Page 66 of Finding Our Reality

He already tattooed this date into my memory. Twelve years ago, this date changed the events of my future. It set me on a completely different course from where I thought I would be.

And I hate him for it.

Regardless of the fact that I am completely and totally still in love with him… I hate him for this.

And I have no intentions of hiding my bad mood from him.

I pick up my cell phone the second I hear a work email ding. Punching out a response, I’m acutely aware of someone staring at me. “Why are you staring at me?”

“You’re sitting at my desk. I’m allowed to stare at you.” Marcum cocks his head to the side. “Are you in a bad mood today?”

“Of course not.”

“Nancy says the exact same thing, using the exact same tone when she’s in a bad mood. Did something happen I should know about?”

“Don’t be absurd. I’m just responding to an email. Since when does concentrating mean I’m in a bad mood.”

Marcum holds his hands up like a hostage. “Point taken.”

I’m clicking send when something hits my chest and bounces down onto my lap. Startled, I yelp, sitting up straight. I pick up the silver wrapped protein bar and turn it over in my hand. “Really?”

“Maybe you’re hungry. That definitely makes me grumpy.”

“Who’s grumpy?” Ry’s voice pours over my body like hot molasses.

Damn him and his seductive growl.

“Ella.” Marcum’s voice overlaps with mine.

“No one.” Grunting, I toss the protein bar back in his face.

Ry walks around to the side of the desk. “You’re in a bad mood?”

Stiffening my spine and squaring my shoulders, I purse my lips. “No. But if you guys don’t stop your harping, I’m gonna show you exactly what kind of mood I can be in.”

“Okay. Point taken.” Ry winks at Marcum, making my blood boil.

I slap my hand on the desk, grabbing his attention. “Do you actually plan on working on my sister’s case today? Or do you just wanna saunter around making useless small talk?”

Ry lifts his eyebrows and stares at me with his translucent green eyes, making me feel one split second of shame for my harshness.

“Alright.” After drawing the simple word out over ten syllables, he waves a thumb drive in my face. “Finally received all of Trey’s prison records—visitor logs, phone calls, everything.” He licks his lips, making me quickly reach for the comfort of the scar on my neck. “That’s why I called you in today. But if you have other projects you need to—”

I jump up from my seat, cutting him off. “Are you deranged? We’ve been waiting on these for months.” I grab my work bags and snatch the thumb drive from his fingertips.

I don’t even bother to say thank you because I am, in fact, grumpy.

***

The setting May sun burns the sky in brilliant hues of pink and orange. I can’t believe how hot it is already. I bet this summer will be miserable.

His voice catches me off guard, making me stumble against a divot in the sidewalk. His muscular hand darts out, wrapping around my upper arm, helping me catch my balance.

As soon as I’m steady, I tear into him. “What’s wrong with you?! You can’t just walk up on someone like that! You scared me.”

“I can’t help it if you weren’t paying attention to your surroundings, Lulu. It’s not like I was being quiet. Don’t blame me because you were daydreaming.”

“I wasnotdaydreaming.” I turn and walk to the corner of the street, looking both ways before crossing to the bar. “Why are you following me?”

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