Page 107 of Show Me

He stops. “Why not?”

Because I sat on her couch and watched her and Dominic move around each other like it was normal, like they belonged in the same space, and I felt like I was borrowing something I didn’t have.

Because I don’t want to be the person who shows up and disrupts other people’s lives every time mine gets complicated.

Because I already feel like I don’t belong anywhere right now.

“I’m not interrupting their lives.” I inhale and tip up my chin. I hadn’t decided that until now, but I’m certain this is the right decision. “I’m not doing that again.”

“That’s not….” he starts, then stops himself, jaw tightening. “I’m sure they don’t feel that way.”

“It feels that way to me.”

Silence stretches again, heavier this time. He looks at the tire, then back at me.

“Sidewall puncture means someone wanted it flat.” His voice is lower as if he’s trying to lure a feral kitten out from under a shed. Fear curls low in my stomach, sharp and steady. “You should stay with Bella tonight.”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Ruby–”

“I’m not running,” I cut in. “This is my house we’re talking about. My life.”

His gaze locks onto mine, searching, measuring. “You think this is about pride?”

“I think it’s about not letting someone else decide how I live.”

“Then I’m staying.” His entire body is tense as if he’s waiting for me to rebel. To tell him no. But my head hurts. And I’m tired.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to stay at Bella’s again to get you to come back.” My chest squeezes. “I’m not trying to trick you.”

“I know you weren’t.” He slides his hands into his pockets. “I understand why you want to stay at your place, so I’m staying.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.” Same answer. Different weight.

Something pulls tight in my chest that has nothing to do with fear and everything to do with how complicated this got.

I look away first. The lot is nearly empty now. One truck left at the far end. Lights flickering on in the building behind us. The world narrowing down to this small stretch of pavement and the space between us.

Not safe. Not simple. But not something I’m facing alone anymore either. And that makes everything feel both better… and a lot more dangerous.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Xavier

Her car is barely in park when I pull in behind her. Headlights sweep across the side of the house, catching the stretch of siding I already know isn’t covered well enough. The part of the driveway I missed.

I kill the engine and move before the quiet takes over. Tailgate down. Toolbox out. Two cameras. Drill. Mounting hardware. No point waiting. She’s standing beside her car when I grab the toolbox.

“You have extra cameras lying around?”

“Yeah.” I don’t look at her. If I do, I’ll start thinking about the fact that she called Emily. Bella. Anyone but me. “Go inside.”

She huffs but doesn’t argue. The front door opens a minute later. I follow her in. The second I cross the threshold, my attention starts moving. Locks. Windows. Sightlines. The angle of the back door. Nothing looks disturbed.

Doesn’t matter. Someone got close enough. I set the toolbox on the counter and start opening drawers.