Page 168 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

“I don’t even know what to say,” I whisper, moving back to the counter.

“Ell made sure it’s the same edition as your old copy. We know it can’t really replace the one you had from high school, but—”

“Oliver. It’s perfect.”

Gently, I take the book out of its box. When Adam destroyed my copy ofA Tale of Two Cities,I was heartbroken. This… this was so thoughtful of them.

“I’m glad you like it,” Oliver says.

“I wish I could kiss you,” I say, hugging the book to my chest. My heart feels so incredibly full.

Is this what it’s like when people love you the way you need to be?

“Soon, princess. When we’re back, you can kiss me as much as you want.” There’s a pause, and I hear one of the other guys say something I can’t make out. Then, “Rhett says we have to share.”

I giggle. “I think we can manage that.”

Oliver can’t stay on the phone, so we reluctantly hang up. I flip through the pages of my book, laughing when I see a note on the front page.

So you don’t forget us.

“As if I ever could,” I murmur.

After setting the book on the counter, I take a shower and then flop onto my bed. The past two weeks have taken their toll on me, and I’m exhausted. I need to eat, but my bed is so damncomfy.So I scroll through all the notifications on my phone, clearing most of them. There are only a couple that catch my eye—a missed call from my mom and two text messages.

Mom:We need to talk.

Mom:I wish you’d stop ignoring me.

I roll my eyes, swiping the notifications away. She still hasn’t apologized for last Tuesday. Not only did she lie and say we’d be meeting for dinner alone, but she broughtThomas.A man she knows I have no desire to ever see again in my life. And it’s not just that he was there, either. It was the whole damn intervention. I just want to live my own life the way I want to—whatever that ends up looking like.

After a couple more minutes in bed, my stomach growls ferociously, so I get up and toss a tank top and shorts on. Then, in the kitchen, I throw my phone onto the counter and start rummaging around for food. My gaze snags on the dishes Oliver took me shopping to get, and I can’t help but smile. It was a sweet gesture.

I wish they were here with me right now.

With a sigh, I open up the fridge. The thought of cooking an entire meal sounds like way too much effort right now, but I really need to. It’ll give me leftovers for the weekend.

Just as I start prepping some food, there’s a knock on my front door. I freeze, a bag of baby carrots dangling from my hand. It’s extremely rare that one of my neighbors needs something.

There’s another knock. “Maintenance,” a male voice calls out.

That’s odd.I always get at least a twenty-four-hour notice if maintenance needs to get into the apartment.

Setting the carrots on the counter, I tiptoe to my door and peer through the peephole. The man is wearing a uniform, and he has one of the carts our maintenance guys use to lug stuff around, but that doesn’t mean shit to me. I’ve read enough action novels to know how easy it is to get your hands on stuff like that.

I grab my phone to text Finn, but before I even have anything typed out, the man says, “It’s an emergency, ma’am. I have a key from the building manager, and he said I have permission to come in if you’re not home.”

My heart skips a beat. The building manager is awoman.

This isn’t good.

The doorknob jiggles, and I hear a key being inserted into the lock.

This is, in fact, very bad.

I give up on texting Finn and hit the call button.

He answers on the first ring. “Wren? Everything okay?”