Page 81 of Show Me

“I can answer for myself.” Ruby wrinkles her nose. “I’m fine.”

Emily’s eyes flick to me. “What happened?”

“Greg forgot what ‘excuse me’ means.”

Bella’s mouth flattens. “I knew he was off.”

Ruby slides into the booth. I drop down on the bench beside her, lowering my arm to my side.

Across the bar, a group of guys at the high-tops glance over. One nudges another, their attention sticking longer than it should. My shoulders tighten before I can stop it.

I look away first. I can’t look at every guy in the room and think they’re after Ruby, but it keeps happening.

Bella leans forward. “You’re staying with one of us tonight.”

Ruby shakes her head. “No.”

Emily folds her arms. “Ruby–”

“I have locks, lights, and cameras coming tomorrow,” she says. “I’m not moving in and turning your lives upside down.”

Bella opens her mouth. Closes it.

Emily exhales. “That was before your jerk of an ex-boss showed up on the same day that Sleeveless Guy popped up out of nowhere at your new job.”

“I’m not helpless.” Her voice holds. Steady. Stronger than yesterday, even with both our top suspects showing up within six hours of each other.

A server drops off appetizers and drinks, and the bar’s noise settles back around us. Then movement across the room pulls my attention again. Greg stands near the bar, angled toward the TV but not watching it.

Of course, he hasn’t left. Not ten feet from him is Lindsey. Her eyes travel over our booth and then dart away as she weaves her way toward Greg. Good. Maybe she can distract him from following Ruby around everywhere.

Ruby turns toward me. “You didn’t have to come.”

“You texted.”

She frowns. “What’re you talking about? I didn’t text you.”

I shrug. “Your friends did. I’d just walked in when Bella texted to say Greg had you cornered in the hallway.”

Bella lifts her chin. “We absolutely did.”

Ruby rolls her eyes, but there’s no heat behind it.

“Security cameras came in early.” I tap my fingertips on the wooden table.

Her head turns fast. “Already?”

“Shipment got bumped. I can install them tonight.”

Bella grins. “He means he will install them tonight.”

I ignore her.

Ruby studies me. “You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

Her fingers trace a line through the condensation on her glass. “Thank you.”