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“And how do you think you’re going to prevent it?” I ask.
She takes a breath, preparing to respond, but then thinks about the question. And frowns when she realizes she doesn’t have an answer.
Exactly. She can’t physically throw me out. She can’t change the locks. I’ll pick them. She won’t call the cops on me. I’d find a way around that anyway. And she cannot emotionally manipulate me. I’m too stubborn, and being there to protect her is more important than her feelings about it.
I give her a slow smile. “I will stalk you. I’ll break into your house in the middle of the night. I’ll follow you everywhere you go. Just try to get rid of me, Gem.”
I see the quick breath she takes at my use of the nickname. It comes out so easily when we’re alone.
Then she crosses her arms and presses her lips together as she studies me.
Her phone starts ringing before she decides on what to say. Which is probably for the best. For both of us.
She pulls it from her back pocket. Neither of us ever lets calls go without at least checking who’s calling.
She frowns. “It’s April.” She lifts the phone to her ear. “Hey,” she greets. Then her eyes widen and she starts toward the back room. “We’ll be right there. Don’t open the door and donotgo outside.”
I don’t know what’s going on exactly, but I hear the change in Ruby’s voice, and I immediately prepare to leave the bar. I shut the lights off, make sure everything important is shut off behind the bar, and meet Ruby at the front door, my keys in my hand.
“Chris is at my house. He’s banging on the front door and yelling.” She’s got her bag and her keys in hand as well.
I push the door open and she steps outside. “Should I call the cops?” she asks.
“No need. They won’t get there before I do,” I tell her. I start toward the car I rented.
I turn back when I realize she stopped walking.
“Is that aPorsche?” she asks.
I grin. “They didn’t have any Jaguars for rent.” I’m going to be buying something soon since we’re going to be here long-term now, but I needed a car tonight.
“You rented a regular car last time,” she says, staring at the silver beauty.
“We were hiding out last time. Trying to stay under the radar.” We’ve been doing that for years. I’m anticipating not needing to do that anymore.
Her eyes finally come to my face. “And that’s over now?”
I shrug. “Everyone knows who we are now. I might as well like the car I’m driving.”
She opens her mouth to reply, then shuts it and shakes her head. “Right. Of course.” She starts for her blue Honda Accord, muttering something I can’t hear.
“Hey,” I call after her.
“What?”
“Wait a few minutes before following me. I want to get there well ahead of you.”
“But…why?”
“I need to deal with Chris.”
“And you don’t want a witness?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t want you getting in the middle of it.”
“You think I’ll try to defend Chris?” she asks.
“I don’t want to risk him trying to grab you or something,” I tell her. “Just hang back.”