Page 23
“This night is sounding better and better,” she laughed.
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Can’t wait!”
We hung up, and I dropped my phone back on the table. The house suddenly felt quiet, too quiet, and I found myself feeling lonesome in a way I hadn’t felt in a very long time. Moments like this left me wondering whether I missed my folks and the life I’d once had, or if I was longing for something I’d never really let myself have.
Tonight felt more like the latter, but I couldn’t be sure.
I eased back on the sofa and pulled my knees up to my chest, settling deep into the couch. I turned off the television, and when I closed my eyes, all I could hear was the quiet hum of the refrigerator. I had no idea what time it was when I felt a hand on my shoulder, followed by the sound of Ravage’s voice whispering, “Emery.”
I jerked awake, and my heart slammed against my chest as I sat upright. Ravage stepped back as he whispered, “Shit… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay… I’m fine,” I stammered. “Um, what time is it?”
“Just after midnight.”
“Oh, okay.” I blinked, trying to get my bearings. “I didn’t realize it was that late.”
My gaze drifted over to him, and my chest tightened when I saw how tired he looked. More than tired. He looked exhausted. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
The answer came too quickly, so I asked, “And the garage?”
“I said it was fine.” The sharpness in his voice caught me off guard. He must’ve noticed, and quickly added, “I’m sorry. It’s been a long night.”
“Clearly.”
He didn’t respond. Instead, he turned his attention toward the hallway. “The kids asleep?”
“Yeah, they’ve been out for hours.”
“Good.” He pulled out his phone as he told me, “I’ll call one of the prospects to come take you home.”
“What?”
“I’m going to have one of them drive you home.”
“I can drive myself.”
“It’s late.”
“I live five minutes away,” I pressed.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does.” I was growing angrier by the second. “There is no point in getting some prospect to come all the way here just to drive me five minutes down the road when I can drive myself.”
“I don’t want you being alone.”
“I’m always alone. What’s different about tonight?”
“I don’t want you driving alone, and that’s that.”
“That’s that?” Before I realized what I was doing, I reached for the hem of his sweatshirt and jerked it over my head, tossing it on the sofa. I was too mad to even think about the fact that he was seeing me in nothing but a bra, but it was only for a second. I had already grabbed my sweater and was slipping it on when I told him, “I’m not a child, Ravage.”
“I am trying to keep you safe.”
