Page 76 of Bound By Fire
“You lied? You? You never lie about anything.”
I shrug. “I didn’t want him in my space. I thought he was exaggerating. I’ve lived in my apartment since arriving on the island. It’s been perfectly fine all of these years.”
“There’s more to this story, I can tell.” She keeps all her attention on me.
“Anyway. Last night, in the early hours, I woke up because there was someone on my balcony.”
“What?”
“Yep, they were trying to get the sliding door open. I heard scratching noises.”
“No way!” Carla’s eyes go wide again. “Maybe you were hearing things.”
“I saw them out there. Just an outline of a dark silhouette, but definitely someone crouching at my sliding door. I crappedmyself and shouted at them. Then I locked myself in the bathroom, and I called Ridge.”
“Oh, my god.”
“I didn’t know what else to do. He was there in five minutes. The guy ran off, I think, when I shouted at him through the door. Ridge slept on my sofa. He’s at my apartment now, with his team, upgrading everything.”
“That’s terrible.” She covers her mouth with her hand.
“I know.”
“You are okay, though?”
“I’m okay.”
“Do they know who it was?”
“No. Not yet.” I shake my head.
“So you had Commander Ridge sleep over at your place. There are worse things. You should have invited him to cuddle in your bed with you.”
“Carla, I was hiding in my bathroom with a kitchen knife. Trust me when I tell you that getting down and dirty with Ridge was the very last thing on my mind,” I snap.
Carla’s smile drops. She lifts her hands, palms out.
“Sorry. I’m sorry. That was a stupid thing to say.”
It wasn’t stupid at all. She’s right. I hate that she’s right. I’m terrible for snapping at her.
“No, I’m sorry. That came out wrong. You were just trying to lighten things up.”
“I wasn’t thinking. I was being flippant about something that is terrifying. I cannot even imagine how scared you must have been. To wake up to that.”
“It was awful.” I exhale.
Carla comes around my desk. She leans in and hugs me. “You should have told me earlier.”
“I thought I was fine,” I say into her hair.
She pulls away. “Next time, you tell me as soon as you come in. I’m here for you.”
She starts to walk back.
“I know and I will. I?—”
The door opens, and Ridge fills the frame. He looks too good for someone who slept on a sofa for half the night. He must have gone back home after leaving my apartment because he’s in another suit. This one is dark gray and looks just as good on him.
