Page 103 of See Me

I retrieve our coffees and slide one over to her. “Whatever you decide, I’m here.”

She smiles as her hands surround her steaming mug. “I know. Thank you.” She takes a small sip and wipes away the remnants of her tears. “What about you? How’s your fiancé?” She wags her brows and we both hold back smiles until we giggle just from the look on the other’s face.

My cheeks heat and her eyes widen at the pink I know stains my face.

“That good, huh?”

I cover my face with both hands to give my embarrassment a small reprieve.

“Explain,” she demands.

“Well, we’re still living together, even though I think we both know Charles is no longer in the state. No way his egocould handle that blow and him come back for more. So, I guess, we’re both just enjoying it for what it is. And when things change, we’ll go our separate ways.” I sip my coffee, cataloging my responses to the question I’m expecting.

“And you’re okay with the situation as it is?” Her icy gaze cuts right through me like I knew it would, and I hesitate.

Fudgenuggets.

Whether her current situation has her emotions boiling just under the surface, or the fact that she knows me that well, her response is as expected. It’s the opening she needs and she doesn’t hold back. “Ella, don’t.”

I tip my head with the sudden urge to stomp my foot like a toddler. “I know,” I whisper.

“Don’t fall for him.” Her eyes hold a fear behind them. It’s fear for me and my heart but it’s fueled by her own heartache. It’s written in the slump of her shoulders and the frown that’s taken almost all my effort to wipe off tonight and I still only succeeded a few times.

I step behind her and smooth her hair with my hands, something I know she likes. Arms wrapping around her, I rest my chin on her shoulder. It’s a comfort for her and ensures she can’t meet my eyes when I lie to her. “Don’t worry about me, babe. I’m all good.”

She grabs my hand and tips her head to meet mine. “Good. That’s all I need to hear.”

Toeing my shoes off so I can pad silently down the hall, I enter the room to find Luca, one hand behind his head, one resting on his bare chest. He turns his head and black eyes roam over meas I discard my bra. The bed dips under my weight and I rest my head on the pillow, his eyes never leaving mine. He rolls toward me, hand skimming my hip. There are no words when he pulls me closer and I tuck my head into his neck.

Sorry, Jess. I’ve already fallen.

THIRTY

GAME SET MATCH

“What the hell is this?”I turn the screen toward Benny sitting across from my desk. He peeks his eyes over the top of his newspaper and looks at the screen.

“That’s a shortcut I put on there for your bank accounts. The passwords are in the top drawer.” He goes back to his paper as I stare at the back of it. “Memorize them and shred the paper.”

“How do you know how to do that?” I rub my temples to stave off a headache. I’ve only been in here an hour and this screen already hurts my brain.

“I have a computer, kid. Everyone does.”

I scoff and gesture to him but he doesn’t see. “You’re reading anewspaper.”

“If I don’t, they’ll stop making them. And then people will be out a job. Just doing my part.”

The pang in my chest hits heavy at the mention of a job. The guilt gnawing in my gut that he doesn’t have a job because of me. The spark of an idea blooms and a weight lifts.

“Do you want a job?” I focus my attention on the back of his paper until he drops it to meet my eyes. “I mean, I don’t know what half this shit is.” I point to the screen and scrub my hands down my face, frustrated with how out of touch I let myself become. “If you want to handle this side of things, I wouldn’t fight you on it.”

He studies me, eyes assessing like they always do before he either lets out a wisecrack or something really insightful. I shrink at the appraisal, like I always have.

He takes a minute to think it over, leaving me hanging in anticipation that this could be the last time I have to try to figure this shit out. “Nah. I have six new books on my Kindle. And a novella I’ve been waiting for drops tomorrow. I don’t have time.”

I scratch the back of my neck, embarrassed to ask. “What’s a Kindle?”

His paper crumbles in his lap. “Are you serious right now?”

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