Page 104 of Her Ruin

On Friday, my boss suggested I take the day off, citing the time owed for working so hard.

Sitting in my car, I didn’t know what to do. I had no events to plan. My schedule was busy but taken care of. The excitement of a SWAT team descending on a club in Gracemont had turned everyone into batshit crazy lunatics.

I bet Rye was using it as a marketing ploy. Asshole.

I bet Zayn was either indifferent to the attention or amused by it. Probably the latter.

I got out of my car and decided to get a coffee. Going home meant being alone, but at least there would be people in the coffee shop.

My light-blue skirt swung gently as I walked, and I enjoyed the feel of the fabric on my bare legs. I was wearing a light, white knitted top, and with low pumps, I could be the poster girl for summer. My ponytail swayed as I walked, and when I entered the coffee shop, I felt my smile fade as I saw it was empty.

No. I needed the people. Where were the people?

“Hi, what can I get for you?” The barista looked at me with a wide, fake smile.

“Where is everyone?”

They lost some of their smile. “Um…work?”

Was that judgment? Harsh. I worked. “I have the day off.” I did not need to justify myself to anyone. “Americano, please.”

I chose not to stay in the empty café, so I took my Americano and a pastry to go, then walked slowly back to my car.

“Your coffee’s leaking all over your skirt.”

Turning, I looked up at Zayn. He had a white T-shirt on and dark jeans. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw him dressed so casually.

“Is? Your coffee,” he reminded me, pointing to my skirt which now had a brown stain on it.

“Oh shit.” I looked at it and then at him, then back at the cup, noticing the lid wasn’t on properly. “Well, at least you’re the only one who can see it.” When he frowned, I explained. “I have the day off.”

Zayn huffed a laugh. “Me too. Rye has an all-day baby shower event,” Zayn looked me over, and I felt the dull pang of longing. “I’m not staying for that.”

“You dislike babies?”

“I dislike shrieking pregnant women and all their friends who communicate in screams only.”

“I thought you liked it when I screamed.”

What. The. Fuck.Isla.

Zayn’s eyes turned molten. “Careful.”

My cheeks turned scarlet, and I stepped back, forgetting where I was and how close I had been to a trash can. My hip bumped against it, and I shrieked as coffee splattered all over me.

“Damn it, Isla!” Zayn jumped forward, grabbing the cup and throwing it away. He pulled my top off my skin, holding it away from my body as I trembled. “I’m taking you to the ER.”

“It’s coffee, not lava,” I scolded him. Although it really felt like lava, it was nothing compared to the burning of my skin where he touched me. “I’ll be fine. I just need to go home.” My skin was hot and uncomfortable.

“You need to get under cold water.” He pressed the fob in his hand, and I heard a car beep. “Elixir is closer.”

I hesitated.

“I didn’t say orgy in the VIP booth,” he snapped.

“True.” I shook my head as I moved to the car, where he held the door open. “You said baby shower, which is a hundred times worse.” I mock shuddered. “Even I avoid them.”

I loved the way he gave a soft laugh. “Get in, funny girl.”

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