Page 36 of Ruin

“He’s a police officer,” I snap. “God, why are you being such an asshole about this?”

His face instantly clears, and he steps away.

I hate the way he can just wipe emotion away like it was never there. Like it never mattered.

“You’re right. I am being a dick. It won’t happen again. What time should I be here tomorrow?”

I loosen my arms, letting some of the tension go from them.

“Eleven a.m. We can take Gigi out to the park. She loves it there. I’ll come with you this time and probably the next few times. Afterward, I won’t come along. It’s just that she doesn’t know you right now, and—”

“You don’t have to explain, Cam. I’m glad you’ll be there.”

Glad. I’m not really sure how to take that.

He steps off the porch. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow at eleven.”

“Yeah, just…”

“Just what?”

“There’s something else I wanted to ask.”

“Hit me with it.”

“You’re in the public eye. I don’t want that for Gigi.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep her protected.”

“Okay.” I breathe my relief. “Thank you.”

“Not necessary. I’ll see you tomorrow, Cam.” He turns and starts to walk down the path.

I watch him leave, this strange clutching feeling in my chest.

“Zeus?” I call.

He stops immediately and turns around to me.

I walk to the edge of the porch. “Can I ask you something else?”

He moves a few steps back toward me. “You can ask me anything.”

I wrap my hand around the wooden porch post, leaning my hip against it. “Why did you come today? I thought it was because of Gigi, but you didn’t know about her.”

Zeus pushes his hands into his pockets. His eyes sweep the ground before they come back to rest on mine, strong and focused but also resigned. He exhales a breath and parts his lips. “For you. I came for you, Dove.”

Then, without another word, he turns and walks away.

And I let him.

God, what a mess.

All these years, Zeus had no clue that Gigi existed.

Aunt Elle was suspicious at first when I told her that Zeus knew nothing about me being pregnant and that Marcel had lied to both me and Zeus.

She said, “Just because Zeus said it doesn’t make it true.”