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“Well,” I say, pretending to consider. “You’re already signed, so unless I lure you away from yourlabel—”
“Which you could do in aheartbeat.”
“Really?” I trip over the pavement, falling against his side with a laugh. “I have nothing to offeryou.”
His low chuckle buzzes through me. “Your mouth is remarkablypersuasive.”
“You’d leave Zeke for a blowjob?” I demand, mock aghast. The idea of Tyler coming apart under my hands, my mouth, is impossiblysexy.
He groans. “I’m walking home in the middle of the night with a fucking hard-on, and it’s all yourfault.”
I laugh as we stumble down the road toward Tyler’s place. He takes my hand as we talk about all kinds of things, our voices raised from thealcohol.
Nothing can break the beautiful imperfection of this moment. Despite the rift between me and my dad and the uncertainty of my future, Tyler’s finally getting what he deserves, I’m learning to stand on my own feet, and we have eachother.
We’re a few blocks from his apartment, and I’m already imagining the things we’re going to do together when a rough voice interrupts myfantasy.
“Give me yourpurse.”
I glance at Tyler, sure I’ve misheard. “What did yousay?”
But the words didn’t come fromhim.
I spin to see a guy in black from head to toe. He’s half in the shadows of the alley, which is why I didn’t spot him. “Your purse. Andphones.”
Tyler moves between the guy and me, stilling when something under the guy’s jacket glints in thestreetlight.
My body goes cold. I don’t know what it is, a knife or a gun, but every part of me’s focused on that silverflash.
“Give it to him,” Tyler says calmly, reaching into his pocket and holding out thephone.
Give what? Shit. Mybag.
I swallow and force myself to hold out my purse with my phone inside. The man takes it and shoves it in his jacket. He hasn’t touched me, but I feel violated, as if someone’s burst our perfectbubble.
I cut a look down the street. The closest major intersection is five blocksaway.
“Wallettoo.”
Tyler reaches slowly into his pocket and holds itout.
The guy takes it, flips it open to check for cash. “Got anyjewelry?”
“No,” Tyler answerssteadily.
How can he be socalm?
“What abouther?”
I shake my head fast. The man’s gaze drops to my chest. My fingers close around the goldnecklace.
“It’s nothing,” I say softly. “It was agift.”
“Hand itover.”
My eyes burn as the ring and the rose warm in my hand. I can’tmove.
“Give it!” He makes a threatening gesture, and I hiccup a breath as I reach for the clasp with tremblingfingers.
