Page 97 of The Only Thing That's Real
Unable to take the distance between us, I join her on the bed, sliding my fingers through hers. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to protect you.”
She sighs. “I know.”
“Ry, you said once we figure out what this is between us...” I repeat since she ignored my question the firsttime.
She doesn’t reply.
“Do you mean that? Because if you do, let me say it again. You are my everything and I am yours.”
Three not so little words are screaming inside my head, begging to be spoken, but I won’t say them in a moment of desperation. Not during a crisis. I refuse to leave any room for doubt.
“Your life is a lot.”
“It is. But it’s also about to change.”
“You’ll always be you, though. No matter where you go.”
“I will. But before long, I’ll be an afterthought.”
“I need to think.”
“Okay.”
Standing, she closes her suitcase, and I set it on the floor for her. She slings a bag over her shoulder, and I follow her to the door. Smith and now Reeves are waiting for us, ready to take us out the way we came in.
She doesn’t speak on the way to her apartment. Instead, she doom scrolls on her phone, watching the different videos posted by fans. The worst part is she’s reading the comments. I tell her not to, but she ignores me, continuing her downward spiral into social media scrutiny.
When we pull up to her building, there are close to ten paps waiting for her arrival.
Ryan hisses out a curse. “How do they know where I live?”
Smith chimes in from the front seat. “Ma’am, Mr. Braun gave your legal name to the press. He’s already issued a statement.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you in,” I offer.
“No.” She holds her handup in protest. “Please don’t.”
“Whatever you want.” I kiss her forehead. “Reeves will walk you in.”
“Okay.”
“Call me day or night, baby. I’ll answer any questions you have about my life or what’s to come. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here waiting. I’m not going anywhere.”
She nods.
Reeves opens her door with her suitcase in his hand. She slips out without a word.
Smith pulls away from the curb, saying he’ll circle the block while we wait for Reeves. I dial Max Hopper, the owner of Lotus Protection Services, and add two men to my detail. Well, to Ryan’s detail. They need to be out of sight for now, but if Ryan decides she wants them closer, then they will be.
Whatever she wants.
After we pick up Reeves, Smith drives me to my apartment, but it’s swarming with buzzards, also known as the paparazzi. It’s easier to go back to the hotel where security is already in place. I need to talk to the guys, anyway.
On the way back, the hope that had propelled me earlier in the evening is barely holding on by a thread. She’s experiencing the bullshit that comes along with being with me and now she has to decide if I’m worth it, which, of course, I’m not.
I should have known better.
There’s a reason Nietzsche said hope is the worst of all evils. He’s right, it only prolongs a man’s torment.
