Page 72 of Saving Ren

He turns and heads out the door.

“I can’t leave the house. I still have a black eye,” I call out, acutely aware of how whiney I sound.

“You’re full of shit, you can barely even notice the bruising, and anyway, I don’t give a fuck. You’re not hiding in here any longer. You need something nice to wear on our date. Get dressed.”

I throw myself down on the bed, really not wanting or feeling ready to go out and face the world but still grinning at the fact every inch of my skin is tingling, feeling more alive than I have in a very long time.

* * *

After pilingmy hair up in the tidiest, messy bun I can, I pull on the leggings and hoodie Jo brought for me. The only shoes I have here are my UGGs, so I have no choice but to pair my outfit with them. Thankfully, she also bought me a BB cream and brush to apply it, and I use this to help cover the yellowing around my eye.

When I pick my phone up from where I left it on the chest of drawers beside the bed last night, I notice it says ‘No Service’ at the top of the screen. Making my way out to the kitchen, I call Gabe’s number, only to hear a ‘your call cannot be connected’ recording.

I’d been expecting this. My phone is under contract through Jay's business, and I knew he’d have it disconnected at some stage, but it still hits me.

I move from the kitchen out to the deck and look down on Gabe as he stands outside talking to the pool bloke while again contemplating what the actual fuck I’m doing with my life.

It’s only a phone, but it’s something else Jay has taken from me. Something else I’m now going to have to rely on someone else to sort out for me.

Drawing in deep breaths through my nose, I attempt not to feel overwhelmed with the anger, frustration, and hopelessness I’m feeling at having literally nothing to my name.

And then my eyes land on Gabe. Face tilted to me, he gives me the five-minute sign, smiles, and winks. And fuck it all to kingdom come. I have no clue what the actual fuck I’m doing with my life. I’m angry, frustrated, and literally have just a pair of UGGs and the clothes Jo bought me to my name, but I have him.

I have no idea how this will play out, how it’s going to go, where it will lead me or leave me, but for right now, it’s right here, with him. It’s crazy, insane, ridiculous, and however many other synonyms there are out there to describe how potentially fucked up our relationship is, but he’s into me, I’m into him, so I’m going to try very hard to let go of at least some of my insecurities and give this relationship a chance.

“You ready, babe?”

I jump at the sound of Gabe’s voice behind me. Lost inside my own head, I hadn’t even realised he’d left Jimmy downstairs sorting out the pool while he’d come up, changed into jeans and a hoodie, and was now looking good to go—exceptionally good!

“He’s had my phone cut off,” I blurt.

Straightening the hood at the back of his neck, Gabe steps out onto the deck towards me.

“Jay? You on his contract?”

I nod.

“Fuck him, I’ll get you added to mine,” he says with a shrug. “You ready to go?”

And that’s it. Without missing a beat, the problem’s solved. After only a month of knowing me, just like that, he’s willing to add me to his phone plan.

“You’d do that?” I question as I move towards him.

“You need a phone. Of course I’ll do that.” He shrugs again, brows pulled down into a frown, totally not getting what this means to me.

When I get to where he’s standing, I stand up on my tiptoes, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him gently on the mouth.

“Thank you,” I tell him. “I promise as soon as I get myself straight. . .”

He starts shaking his head.

“Ren, let’s just go get you a phone, some clothes, some groceries, and whatever the fuck else we need and worry about payback later.”

His dark blue eyes dance across my face for a few moments before meeting mine. He’s probably expecting an argument. Instead, I nod.

“Okay,” I tell him quietly.

Chapter 21