Page 97 of Edge of Unbroken

“Rony, it’s not like it’s my job or anything,” she says, slightly amused, and it pisses me off how blasé she is about basically selling herself.

“No, Randi, I need you to understand that what you’re doing is really fucking dangerous,” I say, my face stern. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you. I don’t care if you feel like fucking around. Be my guest; go get all the dick you want, but once you bring money into it… guys feel like you owe them something. Like, they’re paying you, so now they’re entitled to whatever it is they want.” I force the words out through gritted teeth. “Please,” I say, “for me!”

She considers me, her eyes searching mine before she nods slowly. “Okay,” she finally says. “I won’t do it again.”

“Thanks,” I say, releasing the tension in my shoulders. I’m not sure if she only agreed in order to pacify me, but this is all I can do right now.

“You’re such a good guy, you know that?” she says, lying back down, her hand on my chest pulling me down with her before she hitches her leg back over mine.

She falls asleep quickly after that, whatever racing thoughts had plagued her apparently dissipated.

I roll away from her and out of bed a little while later. I slip into a pair of sweats and a shirt before leaving my room—carefully closing the door behind me—and trudging downstairs to get a couple more hours of sleep on the couch before it’s time to wake up for the day.

Friday, February 25th

Ronan

I’m about to turn off the water and step out of the shower when the bathroom door flies open and Miranda rushes in. She stops in her tracks when she sees me, a wicked grin spreading across her face, her eyes scanning my dripping-wet body.

I yank the towel off the rack and hastily tie it around my waist, though I know it’s too fucking late. “What the fuck?” I growl at her.

“I have to pee,” she says, already unbuttoning her jeans.

“What the hell, Randi? There’s a bathroom downstairs!”

“It’s occupied and I really, really need to go!”

“Jesus, fuck,” I grunt, step onto the little rug in front of the shower, and grab my clothes from the floor to leave the bathroom.

“Don’t be shy, Rony. Nothing I haven’t seen before.” She grins at me. “And it’s still as beautiful as ever.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I say, shaking my head.

“Unbelievably perfect,” she calls after me as I slip out of the bathroom to let her take care of business.

I walk straight to my room, leaving wet footprints on the hardwood floor, close the door behind me, then quickly dry off and pull on a pair of fresh boxer briefs. I’m buttoning my jeans when there’s a knock on the door.

“Can I come in?” Miranda’s voice seeps through a small crack in the doorway. Oh, so she suddenly developed some manners.

I sigh. “Yeah.”

Miranda opens the door wider, then steps into my room. “Sorry about that,” she says with an apologetic look, her eyes rolling over my bare torso.

I press my lips together as I pull a shirt over my head, covering my upper body.

“I really needed to pee badly,” she says with a small smile curving her lips.

“It’s fine,” I grunt, then slip into my hoodie.

“I do respect your privacy, you know.”

I raise my eyebrows at her, cocking my head to the side. “You’ve never respected my privacy.”

“That’s not true,” she says. “I do respect it; always have. I’m just really comfortable with you, Rony.”

I huff. “Maybe a little too comfortable.” I sit down on the edge of my bed to put on a fresh pair of socks.

“Yeah, maybe.” She moves over to my bed and sits down next to me, leaning her head against my shoulder. She smells like wildflowers. “I kind of need a favor,” she says, her voice sticky-sweet.

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