on a nearby hook. “Nope. And for the first time ever, I don’t know if I’m going to read this month’s.”

---