Page 62 of Ghostlighted
“Would it…” I swallowed, a phrase from my mom’s favorite classicDoonesburystrip playing in my head:And the kid goes for broke. “Would it be easier if you slept with somebody else?”
Ricky froze and then peeked out from between his fingers. “You mean… with you?”
I nodded. “If you want to. If it would help.” I held up my hands, palms out. “No other shenanigans on the table. Or in the bed. Not unless you, um, wanted that.” The regret that etched unfamiliar lines in his face gave me my answer before he opened his mouth, so I plunged ahead. “I get it if you’re not that into me, or whatever, but I’m really just talking about comfort and companionship right now. About not being alone.”
He dropped his chin and stared at his open palms for a moment. “Maz. You know how you have an ex?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately.” Several, in fact.
“Well, I have an ex, too.”
I choked on air. “What? When? How did—” Shaking my head, I said, “Never mind. You don’t owe me any explanations.”
“I know I don’t owe you any. Nobodyowesanybody things they’d rather keep private. But I’d like you to understand.” He reached out. I took the invitation, placing my hand in his. “I like you. So much. I have from the first time we met. But that’s how it started with Blaine, too. I rushed into things.Werushed into things, didn’t take the time to learn enough about each other to know how to build a solid relationship. And without that foundation?” He shrugged. “It fell apart in a really painful way.”
I winced. “Trust me, I get it. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“I’m not telling you this for sympathy.” His lips trembled, but a smile didn’t quite make it through. “Although I won’t turn it down. I’m telling you so you’ll understand why I want to build our foundation first. Because if we don’t take that time, the end… Well, I don’t want to think about how awful it could be.”
I could see his point. With my house, with Avi, I was fixed here in Ghost for good. Ricky’s roots here went even deeper, his family so interwoven with the community that I didn’t think theycouldbe separated.
“I understand. And no pressure. I, um, really like you too.” I gestured to the room around us. “I’m clearly not going anywhere. So I’m happy to take all the time you need?—”
“Thatweneed.”
“Thatweneed to build our foundation. But, Ricky?”
“Yeah?”
“If you ever want to talk about your ex, about what happened, I’m here. Okay?”
“Okay.” He took a shaky breath. “In that case?—”
A knock sounded at the door and I held up one finger. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”
I hurried out of the kitchen. When I got to the family room and had a clear shot to the front door, I slowed down a little. The person I spotted through the fanlight was vaguely familiar, but then I placed her. So, despite her visit derailing the conversation with Ricky, I was smiling when I opened the door to Ghost’s resident sheriff’s deputy.
“Hey, Kamilla. How are you doing?”
Her answering smile was tight. “I’m fine, Maz, but this isn’t a social call.”
My belly clenched and my hand tightened on the doorknob. “What’s wrong?” Had Liam already launched his campaignagainst me? I didn’t think a civil suit, even one that was justified—which his wasn’t—warranted arrest.
“Is Ricky here?”
“I—”
“Kamilla?” Ricky appeared at my shoulder. “What is it? Did something happen with Tia?”
“You could say so.” Her handcuffs jingled as she pulled them out of her belt pouch. “Enrique Vargas, I’m arresting you on the charge of attempted murder.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
To say I was gobsmacked was an understatement. “Attempted murder? What in thewhat? Of whom?” Because even gobsmacked, grammar had me by the throat.
“Of Sofia Vargas.”
I expected Ricky to protest. Strongly. Using adult language. In his outside voice. But instead, his eyes widened and his skin went positively gray.
