Page 54 of Renegade Rift
FORD: Hey. Just checking in….again.
FORD: Are you coming into town for the hearing?
FORD: Juliet needed a place to stay and is going to be living with me for a little bit, so I want to make sure if you’re coming, and need a place to stay, that I’ve vacated her demon cat from the spare bedroom.
FORD: Then again you like pussy, so maybe you guys could be best friends.
FORD: Nothing? Not even an eye roll emoji for my sub par joke?
FORD: Come on Mercer, just answer already.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
JULIET
Paige lets out a long falling whistle as we exit the cab. “Bat boy has good taste.”
“It’s the team building.” I attempt to make it seem less grand than it is, but the Row really is a gorgeous building. The brick is nostalgic with windows that glitter in the setting sun. It gives the feeling of old New York with a hint of modern elegance.
Lodhi squirms in my arms, the traffic and sounds of the city sending him into a state of fight or flight.
“It’s okay, bud,” I croon. “We’re almost there.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to call it home, but I won’t allow myself that luxury. I might have reached a point of trusting Ford, but there’s no way I’m staying here longer than necessary. He’s already done so much for me. And while there is the tiniest part of me that understands why he did it and is amazed by his kindness, a much larger part of me is waiting for him to realize his guilt is as misplaced as my own.
Paige heaves the two boxes that I insisted I move myself from the back of the cab.
“What the hell is in these?” she huffs.
I shrug. “Records.”
Paige rolls her eyes. “You and your records.”
I tried once to explain to her the joy listening to vinyl brought me. The raw sound that warms my soul. The connection to the music that comes with lowering the needle and listening to a whole side uninterrupted. For so long all I’ve had is my music. It was the one thing Tyler never took from me.
The door to the building swings open and Franklin, the doorman, greets us. “Ah, Miss Cruz. We’ve been expecting you. I’m so happy you’ll be staying with us.” He lifts his hand and gestures inside. “Right this way.”
The moment Franklin looks away Paige is wiggling her brows and mouthing “you have a doorman?”
No. Ford has a doorman.
“Thank you, Franklin,” I say, ignoring Paige. The sweet man is one of my favorite parts of visiting the Row. He always has a good story or anecdote to share. “How’s your grandbaby feeling? Better I hope.”
“Oh, she’s much better now that those teeth have come all the way through. Thank you for asking.”
Once we’re inside Franklin takes the boxes from Paige and puts them on a dolly before leading us to the elevator. He joins us and presses the button for the seventeenth floor.
“Wait hold the door!” We hear from across the lobby, and Franklin quickly hits the door open button.
A tall redhead slides in with us, her arms filled with groceries. Out of breath she looks over the top of a stalk of celery. “Thank you so much. I didn’t want to have to wait for the next one holding all this.”
“Well why don’t you put it right on top here,” Franklin offers, gesturing to the dolly. “We’re all heading to the same floor.”
“Oh thank you.” The woman sets the bags down and her eyes immediately lock on us. “You’re new in the building.”
There’s a hint of accusation in her tone that doesn’t sit well with me.
She gives Paige and I a once over and narrows her eyes to slits. “Are you dating or fucking one of the players?”
