Page 85 of Heart Thief

Oh man, I’m sinking fast. In the self-pity pond.

Ryker is silent for far too long.

“Hello?” I say.

He clears his throat. “Listen, the reading of my father’s will is tomorrow morning. Will you go with me?”

Is he serious? “Why would I do that?”

“I would love to have you by my side. I need a friend. That’s all.”

No, he doesn’t. He wants Zane to see us together. He’s so transparent. The twisted competition hasn’t ended.

“And you think I fall into the category of friend?” I curse my trembling voice. It announces I’m on the edge.

No, I’m not on the edge. I’m freefalling toward the ground.

He’s quiet again, this time for several moments. “What’s wrong with you?”

Does Ryker actually have a perceptive bone in his body? Who’d a thought? “Do you really want me to answer that? You would probably regret it.”

“Mila...”

“What?” My tone is challenging.

“Will you go with me or not?”

I bow my head, my thoughts whirling. If I go, I will have a chance to see Zane. Maybe afterward I’ll have the chance to corner him and demand to hear an explanation. I’m torturing myself, but I need to hear Zane’s side of the story from Zane’s lips. I can’t give up on us until that happens. Is Zane the bad guy Debra and Ryker purport him to be? I don’t think he is. I can’t turn tail and run back home to Idaho until I know without a doubt.

The only way to know is to face Zane.

That means I have to take a shower and get dressed, which seems like a lot of effort. I don’t know if I have the energy. It’s something I need to do, though. If I don’t pull myself out of this rut, I might never get out. No one’s going to do it for me. Prince Charming doesn’t exist.

Well, he does, but he’s dealing with settling his father’s estate—and grief. He’s busy. He can’t hop on his white horse and save me.

And maybe, just maybe, he’s filled with regret because he let himself get entwined in sibling rivalry. Maybe he’s filled with guilt and can’t face me.

There goes my imagination again.

“Sure. I’ll go with you.”

“Thanks, Mila. I’ll pick you up at ten-thirty.”

“No, I’ll meet you there. Give me the address.” I jot it down on a soiled napkin and toss it onto the cluttered coffee table. Then we hang up.

I contemplate taking a shower, but a new episode of Judge Judy is on. And the couch is really comfortable. And getting up is so hard. My body feels like it weighs a ton.

I might not ever get up again. I have no reason to, anyway. Other than tomorrow morning, that is. If I decide to show. Why should I go after Zane? Shouldn’t he come after me?

Yes. Yes, he should.

chapter thirty-one

~

THIRTY MINUTES LATER, there’s banging on my front door. I curl up tighter, pull my blanket over my head, and ignore it. I don’t feel like getting up or seeing anyone or talking to anyone. I only want to wallow in the dark world of nothing.

“Mila, I know you’re in there. Open the door.”

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