Page 8 of Ruled Out

“She’s, um … she’s in town. She left her position at the Destroyers and enrolled at Washington University.”

I nearly fall through the fucking floor.

Instead, I force myself to stand and stare right through him. “Here?”

He nods. “Yep. She’s been here for the past few months.”

I fight with every ounce of willpower not to smile. The truth is, this is both the best and worst news I could have gotten. Two thousand miles apart is easier to manage, but in the same city …

How the fuck am I supposed to stay away from the only woman I’ve ever wanted—who, years later, I still want more than anything else in the world?

CHAPTER FOUR

JESSIE

I’ve been sitting on my couch in my three-bedroom apartment downtown, staring at my cell phone for so long that my ass is imprinted on the cushion.

I don’t have Mia’s number saved on my phone anymore, and after she tried to contact me in Whistler, I threw my old one out and got a new one. It was the only way I knew I wouldn’t break and reply to her messages.

But here I am, scrolling through her social media profiles. I unblocked them the second I got home.

She reallyisin Seattle.

I scroll further and stop on an image that makes my stomach roll—Mia standing next to the Space Needle with some dude’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. He’s tall, dark, and even I can tell he’s good-looking.

What the fuck?

This was taken back in October.

Is that what she came to tell me? That she’s here in town but seeing someone else?

Or is she just fucking him?

Shit, that is what she came to tell me.

The image in my hand disappears and is replaced by my mom’s name lighting up my screen.

“Hey,” I answer, clearing my throat.

“Jessie, is that you?”

“Yeah, Mom. It’s me. You okay?”

She blows a long breath down the phone, and I can tell she’s drunk. Worse than drunk—annihilated. Pure desperation engulfs me as I listen to her unsteady voice.

“Mom?” I repeat.

“I’m here, baby.”

“Where’s Dad?”

“I … I don’t know. He left and hasn’t come home.” Her voice fades out, almost like she’s looking around the room for him.

“When did he leave?”

“I … I don’t know. Yesterday, I think.”

“Have you had anything to eat?”