Page 54 of Blue Moon

Cordelia was such a dumbass.

“Do you want the penguin plushie?” Ryder asked. “Or should I put that on the table outside?”

“It can go on the table. The only things I want are stationery I can use for my letters, and chocolate. Or the type of heating pad that goes in the microwave, but I doubt anyone sent one of those.”

“You’re cold?”

“Uh, no? Just a bit…achy.”

“That time of the month?”

“Do we have to talk about this?”

It was just the two of us for a rare moment, and Ryder gave my hand a squeeze. “I’ll get a heating pad. You need anything else? Tylenol? Tea?” His face twisted into a slight grimace. “Tampons?”

“Go away.”

“Neve used to swear by peppermint tea. She also used to bitch at me for two days a month, so I won’t take that comment personally.”

I rooted through another bag and held out a hot-pink purse. “Table.”

Ryder merely chuckled. “If we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, we’ll need to have difficult conversations occasionally.”

I froze, and once again, he came to the wrong conclusion.

“You…don’t see that kind of future for us?”

Oh, heck. Now he sounded hurt, and he looked…shocked. Tears prickled my eyes, and how was I supposed to confess my biggest secret? Here? Where anyone could come in and see me crying? Where fifty people would see Ryder walk away?

Never in my life had I been so grateful to see a gift from Mark Antony. I plucked the gold cuff out of a gift bag and studied the enamelled design before it clicked. Weird-looking squiggly eye. Egypt. I reached for the bag to check for a note, but Ryder got there first.

“That motherfucker,” he growled.

I turned his hand so I could read the latest ramblings of a warped mind.

My Dearest Cleopatra,

As you take centre stage tonight, a modern queen captivating all who behold your beauty, I wanted to gift you a token of my love. This golden bracelet, radiant like your spirit, is a reminder that you reign supreme in my heart. May it accompany your graceful dance and serenade you with the whispers of my love as you enchant the world with your song.

Yours always,

Mark A

“I’m not wearing it. Has he lost his mind? Actually, scratch that thought. We already know the answer.”

Ryder had his phone in his hand, and he looked so annoyed.

“I thought you were checking the gifts,” he told whoever was on the other end of the phone. A pause. “Yeah, she got another one. A bracelet. Small black gift bag, gold ribbon on the handles. … You do that.”

Ryder tossed the phone down on the table, jaw clenched.

“Who was that?”

“Derek Monroe. Some security they have here. They were meant to be checking every item that got delivered.”

I wasn’t sure whether to be totally creeped out or not. It was just a gift, but… I shuddered.

“What do we do now?”

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