Page 19 of Love From the Ashes

I obeyed without saying a word, my mind replaying his answer. It wasn’t what I expected him to say, and I wondered if he was playing a game with me. Shoving that thought aside, I peeked at him as we walked down the sidewalk, intrigued to see him in casual clothes rather than a business suit.

“I can see you looking at me. Is there something wrong?”

“No, I’ve only seen you in a suit, and your jeans are…well, they’re nice. I mean, you look nice.” I could feel my cheeks burning as I thought about what I secretly meant. His jeans fit him nicely and showed off a sexy-looking butt, not to mention his drool-worthy package upfront.

“I’m glad you like my jeans.” Reid gave me an amused look, making me believe he knew perfectly well where my eyes were going.

I could feel my cheeks burning once again.

“Here’s my car.” Reid opened the passenger door and waited for me to get in the car.

“You’re driving? Where’s Lawrence?”

“I do know how to drive, you know. I don’t always use Lawrence’s services.”

“That’s good to know. Now I feel safer,” I teased.

“Good. I wouldn’t want you to be worried,” Reid teased back.

I got in the car, and Reid pulled away from the curb a minute later. We were near my apartment building when a thought occurred to me. I turned to look at Reid.

“Why were you at Adam’s apartment building?”

“Do you care?”

“Of course not. It doesn’t matter to me why you were there.” I shrugged and stared out the window, pretending not to care. But I did care, and I wasn’t sure why.

Reid suddenly broke the silence that had developed between us. “I was out with a friend last night, and he left his cell phone in my car. He lives in that apartment building, and I had just dropped the phone off to him when I ran into you in the elevator. Are you satisfied?”

“As I said, it doesn’t matter to me.” I kept staring out the window, not bothering to turn around. I could feel Reid watching me.

Reid turned onto my street and slowed down. “Where can I park so I can walk you to your apartment?”

“You can pull up in front and let me out.”

“I should park and walk you up, especially since you still don’t look so great, and I’d venture to guess you don’t feel great either.”

“Honestly, I’ll be fine. I want to take some ibuprofen and lie down. I don’t need an escort to take me to my door.”

“Have it your way.” Reid stopped the car in the street and waited for me to get out.

“Thanks for the ride.” I closed his door and hurried to my building’s entrance. After entering the security code and going inside, I turned around and looked out the glass door. Reid was still there, waiting to leave until I was safely in the lobby. I waved at him, and he waved back, and then he took off down the street, my negative thoughts about him reduced by another notch.

CHAPTER 8

To Trust Or Lie

Della and Adammarched toward my table in the courtyard while I finished my peanut butter and blackberry jam sandwich. They stood on each side of me as if to block my path, appearing worried I’d try to run off. I frowned, preferring to be left alone.

“Don’t you dare get up and leave,” Della scolded. “You’ve avoided me all morning, and there’s no reason for it. If you’re embarrassed by what happened at Adam’s apartment Friday night, stop it. Everyone has skeletons in their closet.”

“Some just have thicker bones than the others,” Adam said, chiming into the conversation.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Della turned and made a face at Adam before pulling out the chair across from me and taking a seat.

“Sorry, I was trying to make a joke. Thicker bones, more colorful stories…never mind. You don’t get where I was going with it.” Adam shrugged a shoulder and sat next to me.

“We’re friends, Sofie. You don’t need to hide because we heard something,” Della said.

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