Page 57 of Ruin

Do you need me to call?

No, I’m okay. If I need a bailout,

I’ll text you.

Not too late, bitch! I’m trying

to fuck this guy and I don’t

want to have to stop to bail

out your ass.

I send her back a laughing emoji as she sends me a selfie of her and a guy I’ve never met.

Antonio watches me suspiciously. “Everything okay?”

I shoot him a wry look. So far, so good, since Tommy hasn’t stormed in yet and burned the place down.

“It’s Lexi. New man. Seems like it’s going well, but she’s texting me, so who knows.” I show him her selfie.

Antonio scoffs. “It’s always new man drama with her.”

“You would know,” I snipe, but I’m smiling and he groans with a sheepish grin.

My phone buzzes a couple of times and then rings. It’s Tommy, and I move the phone before Antonio can see.

“It’s Lexi. Do you mind if I take this? If she’s on a date and things are going bad…”

He watches me for a moment before he responds. “This isn’t a ploy to end our date, is it? You’re not going to come back in 30 seconds and tell me that your grandmother died and you have to go home?”

I laugh. “It’s not a date, Antonio, and I promise you that’s not what’s happening; this is not a bailout phone call.” It willbe later, but I’ll deal with that then. My phone stops ringing then immediately starts up again. I raise my eyebrows at him. “It’s okay?”

He heaves a sigh. “I’ll order for you.”

I mouth ‘thank you’ as I slide out of my chair and answer the phone. “Hello?”

“You asked his permission to take my call.”

Tommy’s voice is flat and dangerous, and my heart simultaneously soars and thumps with rage.

“I’m trying to be polite, which is something you know nothing about.” I scan the restaurant but don’t see him.

“I’m done playing games with you. Come out to the parking lot and talk to me, or I’m coming in.”

Fury floods through me. “Are you fucking kidding me, Tommy?” I hiss. “You ghost me for two days then have the balls to order me around? This is just a dinner, nothing more. I have an actual purpose for being here.”

“Giovanna, I saw him touch you. I will fucking kill him if you make me come in there.”

He hangs up, and I keep the phone next to my ear like I’m still on the call. I don’t want Tommy in here, and I don’t want Antonio following me outside, but when I glance at the table, the waitress is blocking me from Antonio’s view. I take the opportunity and slip out the front door.

Outside, the air hits me cold and sharp, rain pricking my cheeks. I spot him, a shadow at the far end of the building where the alley catches the streetlight. He’s in a hoodie and jeans, glaring at me.

He disappears into the alleyway, and I follow, my boots crunching on the gravel, my hand like a visor over my eyes to stop my makeup from running.

When I get around the corner, Tommy is standing at the far end of the building, as far away from me as he can get. I stomp toward him, and he backs up a few steps. I stop, confused and angry.

“What the fuck, Tommy? You couldn’t just text me back?” I spit out the second I reach him. My heart is jack hammering in my chest, and there’s a metallic taste in my mouth.