Page 48 of Scrap Metal & Love Reforged

My phone beeped. “You’re awake,”Alex replied.

I snorted. “That’s because I’m a vampire,”I replied. “I don’t sleep.”

“Yeah, vampires sleep, just not now. Bela Lugosi you ain’t.”

I wondered if Troy was asleep right now. He probably was, considering he had to get up at eight and go to work. Troy slept so soundly. I remembered the few times I’d stolen glances at him, while getting up for midnight snacks or trips to the bathroom. Troy threw himself full-heartedly into sleeping, likesome sort of massive, hibernating bear. His snoring rattled the walls, so loud that that first night I genuinely had beenbaffledby how loud it was. And he sprawled across that queen-sized bed in my guestroom, sheets and comforter thrown every which way.

“I always thought there was something a little odd about you,”Alex replied. “Is that how you got your fortune? Seducing people out of their wealth throughout the centuries? That’s how Brandon says you did it.”

I was tempted to send him back a string of indecipherable emojis. Or just poop emojis. Alex had taken too well to college, and all his texts looked like he was trying to type out an English lit paper. Which was pretty bizarre, actually. He hadn’t even majored in English, and I wasn't sure he liked the subject at all.

“Yeah. That’s how.”

I sent the reply, grateful that Alex had chosen to text rather than call. I grabbed a bag of Dorito’s and crashed on the sofa with them. If I texted, I could pretend that I wassomesmall semblance of “okay”, even if I didn’t really have my act together.

“It’s going to be okay, though,”Alex replied.

It really wasn’t, but I appreciated his optimism.

“What are you AND Brandon doing up?”I asked, trying to distract him.

Or distract me. One of the two.

“Rewriting a script,”Alex replied. “New movie. You want in?”

I chewed a mouthful of Dorito’s, debating the suggestion. Ihadwanted to be in something, hadn’t I? Before I blew everything up with Troy. And now, I just…wanted him. I hadn’t even really had that much time to get used to his bright presence in my apartment before he’d left again.

I should’ve told him everything before I’d even invited him to live with me. I should’ve been honest and upfront. And there really was no denying anything anymore. My problem was that I thought I could wave my money around and fix everything withit, and now, Troy had told me that doesn’t work. Alex had hinted at it, too.

“But I can’t just mope around and have a pity party forever,” I muttered.

I didn’t really deserve one either.

“Yeah, I’m in,”I said.

I rolled up the bag of Dorito’s and strategically put them on the table beside my chair, pressing them against the chair arm to keep them closed. This wasn’t like me. After break-ups, I usually went out right away. I’d go to a bar and try to forget everything. But I felt like I was not forgetting Troy any time soon.

“I have to fix this,” I declared to my empty apartment.

Alex was well-meaning, but he was wrong. I wasn’t going to be able to solve this mess with Troy by keeping my distance. But my first instinct, which was to jump right in his face and try to fix all his problems, was wrong, too. There had to be some middle ground, something between doingnothingand doingeverything.

“Great!”Alex replied.

“Sure,”I said.

What elsecouldI say? I didn’t feel like doing anything, but at the same time, nervous energy kept rushing through me. It was like lightning in my veins.

“But really,”I said, trying to untangle my thoughts,“this isn't about what I want. It’s about what Troy wants—and he wants me to stay away.”

And that wouldn’t be too hard. Sure, it would hurt, but then, I’d hurt Troy. I ran my hands through my hair and glared at my phone, as if that piece of technology were at fault for all of my problems. What was I supposed to do with all these contradictory feelings?

I just needed to focus on what was best for Troy, and that was probably for me to stay away. It was possible. I had a coupleof parts I was waiting for at the shop, but I could find another mechanic. Bluehaven was large enough that I could go about my days without ever crossing paths with Troy again.

I stared at the ceiling, trying to think of one thing I’d done today. Nothing came to mind. The more I thought about Troy, the more confused I became, I was further from an answer now than I had ever been. And it didn’t look like I was going to sort those feelings out anytime soon.

Chapter Nineteen

Troy