Page 35 of Ringer's Freedom

“Easy for you to say! Your body must not hate you. Mine doesn't let me know I’ve had enough until I’ve passed the point of no return.”

Ryan laughs at me as he transfers beers from a crate into the ice chest below the bar. “So Ringer, huh?”

I roll my eyes. “That ship sailed when I turned 15 and he went to prison, Ryan.”

“Mhm, sure looks like it.” He nods over to Ringer, who is staring at me from across the club while Ghost talks to him, swinging his arms and gesturing, obviously oblivious that Ringer’s attention is elsewhere.

I spend the next hour chatting with Ryan while I wait for Ringer to be ready. We talk about Pebbles and how neither one of us really knows what to do to help her in any way.

After an enjoyable afternoon at The Castle, Ringer drops me off at my house with the promise of picking me back up in the morning to take me to the bakery.

“I get there at four a.m.”

“Jesus, why so early?”

“Baker’s hours,” I shrug.

“I’ll be here.”

“Mhm. We’ll see.”

I kick my leg over and climb off the bike. Just as I’m situating my bag back over my shoulder, Ringer’s rough hand catches my wrist.

“I’ll be here, Princess.”

I nod. Biting my lip, I search his face. If I leaned over just slightly, our lips would meet.

Ringer takes matters into his own hands, hauling me by the wrist and holding me flush against his body. His free hand wraps around my cheek and he pulls me to him.

The air leaves my lungs as his lips crash against mine. I’ve had dreams about doing this since I was twelve. Dreams have absolutelynothingon the reality of it. His lips against mine have nervousness in the best way floating through my subconscious. Every memory and fantasy involving Ringer is cheering in the background as his plump lips move against mine.

I’ve been in denial the last few days thinking that whatever I felt at 15 was in the past.

Before I can register what’s happening, Ringer pulls back. I pry my eyes open, and they land on his, which are glazed over in pleasure.

He clears his throat and grins. “I’m going to stop this now, before Reaper shoots me for defiling his daughter in his driveway.”

I let out a laugh and take a small step back, pulling my lips in to savor the tingle his kiss left in their wake.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” he says, starting his bike.

I wave behind him as he backs out of the driveway.

Once I can no longer see him, I take off running to my apartment. His kiss has me as giddy as a teenager, and 13 year-old me is doing cartwheels as she giggles in my head.

I plug my phone in, willing it to turn on faster. As soon as the screen lights up, I slide the screen open and my fingers fly across the screen searching for Sparrow’s name. Slowing my breath, I calm my excited nerves just enough for my shaking thumb to find Sparrow on Facetime and call.

six

Lilah

“God damnit, Sparrow! Answer your phone!”I grumble to the empty living room.

The dial tone echoes in the quiet space and I almost faint when her gorgeous face appears on the screen.

“Ahh!” I squeal louder than a thousand girls at a boy band concert.

I watch Sparrow on my screen and crack up as she whips her head back from the assault of my scream. “Holy fuck! What’s wrong?”

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