Page 89 of Ricochet

He’s left the door open, sounds of footsteps and chatter filtering in. It all fades into background noise as I stare into his rain-washed eyes, sucking in his forest and thunderstorm scent. I inhale a deep breath of it like it might be the last time I get to smell it.

“No, I’m not.”

His face hardens. “I can’t keep seeing you like this. Let me help.Pleasestay with me tonight.”

“I’m not staying with you tonight. I…” I swallow back the uncomfortable lump in my throat and try again. “I won’t be staying with you for a while.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I think we should slow things down for a bit. I have some of my own shit I need to figure out.”

Stone scoffs, but it’s not derisive. “It’s not you, it’s me?”

“Well, it’s true.”

Mostly.

Sure, some of the shit I need to figure out has to dowithStone, but they’re still my own issues. Like if I can really overlook the fact that Stone kills people without caring who it is he’s killing. I know I should’ve thought about it before, but, well, that’s part of what I need to figure out too.

Why the fuck isn’t my head on straight?

“I just have a lot of shit to work through,” I tell him. “I know I’m not…right. I’ve never been right. I’m fucked up, and I just need to…unfuck myself.”

I roll my eyes at how dumb that sounded.

He frowns and shakes his head. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

Now it’s my turn to scoff. “Says the serial killer.”

He nods stiffly. “Fair. But we can be fucked up together.”

I do love the sound of that.

“Do me a favor please. If you decide to go out and, you know…just be careful.”

It’s the only warning I can give him. The thought of him killing Eric keeps me from saying more. At least right now.

Suspicion flickers in his eyes, but he says, “I wouldn’t do that without you.”

Fucking hell.

I don’t understand how he can get me to smile right now. It’s only a small one and fades just as quickly.

“I just need some time, Stone.”

Taking a step forward, he grabs onto the side of my neck, leaning in close. “You know I’ll give you time if that’s what you need. But don’t think I’m going to let you go so easily, Callum.”

He presses his forehead against mine and closes his eyes, holding himself back from something. Then he releases me and walks out of the room.

He’s perfect.

And I’m a fucking mess.

Despite the break that Iunwillingly agreed to, mine and Callum’s chemistry on the ice hasn’t suffered much. I’d like to think that means whatever is bothering him isn’t anything we can’t work past. That I’ll have him back soon. In my bed. In my arms. On my cock.

Fuck, I miss him.

And it’s only been a few days.

---