Page 166 of Ruin My Life
“Goodnight,Mamá,” I murmur.
She disappears down the hallway in a slow, steady shuffle.
I grab my coat and boots from the door and head out the side entrance, letting the cold sea air hit me square in the chest.
The waves crash below the cliffs like they’re trying to drown the silence.
Brie’s still out there, standing at the old wooden fence like she’s been there all night.
Maybe she can’t hear me. Maybe she doesn’t care.
She doesn’t look over her shoulder until I’m right beside her, elbows resting on the railing like hers.
She doesn’t meet my eyes.
“Just needed some air,” she says softly.
Her voice is faint, clipped—but not angry.
Justempty.
“I noticed there’s another house across the beach,” she adds after a pause, nodding at the far cliff. “Kinda shocked you didn’t consider them a liability and buy them out.”
My gaze follows hers across the dark water, to the silhouette of the house she’s talking about.
It’s the only other oceanfront property on this side of the island, practically a speck in the distance.
“I did a background check,” I tell her. “Elderly couple. Retired lawyers. They only come up in the summer. During the off-season, a local girl drops by once a month to keep it from going to shit.”
She nods, slow and distracted.
“You really did your homework, huh?”
She tries to sound light, but her voice lacks its usual edge.
No bite.
No fire.
Justsmoke.
I told her nothing could kill her flame. But it seems she’s snuffed it out all on her own.
“Talk to me, Brie,” I say—quiet but firm. Almost pleading. “What’s really on your mind?”
She doesn’t answer right away. Just stares at the moon’s reflection as it ripples across the surface of the sea.
I start to ask again, but she speaks first.
“Why did you bring me here?”
The question echoes my mom’s earlier one.
But this time, I don’t hesitate.
“Because it’s my safehouse,” I say. “And I wanted to keep you close.”
“To keep an eye on me,” she replies, flat and a little bitter. “Make sure I don’t ruin your life any further?”
