Page 88 of Split You Open

“If you want an answer, let her speak,” I tell him.

The scowl melts away as he glances at Blair anxiously.

She reaches out to take his hand to give it a squeeze. “It doesn’t bother you that Ledger manipulated you? He brought you here because⁠—”

“No.” Santi interrupts quickly. “I don’t give a fuck why he brought me on. I love it here. I found love here. It all worked out for me so who cares about the original motivation?”

“But—”

Santi reaches up to grab her face with both hands and leans down to look into her eyes. “This. Changes. Nothing.”

Blair lets out a soft sigh. Her body relaxes further in my arms.

“You’re right, Santi. It changes nothing.”

This time it’s Blair that initiates the kiss, leaning into Santi who meets her halfway eagerly. I smile at the two of them.

Santi pulls away with a sigh, his expression slightly dazed as he smiles at her.

“I brought you something,” he tells her.

He reaches into his back pocket and produces a black burner phone.

I blink in surprise as Blair gasps.

“Is that Ledger’s phone?” I ask him.

Santi nods. “Yup, I just combed through his truck and found it between the seats. It’s dead though. But…”

He reaches into his pocket again and pulls out a chord.

“Look who found a charger!”

“Santi! You’re the best!” Blair grins at him.

He beams at her. “I know!”

“Humble, too,” I mutter.

Santi snickers and Blair giggles.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” I ask him. “Get that thing charging.”

He scrambles off the bed to plug the charger and phone in.

By the door comes a knock. I look over to find Rhett there, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest. His face is paler than normal and while his posture screams nonchalant, I can feel tension radiating off him.

“Ledger’s back in his cage,” he announces.

I nod. “Good. You alright?”

“Just peachy. What about our girl?”

Our girl… I like the sound of that.

Judging by the hard shiver that runs through Blair, she likes it too.

“I’ll live,” she says.