Page 209 of Revv

I lift my head and wait.

Chapter Twenty Two

Cece

The lock turns beneath my hand, and for one stupid second I just stand there with my palm still wrapped around it, heart pounding so hard it feels like my whole body is trying to warn me before I even open the door.

I know who it is.

Of course I fucking know.

Nobody else pounds on my door like they’re trying to fight the damn thing. Nobody else says my name like that either, all rough and desperate and too familiar, like hearing it from him still has the right to do something to me.

Puta madre.

I open the door anyway, and there he is.

Revel, pretty lying boy, St. Clair.

Soaked through, black shirt plastered to his chest, rain running down his jaw and disappearing beneath his collar.

His hair is darker from the water, one cheek already bruising, there’s a split near his mouth, and both of his hands look like hell.

For half a second, every thought in my head disappears.

My stomach drops so hard it almost hurts.

“What the fuck happened to you?”

The words come out before I can stop them, pure instinct, and I hate myself for it immediately because concern flashes across his face like he caught me caring.

Then I remember the empty chair.

The cold food.

Mami trying not to look worried.

Four calls straight to voicemail.

Seven. I’ll be there. I promise.

All that hurt comes rushing back so fast it burns.

I grab the edge of the door and shove it toward him, but his hand catches it.

“Cece.”

“Ay, no. Absolutely fucking not.”

“Mama, just—”

“Do not call me that.” My voice cracks, and that makes me even angrier. I shove harder against the door. “Get your fucking hand off.”

He doesn’t.

He’s not forcing his way toward me, but he’s holding on like letting that door close might be the end of everything.

“Please.”