Page 45 of Ripple Effect

I huff, nearly dropping my phone. “No, he doesn’t. Remember, he said I’m tooreserved,” I say, a sad smile playing on my lips. I throw my head back and give a humorless snort. “He’s probably balls-deep in that girl he cheated on me with.”

“Jesus Christ, Daze. Vulgar.” His words hold a hint of scandalized chuckle, but I notice the tightening around his eyes.

I raise a brow, my grin widening. “Oh, you’re one to talk.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember, I heard you earlier,” I tease, my tone lilting. “You know, ‘Oh God, baby. I’ve been thinking about fucking you all day.’” I mimic his earlier groan, dissolving into a fit of giggles myself.

His jaw slackens, his eyes wide. “Fuck,” he breathes out, looking absolutely mortified.

The sight of him, flustered and caught off guard, sends another wave of laughter through me, the chaotic sound filling the room. But just as I’m about to regain my composure, my phone lights up again.

Logan’s name flashes on the screen—for the sixth fucking time—and it sucks all the joy right out of me.

“Let me answer it,” he says, suddenly serious. “I’ll get rid of him for you.”

My heart clenches. “Oh, no, you don’t need to do that.”

“Come on, do you trust me?”

I pause, the weight of my decisions settling in. In the short time since our paths crossed, I’ve let this man into my life in so many different ways. I’d isolated myself inside of his apartment—just the two of us. I’d opened up to him about my fears, my insecurities.

And now, his steady gaze is starting to feel a lot like a guiding light, a compass pointing me in the right direction.

“Okay, fine.”

“And I can say whatever needs to be said?”

I roll my eyes, tossing him my phone. “Have at it.”

He catches the device in midair, pressing the Answer button and switching the call to speaker. “Who’s this?”

“Uh, is this Daisy’s phone?” Logan’s puzzled voice filters through. It’s strange hearing it after a month and realizing that it doesn’t affect me the same way anymore. What once sparked intense feelings now just leaves me all kinds of empty inside.

“Yeah, but she’s a little preoccupied right now,” Elio’s tone is matter-of-fact, casual but with a rough sort of edge to it. “If you get my drift.”

“Excuse me?” Logan sputters.

“She’s in my bed right now, and I need to get back to her,” Elio says, his gaze raking across my features. “So, you got a message for me to pass on or what?”

“I don’t know who the hell you think you—”

“Sorry,bro, I need to go,” Elio cuts in. “My girl’s waiting for me, and she’s fucking insatiable.”

“What the f—”

Elio ends the call, quick to cut Logan off. With a shrug, he tosses my phone back to me, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

“There you go,” he says. “Bet he won’t call again tonight.”

“Oh, my God.”

“What, did I go too far?” His brow arches, lips twitching into a smirk. “You said ‘have at it.’”

“No, I just—thank you?” I manage, my mind still reeling.

“Yeah, well, that little shit was starting to get on my last nerve.” His grin broadens, lighting up his face, and I can’t help but mirror it.

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