Page 109 of Wicked Heat

Turn around.

I frown at the message but do as it says. And when I do, there she is, arms outstretched as she flies down the path and gathers me in a hug.

“What are you doing here?” I ask after we quit bouncing up and down.

“Airline miles! Figured I’d come see you and my parents. I just knew you needed my smiling face.”

“I do,” I say, hugging her again. I really do.”

I tap out a quick text to tell my mom that I’ll be lagging behind, then I grab Aria’s hand and swing it as we stroll. “Everything’s good,” I say before she can ask. “And I haven’t talked to Ash.”

“What’s Teresa saying?”

I scowl. “Wise stuff.”

Aria rolls her hand in a tell me gesture.

“You know,” I say. “That we’ve done a lot of work over the years. That I’m stronger than I think. That I need to trust myself and realize that sometimes a nightmare is a nightmare and not my subconscious whispering secrets.”

“Sounds like good advice to me.”

I shrug. She’s not wrong. But knowing that and knowing that are two entirely different things.

“Oh!” She stops to dig in her giant tote bag. “Did you see this?”

She passes me a printout of an article. I start to skim it as we walk, then stop, standing still as I read every word in the article.

“Damien’s invested in the INX-20?”

“That’s what it says. Ash asked him to. Said he knows that Damien believes in the motor, and that he knows how much Damien admires all the work and research Ash has put into it. And when it became clear to Ash that he needed another investor, he wanted to go to the man who’d not only believed in the project from the beginning, but who’d given Ash a chance even when Ash hadn’t extended the same courtesy.”

“That’s great,” I say, fighting the urge to pull out my phone and text Ash. But what would I say? That I was proud of him seemed too pedantic. And that I missed him cut too close to the truth.

So instead, I say nothing at all. I just turn to Aria and tell her we should try and catch a show tonight. And though I can tell she wants to steer the conversation to Ash, because she’s my bestie, she just falls into step beside me and suggests we go see Wicked for the eight millionth time.

Thirty-Three

Three days after Aria shows me the article about Damien investing in Ash’s company, he shows up at the coffee shop where I’m writing. Or, more accurately, where I’m staring at my laptop screen and telling myself I should be writing.

Really, I’m thinking about Ash.

Which is why I about jump out of my skin when he slides into the seat across from me.

“Can we talk?”

I shake my head.

He doesn’t argue. He just stands and goes away.

I frown, then try to focus on my book. But now I really can’t.

All I can think about is him.

The next day, he shows up at the coffee shop again. “Can we talk?”

I meet his eyes, tilt my head, and say, “No.”

He leaves again.