Page 48 of Burning Daylight

“It’s worked out for us so far.”

She nods. “All right.”

“And if it happens, I promise I won’t try to fuck you again,” I lie.

A smile breaks across her face, and my heart trips at the sight. “Pretty sureIwas the one trying to fuckyou.”

“You’re hot when you talk dirty.”

She rolls her eyes like I’m being ridiculous, but I know we both feel it. This ache of whatever it is we’re not saying right now.

Something that feels a hell of a lot like goodbye.

“Well,” she says, resting her hands on her hips and rocking back on her heels. “See ya if I see ya, I guess.”

My stomach tugs forward like it’s attached to her by a string.

“Ryder,” I whisper.

My heart slams against my chest, annoyed because I want to tell her myrealname but I gave her this one instead.

“What’s that?” Her head tilts.

“My name’s Ryder.”

A myriad of emotions crosses her face before it’s wiped blank, and she smiles.

“Ryder,” she repeats.

I hate how good it sounds rolling off her tongue, and I hate knowing that Roman would sound even better. She slips her hands in her back pockets, and I wait for her to return the favor. For her to confirm what I already know. That she’s Juliette Calloway.

But she doesn’t.

She just bites the corner of her lip and says, “Well…it would have been nice getting to know you, Ryder.”

She turns around, and walks away.

Again.

Like she’s always doing when it comes to me.

12

ROMAN

“Consorting with the enemy?” my mother snipes when I get back inside.

She’s lounging on my couch, all the tears from earlier magically disappeared.

I shoot her a look and drop onto the other end, sighing as the cushions absorb my weight. “What are you talking about?”

Ma just got here, and already she’s made me feel spread too thin.

“You know what I’m talking about.” She waves toward the door with a flick of her wrist. “What’s your plan there?”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” I bite out, irritation sticking to my insides like tacky glue.

She doesn’t back down though, because of course she doesn’t.