Page 25 of The Broken Keys

She leans in and gives me a hug. “Okay. We’ll see where this goes.”

It’s a yes shaped like a vow without the ceremony. I rest my palms on her waist, feel them press against her like an unadorned anchor, and I do the only thing I know to do. I wait.

The kiss sits under my ribs like a small animal I don’t wanna scare. She’s in my arms for a beat longer than I deserve, and then she lets go. The world realigns into its old halves. The part I can touch and the part I can’t.

She leads me out by the hand, and it takes everything in me to hold myself back from her. I want her, and it’s hell not being with her. But she needs to be the one who decides.

The drive to my place feels longer than it should; my hands gripping the steering wheel while her words echo in my head.

We’ll see where this goes.

It’s hope boxed in caution, and I can’t decide if that’s enough or if it’s killing me. I pull into my garage and sit in the dark for a moment, the engine ticking as it cools.

The taste of cookie dough ice cream is still on my tongue, mixed with the memory of her thumb against my cheek. She’s so close to letting me in, but there’s something stopping her. Or I should say someone?

Before I can talk myself out of it, I pull out my phone and hit Guns’ number.

“Cash, what’s up?” His voice is relaxed, probably kicked back with a beer and whatever girl he’s seeing this week.

“I need to ask you something, and I need you to be straight with me.”

The tone in my voice must register because he immediately shifts gears. “Shoot.”

“The Malibu house where I saw Livianna go to meet that guy…”

“Ah, bro, not this again. Why are you so obsessed with it?”

“How long have you known she was living there?”

“Um—”

“You know I saw her there with him. And the night I took her to Nobu, she had me pick her up there and invited me in.”

“No shit?”

“None. I need to know who owns that house.”

“Why? What does it matter? She’s living in her new place, and she’s going on dates with you. Seems like you’re looking for issues that don’t need to be found.”

I get out of the car and stomp into my house. “If I know what I’m up against, I’ll have a fighting chance. If not…”

There’s a pause. Long enough that my stomach starts to churn.

Bren’s voice comes in resignation. “Why are you asking?”

“She says it’s hers, but something doesn’t add up. The way she acted there, it was like she was performing. It was like she was afraid someone would catch us.” I drag my hand through my hair. “That house holds all the answers to my questions.”

Another pause. Longer this time.

“Guns?”

“Fuck.” He exhales hard. “Cash, she’s gonna kill me for this, but… She told me she was seeing someone. The guy who owns that place. She said it was casual and wouldn’t give me details.”

My chest caves in. There it is. The confirmation I was dreading and expecting in equal measure.

“So, you knew she was living there, and the guy I saw her with is the owner, and you didn’t think to tell me that?”

“Cash, it could’ve been another guy she was seeing. I don’t know who you saw her with.”