Page 50 of Ruin Me Gently

Five.

Ten.

The screen stayed dark.

I shouldn’t have sent it. This was a mistake. I should’ve shoved the paper into a drawer or burned it so I could never look at it again.

Fifteenminutes.

Twenty.

She wasn’t going to respond. And why the hell would she?

I’d fucked up so badly there might not be a word for it. A scale of damage I’d shattered past long before I ever let myselfwanther.

My fingers twitched, hovering over the phone again. A follow up. A backtrack. Something—anything—to fill the silence.

The screen blinked to life.

A single message.

Lilith

Who the fuck are you introducing yourself as?

Lilith

Seriously? A burner? Either you’re deep undercover, or you’re a serial killer. There’s no in between. Which is it?

A smirk ghosted across my lips. Please. Like I’d text her off my real number.

Silas

Not a serial killer.

Lilith

That’s exactly what a serial killer would say.

Silas

Then why give me your number?

Another pause. I could almost picture her thinking. Brow slightly furrowed, maybe tilting her head like she was trying to figure me out.

Lilith

Momentary lapse in judgement. I blame mild brain damage from years of terrible decisions.

Silas

So this is just another one to add to that list?

Lilith

Not sure yet, jury’s still out.

Lilith

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