Page 43 of Running For It

“Yeah.” Did I have a choice? I was a slave to my own sense of responsibility.

I shut off my mind as best I could, to muddle my way through the rest of the conversation at the shelter, then through packing some essentials at my apartment. At Hunter’s condo, he showed me the guest room. Told me the place was as much mine now as his, and to make myself comfortable.

I didn’t see that happening, but that would be the case anywhere I went, not just here. Since I wasn’t ready to unpack, I spent the next several hours doing shelter work. Calling contractors, getting estimates, making sure payments would clear until the money from these two fundraisers hit the accounts.

When Hunter knocked on my open door , my eyes were dry and my neck ached from me sitting on the bed to work, but I’d managed to forget the world for a while.

Now it was back.

“I’m going to pick up dinner,” he said. “What’re you in the mood for?”

My stomach grumbled at his question. Had I eaten today? “A lot of anything? Whatever you’re in the mood for.” I climbed from the bed to find my purse and give him cash.

“I was thinking burgers. And it’s on me.”

Yup, I was definitely hungry. And not letting him carry me. I handed him a twenty.

He refused to take it. “Let me. I’m not asking. I’ll be back in a little bit.”

“But—”

Hunter turned away.

Rude. I sank onto the edge of the bed as the front door opened and closed. Now what? I’d lost the groove I was in, and now my mind had time to wander.

“Hey.” Ramsey stepped into view.

Or not. Every circuit in my brain shut off, leaving me with no idea of what to think or feel. “Hey.”

“Hunter said you’re having a hard time.” He crossed the room to stop a short distance from me.

“Do I assume anything I say to him, you’ll hear?” The question came out more sharply than I intended. “It’s been a long day.”

Ramsey sat next to me, and his leg pressed against mine. “He didn’t tell me what you said, just that you were struggling. He’s worried, and so am I. I think I’m allowed concern, as your boyfriend.” His tone was light.

It still weighed heavily on me. “I’m coping.”

“I know what you’re—”

“You don’t have any idea what I’m going through. Lying to people is your life.”

There was no response. I glanced sideways to see him frowning.

“I’m sorry.” I hadn’t meant my words to be so harsh.

“No. You’re right. There are maybe three people in the world who I let see me. What else am I supposed to do?” Ramsey asked.

“You could stop pretending in front of everyone else.”

“It’s not that easy.”

I wanted it to be. There were few things I wanted more than for Ramsey to be able to bury the mask. “What would happen if you did? If you came clean about everything? Or even just some of it? About Hunter.” About me.

“My career would be over.”

I couldn’t deny that was a likely outcome. “If you keep on this path, the persona becomes the rest of your life. You’re city council now, and you’re already hiding something big. State senate is only a step or two from DC. Any secrets you have at that point, will have to be buried so deep they’ll devour you.”

More silence.

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