Page 9 of Ruin

I huff out a sigh and take his phone from his hands. “My seizures come on out of the blue. I don’t have epilepsy and I don’t have any other defined, underlying cause. I take the low dose daily pill and then I don’t have issues. You’re worrying too much. I’m fine.”

“You were in the hospital a few weeks ago. I don’t want you going back again, especially not on my watch.” I love this part of Ruin. He genuinely wants to see me safe.

“I can drink in moderation. I’ll be fine. I promise.” I shoot another shot and stick out my tongue. “See, no problems. What about you? Are you nervous about tonight?”

“Nah, I’m looking forward to watching this mess unravel,” he says with a grin. I lean down, grabbing a vase from under the sink and tuck the flowers inside, dragging in the soft scent as I ignore the rude comment he’s just made.

“Thanks again. These are gorgeous.”

“There’s a huge bloom going on right now… as you can see.” He laughs. “I, ugh, I grabbed you something else. I hope it’s not weird.” He pulls a small box from his pocket. “I know you said the other day you liked mine, and I thought… well, here ya go. Open it.”

Ruin typically buys me gifts for my birthday, so that doesn’t alarm me, but the way he rings his hand around the back of his neck when he hands me the box does. He’s nervous.

Why is he nervous?

I smile and take the small black box from his hand. He’s had the store wrap it in black paper. It’s way too neatly done to have been wrapped by him. I’ve seen his wrapping skills. He tries, but he’s not this good at it.

“Oh,” I squeal. “What did you get me?” I break into the paper with my thumb and reveal a small box with a necklace inside. My heart stills and my gaze draws up to his. “It’s your skull.”

“Yeah.” He nods, looks away, then back again. “I wanted you to have it so you’d know you always had someone in your corner.”

I don’t know what to say so I tip up onto my toes and wrap myself against his chest, drawing in the warmth from his giant frame. Ruin doesn’t do things like this for everyone. Anyone, really. Ruin is a loner. He has been since his family died. The MC is all he has, and they’re not the gift exchanging type.

“Is it weird? I know you said you liked it and I thought… it would be a nice gesture, but now I’m thinking it was weird.”

I take the pendant from the box and set it around my neck before going back toward him with the clasps in each hand. “No, it’s not weird. I love it so much. Thank you.”

His big fingers move my hair, skating ever so gently against my skin. He grips the chain and fumbles with the clasp.

“Fucking hell. This thing is small.” The chain slips out of his hand, and his fingers slide against my shoulder and onto my chest, chasing it.

Chills run over my frame, and by the time he finally gets it clasped, I’m a soaking mess again.

Swallowing hard, I turn around, staring up at him. “How do I look?”

“Bad ass.” He lingers on the word then turns away quickly. “I’m gonna take a piss and then we should go.”

I nod and swallow down the lump in my throat that’s currently threatening my will to live. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Ruin has a thing for me too.

Chapter Four

Ruin

I’ve barely made it to my truck when Outlaw calls.

“Hey.” I try to brighten my tone.

“Hey, man. You’re on Carmen duty, I hear.”

“Yeah. You owe me.”

He laughs. “I do. Thanks for keeping an eye on her. I’d have been worried about her drinking tonight without someone semi-responsible with her.”

I ignore the ‘semi’ part because I know he’s busting my balls. “No problem. How’s the family?” I change the subject as quickly as I can.

“Good. Faith, or should I say Tilly, is getting closer to delivery so we’re just crossing our fingers that everything goes as planned. Her nephew just joined the local little league, too. So, it’s a whole new world for me.” He married a woman a few months back and they have custody of her nephew and a baby on the way. I’m happy for him, but jealous as hell. I never thought I’d be the guy who wanted to settle down, but here the fuck I am, ready to be a family man. Who’d have thought that?

“Sounds busy.” I draw in a deep breath as Peach rounds out to the truck. “I’ll keep an eye on her for you tonight. Don’t worry about that.”

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