Page 20 of Nevermore (A Cruel Love #1)

EIGHTEEN

SANTIAGO

It’s with a steadying breath and a nervous gut that I knock on the door.

My days of lowkey stalking Reign are over.

My intention was to wait for him to come to me—to feel like I had some semblance of control—but the urge to see him is too strong.

Fuck me, it’s only been a few days. Long torturous days where I could have been in his presence trying to figure out why he attracts me so much, while instead I’ve been quietly stewing.

It takes a minute but Reign appears on the other side. When he sees it’s me, he goes to shut it, but I jam my foot between us to keep it open. He doesn’t look angry but almost resigned as he sighs. “I can’t do this right now, Santiago.”

I gulp, unsure of what to say, because I didn’t think that far ahead. It’s strange because I always have a game plan. Apparently, when it comes to Reign, I’m just winging it. “Can we talk?”

He nibbles on his bottom lip and his hesitation sets me on edge.

He nods after a minute and lets me in. His room smells like cleaning products and everything is set on the floor in a messy pile.

He removes the kitchen gloves he was wearing and sets them on the edge of his desk.

“Okay. What did you want to talk about?”

Unable to help myself, I pick up his shoes and head to the closet. “The other night,” I begin, setting his shoes on the rack. “I’m sorry I did that.”

“Really?” he asks and the disbelief in his voice is evident. “You didn’t seem sorry when you taunted me about it.”

I shake my head and move towards the pile of clothes on the floor. “Well, I apologize for that. I wasn’t thinking when I…”

“Kissed me,” he finishes when I hesitate. “Why did you do it?”

I grunt as I start folding his shirts. There’s turmoil brewing in my stomach because I don’t know whether I want to be honest. I’m so used to hiding what I really feel to a point where I don’t even recognize it as real at all. Reign somehow has the power to make me want to be honest.

It’s disgusting.

“I wanted to,” I painfully admit. “Because I saw you and I wanted to push to see what would make you snap.”

He snorts. “Called it.”

I raise a brow. “Excuse me?”

“Despite what you think, I ain’t an idiot.” He stands, walking to me, and snatching a shirt out of my hand. “I’m kinda really smart.”

“Explain yourself.”

“Kinda like… freaky smart,” he continues with a faint blush on his cheeks. “I—um—have an eidetic memory.”

I know my father mentioned when Reign first got here that he was smart. I didn’t give it much thought because colleges love charity cases and how good could the education at his old school have really been? However, this is another level of intelligence I wasn’t expecting. “I… That’s impressive.”

He shrugs. “Nah, it’s nothin’.”

“Do you know how much you could do with that?” I ask and I realize I haven’t asked this next question. “Why aren’t you going to college?”

He furrows his brows. “You know that?” When I nod, he shrugs as he folds his shirt and puts it in the dresser. “Because I don’t wanna.”

“That’s idiotic,” I state. “With a memory like that, you could do anything. People would give an arm and a limb for that kind of talent.”

“Well, it’s not what I want,” he says rather defiantly. “Just want a normal life. Good payin’ job.”

I can’t say I relate to that. College has always been the path. There was never any other possibility. I do have more respect for Reign at sticking to what he wants, regardless of what I or others may think. “Okay.”

“I’m guessin’ you’re goin’?” he asks, peeking up at me cautiously, almost as if he’s afraid to ask the question.

I nod. “Of course.”

“To do what?”

“To—” But I stop even though I have an answer.

I’m going to attend Everton University—the most premier school—and become someone that could run my father’s pharmaceutical company.

It’s been set in stone since I could walk.

There was never a question about it. I may not particularly love the work, but it’s still in my blood.

I’m cold-hearted and clever enough to be excellent.

Still, I hesitate, and I’m not too sure why.

It’s almost as if Reign can sense what’s going on in my head because he sighs. “Yeah, I get it.”

“How could you possibly?” I snap, losing myself just a bit. “You have no idea what I think or want.”

To my temper, he doesn’t back down. When I first met him, he would have, but he’s revealed more of his hidden self.

He raises his chin and pulls his shoulders back before answering, “Because you’ve been a stubborn dickhead who hasn’t let me in.

If you could take one fuckin’ second and let me get to know you, this summer will go by fast.”

I open my mouth for some snarky retort, but I don’t have one. I wrote Reign off quickly, that’s a fact, and I’ve been called out for it.

What’s the worst that can happen if I hung out with him? If I get to know him as a person? It’s not like we’re going to be friends but at least we can be cordial and able to be in the same room without the lingering tension that’s been driving me mad. “Okay. What do you want to know?”

His eyes widen in shock, apparently not expecting that answer. He drops the shirt he was folding and gulps, that pathetic little puppy act coming back. “Not here.” He looks down at his shoes, and when his gaze meets mine again, there’s red creeping up his neck. “Can I take you somewhere?”

I cock my head, curious about him and what he wants. I relent, however, because now I’m committed to getting to know more. So, I nod. “Yes.”

“But we can’t take any of your fancy cars. We’ll stick out like sore thumbs. We’ll take Mama’s truck.”

“Where exactly are you taking me?” I question.

To this, he smiles—a real smile—and shrugs. “Guess you just have to trust me.”

And the scary part is that he could potentially be someone I do trust.