Page 13 of Fractured

“I’d say take a picture so it would last longer, but I’d rather just see you again.” And the elusive smile I hadn’t been able to catch appeared fully as he faced me. His grin was brilliant and transformed the straight-faced author into a Greek god too handsome to be among mortals.

“You’re not serious,” I declared.

“You think you’d know when I’m joking versus when I’m putting myself out on a limb?” One side of his smile edged up.

“Why would you be putting yourself out on a limb?” For the last four years, I hadn’t even had so much as a heated look from a hot man. I take that back, I’d flirted occasionally, especially when the mood struck, but I hadn’t had an actual date. More like dirty one-night stands when I was too lonely to go home alone. But those weren’t about true attraction. That was a mutual benefit, knowing nothing would ever come of it. Why were these gorgeous men, who were so far out of my league it wasn’t funny, suddenly attracted to me?

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you’re clearly humoring me instead of enjoying my company. If you turned me down, it would be a blow to my ego. You wouldn’t want to do that to a man would you?” He laid his hand over his heart as if preparing for the metaphorical wound I was about to dole out.

I laughed. In the midst of everything happening in my life, I laughed. And it was therapeutic and settling in a way I needed.

“Is that a maybe? Because I’m not hearing a flat-out no.” He held his phone up and rocked it back and forth. “I can add your number right here, right now. What do you say?”

I hesitated too long. The brightness in his eyes dimmed, and he dropped his phone to his lap.

Now I really did feel like an asshole. “I’m sorry. I really know nothing about you. It’s not that I don’t want to…” It was just that I didn’t trust the world like other people did.

“I completely understand. How about, you tell me when you’ll be back in the park. Like I said, I’m here every day. And I loved the discussion. I was being honest when I said I wished I had more friends like you.”

“Do you hit on all your friends?”

“No, just the pretty ones that challenge my mind and body.” He winked.

A heated shiver engulfed me as I thought about what challenging his body might look like. A sweaty, tangled night in full moonlight as he discovered every inch of me. I shivered again for good measure and smiled weakly at him, hoping he hadn’t noticed the effect he had on me.

And I realized I wanted what he was offering—a chance to know him. My schedule would be even more hectic now with the solo and approaching holiday season. But I wanted to see this man again. Ambrose. Sexy, sexy Ambrose.

“Okay, I can be back here on Wednesday next week. Does that work for you?” I stuffed my trash into the bag and balled it up in my hand.

“Perfect. I’ll be here. I’ll even bring extra lunch so we can call it an actual date.”

Apparently also done with his time in the park, he stood and extended a hand to help me up. I dusted off my shorts, and when I looked up at him, he bent to kiss me on the cheek. His lips were cool against my sun warmed skinned. He lingered for the barest of seconds before backing away.

“It was a pleasure. I’ll see you next week.” Then he was walking toward the street with his backpack slung over one shoulder.

I changed my mind. I wouldn’t see Lauren today. There was too much happiness in this small snatch of time to ruin it with a walk down a distorted memory lane. Dread slithered up my spine and curled around my throat just thinking about how she would answer my questions. What details she would give.

No matter how strong I was, I wasn’t ready to come face-to-face with the past that could become my future.

Five

The world is waiting for me to go crazy. - August 25th

Okay.I could do this.

This was nothing. A regular visit. They were forcing her to take her meds, so today should be much, much better. All I had to do was walk down to my car, get in, and drive to Bright Path Hospital. I’d even skipped the studio, taking a mental health day.

If all went well, the mental day would be for the morning only, then back to Randolf’s by lunchtime.

Snatching up my keys and phone, I left my small, cookie-cutter house. I loved the extra privacy Harper didn’t get in a condo, and honestly, if the worst came to pass, I didn’t want so many people to bear witness to my downfall. That kind of thing should be done quietly, leaving the person with as much dignity as possible.

Unless they were just evil. Cue Lauren.

Two steps down the sidewalk, and I stopped short. Staring at the motorcycle that blocked my car into my driveway. But it wasn’t the bike so much that had my attention. It was the insanely wild man who looked as if he could double for an inmateanda rugged model.

He jumped up from his bike, swinging one leg over and approaching me slowly. One eye was squinted as he made it to the end of the pathway leading up to my house. My yard was pathetically small, with a simple chain link fence surrounding my property. As tall as this man was, he could step over it if he’d wanted to.

“Lilith?” His voice was deep and raspy, the power of it reminding me of waves breaking against the shore.

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