Page 56 of Don't Break My Heart
“Sloane wanted to walk me home. Talk to her about it.” She smirks at him, and I know for her it was a little bit of rebellion she enjoyed as well.
He glares at me. “Sloane.”
“Night, sis.” I blow her a kiss as Geovani wraps her in a hug.
“You should drop by the clinic tomorrow, I can run your idea past the boys?” she calls back.
“Maybe.” I wave her off then return my attention to Ricky. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
He closes the door behind him and follows me out into the hall. “You pull a stunt like that again and there will be trouble, Sloane.”
I roll my eyes. “Chill, Ricky, I’m armed. She was safe.”
“What do you need?”
“I can’t fucking sleep. It’s been days, and I’m starting to feel like I’m going crazy. You wouldn’t have any sleeping pills around, would you? Just enough for me to get through tonight?”
He looks me over more seriously. “Jet lag?”
“Probably.” I fake a smile, hoping he can’t see the truth behind my eyes. I don’t want to get into the whole “my life is falling apart” shit with him. I wouldn’t even come to him, except I’m desperate. I already searched both Jagger and Cruz’s rooms for anything that would knock me out, but my search came up empty.
“Come inside, I’ll see what I have.”
I follow him back inside. Geovani and Harley are gone, probably headed off to bed, so I lean awkwardly into the wall as I wait for Ricky to raid his kitchen cupboard. When that search comes up empty, he goes to his bag. He takes out a little tube of pills and looks me over with caution. “I’ll give you enough to get through tonight, but if you’re still having trouble sleeping, you will need to come into the clinic and have a proper consultation.”
“Enough for tonight is perfect.” I grin back at him. Thank God he had something. Tomorrow I can work out something else. But tonight, I need sleep. I’m fucking desperate for it because I feel like I’mstarting to lose my mind. “Thanks.” I take his arm as he goes to walk away. “Hey, I’m sorry I walked Harley home. I didn’t want to tell her how bad it was. She would only worry, you know.”
He offers me a half smile. “Let me walk you home.”
We walk back to my place in silence. It’s only a short walk, but I can practically hear Ricky’s brain ticking over. And since I don’t want to get into it with him, I open my door in a rush. “Thanks. For these and walking me home. Look after my girl for me.”
He captures my arm before I can shut the door. “Sloane, if you need help, you know where I am.”
“Thanks, Ricky. I appreciate it.”
He releases my wrist, and I close the door. Leaning up against it, I suck in a deep breath. I can’t ask for help no matter how bad this gets. How fucking weak would I look. I have to show them all I can do this on my own.
Chapter 25
Ricky’spillsworkedatreat and knocked me out cold last night. But in the light of day, I don’t feel any better than I did yesterday. My head is scattered and foggy, my anxiety hitting a new level I have never experienced before. I think even Cruz could see it. He asked me on repeat if I was okay while I was trying to down a piece of toast and coffee this morning. In the end, it was pissing me off so much I gave up and left early.
My chat with Harley last night is playing in my head on repeat, and I’m not sure why I do it but instead of driving directly to the club this morning, I take a detour past Reef’s house. I stop across the street partly hidden by a tree and turn off my engine. Just like I did yesterday.
It’s not long before he comes into view in the front room. It looks like a living room, a couple of comfy sofas and an armchair. He’s walking slowly with someone else. Someone I can’t quite make out. They’re a lot shorter than him. The two of them move through the room and open a door to an outdoor patio. It’s then I can make her out more clearly. She’s a dear old lady. She looks fragile. Reef helps her to a set of outdoor furniture, makes sure she’s comfortable, then rushes back in the house and returns with a tray that looks to have a teapot and an assortment of cakes on it. He places it down on the table in front of her and goes about filling both their teacups.
He wasn’t lying about his gran. Part of me thought she was a fictional character he made up to sell his story for coming to Ravens Hollow. She smiles up at him, and he pats her hand, lovingly returning her smile. Fuck, he’s gorgeous when he smiles; his whole face lights up. Seeing him like this melts my heart. He has a heart of gold. He was just put in a shitty situation. He’s been stuck in one his whole life. What chance did he have with a drug-addict mother who was selling her body to pay the bills? None. Especially with motherfuckers like the Morettis preying on the weak.
Unlike yesterday, he glances over the street, his eyes locking with mine. My heart flutters just for a second, not sure what to do. He frowns, looking confused before he glances away and back to her, continuing their conversation. No cheeky text this time when he knows I’m watching him. He’s still pissed with me and maybe he has some right to be.
Feeling empty, I start up my engine, needing to get the fuck out of here before I do something stupid like go and knock on his front door. My pulse races like crazy because I know it’s not over, at least for me. I have no idea how to fix things between us; all I know is it’s not the end.
On autopilot I drive to Harley’s clinic, houses and streets whooshing past in a blur. The events of the past few months bear down on me, crushing me and constricting air from my lungs. I can’t do this anymore. The fog that’s consuming me needs to fuck off so I can function. The pain in my chest needs to ease so I can get on with my life. I need to sleep like a normal person again, not one who has to rely on pills. Like this I’m useless.
From the car, I dial Harley’s number and wait.
“Hey, girl, what’s going on?” her chirpy voicecomes down the line.
“I’m in the parking lot. Is Ricky around?” I murmur, still not sure what I’m doing here. I should just go, but I’m frozen to the spot.
