Page 41 of Finders Keep Her
“That’s what my Ro is for. If I get lost in my head, he’s quick to help guide me back and keep me safe.”
Well, shit. I want to puff out my chest at that. My girl really is getting it. I'll stand down for now.
"Like a guard dog?" Nick smirks, and I know he's trying to taunt me. I don't play little boy games. Ellie, however, tenses, her spine stiffening.
“Did you just call him a dog?” Ellie calls him right out.
“I was only teasing.” He shifts on his feet. “It’s great that you, uh, have someone watching over you.”
“He does more than watch over me.” Ellie's words drip with sticky sweetness.
“Right.” Nick runs a hand through his hair. I keep quiet, seeing as that is what is irking him right now. I didn’t take his bait, but I don’t think he knew Ellie would come for it. "So if you're around later, you?—"
"Nope." Ellie pops the P. "Got plans. We're heading out."
“Maybe another time then.” I’ll give the asshole one thing, he’s persistent.
“Not gonna happen.” I scoop Ellie up into my arms and begin to carry her toward the house. I not only do it to show Nick that she’s mine but because I know she’ll get a kick out of it. She’ll probably call me barbaric or some shit like that, but deep down inside, I know she’s loving every damn second.
“You can’t just pick me up like a doll and carry me around.” Her settling into me says otherwise, but I’ll go with it.
“I can, and I just did.”
“I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye to Nick. He’s going to think I’m rude.” She knows damn well she doesn’t give two shits what Nick thinks.
I, however, am now putting Nick on my radar. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll make himself disappear. He won’t want me doing it for him.
Chapter Twenty
ELLIE
There isn’t a bunch of guilt when you actually say goodbye and not give everyone the slip. Dad was extra happy that I’d packed up like a normal person and gave him hugs goodbye. It’s strange, but I feel lighter because of it.
“Are you taking me to the creepy warehouse?”
“You think it’s creepy?” Ro runs his hand through his hair.
“You should let me cut your hair.”
“Okay. I normally do it myself, but I didn’t bring my shit with me.” He takes his eyes off the road to glance my way. “But it’s at the creepy warehouse.”
“Did I hurt your feelings by calling it creepy?”
“As long as you’re not calling me creepy.”
“Some people think I’m creepy.” I shrug it off. I have always been the strange girl. I’m sure my upbringing didn’t help with that.
“I’m sure people think that about me too.” He is always trying to make me think more of myself. The man really believes in me. He’s so certain of me. More so than I have ever been.
“It’s probably the eyeball cutting thing.”
“That’s a skill set. You know how hard it is to get a hold of an eyeball?” My mouth falls open, and I stare at Ronan. I have noclue if he’s messing with me or not, but if we’re going to play who can be more creepy right now to kill time on this drive, I’m game.
“Does it come out attached?” I’d seen that in a scary movie once. It was so gross.
“Depends how hard you yank.”
“Oh my God!” I cover my eyes with my hands. “Okay, you win.” He lets out a chuckle. “You know that month I spent with Cosima, I asked her about you.” I’d do it on the sly, but Cosima is a talker, so it wasn’t too hard.
