Page 68 of Come Take Me Now

Appa nods. “Yeah.”

“Well, what about it?” I ask as she snaps the lid of her bronzer shut.

“He didn’t ask me out or anything. He showed up at my house. That’s putting it lightly. He waited for a sign I wanted him too. Once he got it, he ran with it.”

“You’re being so vague.”

Appa giggles. “Intentionally vague. Basically, he broke into my house. A few times.” She’s still laughing, but my jaw hangs open.

“Wasn’t that scary?”

“Oh, absolutely fucking terrifying. He hacked everything to get in. My security, my power, all of it.”

I blink at her. “Wait, what?”

“I know it sounds insane, but when I found out who he was, we were completely inseparable,” she says.

“What did he do when he broke in?”

Appa blushes and looks away. “We’d, uh, hook up.”

“You had sex with a strange man who broke into your house?”

“Watch who you’re judging, girl. You’re dating a man a decade older than you and not using birth control unless something changed.”

My cheeks burn, but she’s right. “Point taken. We listen, and we don’t judge. But why are you telling me this?”

Appa shrugs. “I don’t know. I thought you were a little spooked about Enzo, and I guess I’m trying to make you feel better. You guys have had a pretty normal relationship on paper.”

“Yeah, on paper…” I trail off. I know she means well, but helping a grown man through drug reliance after only a couple of weeks of dating isn’t remotely normal. Not when he makes everyone in his world believe he has his shit together.

She shimmies a smaller brush over my nose and the high points of my cheeks with highlighter. “Enzo has a lot of demons neither of us knows about. A guy like him doesn’t look that way for no reason.” Yet I know why. “I guess my point is if you can survive his darkness, he’ll bring heaven to you.” Goosebumps rise on my arms.

“He can’t be simple, can he?”

Appa lightly shakes her head. “Nope, he’s…difficult.”

“I guess we’ve been mild compared to you and Robby.” The back of my neck and my shoulders burn at the lies I’m keeping for him. Appa is one of the closest people to him, yet he’ll never tell her. I know she’d be supportive if he ever did.

“God, I would hope so! Anyway, you’re done!” I snap out of it as she lets me look at my makeup in the mirror, and I barely recognize the girl looking back at me.

“Thank you. I love it,” I say.

“You’re welcome!”

“I never wear makeup,” I add. “Or have had any female friends.”

Appa frowns. “Well, you have Adri and me now. She told me she’s planning on showing you all the spots in San Diego.” I glance down at my hands, folded in my lap. Hanging out with Adri in San Diego is just going to remind me of Enzo. Appa glances at her phone, and her eyes widen. “Shit! We’re running late.” Appa slips on her platform heels, and I’m still taller than her in flat sandals. “God, I’m so vertically challenged! You and Enzo will have giant children someday,” she adds with a laugh.

My stomach turns sour. We’re still not using any protection, but I crave for him to finish inside me. I stop that thought there because, frankly, I’m about to go hang out with his cousins and don’t need to be riled.

We head downstairs where Robby is holding Luca and simultaneously keeping Ember entertained. He looks up and grins widely at us. “You both look gorgeous. Have fun.” Appa walks over to him and gives him a quick kiss.

“Thanks. Don’t wait up,” she replies.

How was this guy with a burp cloth on his shoulder ever able to repeatedly commit a felony?

Surrounded by people in the same club I went to with Enzo, Adri holds up her mixed drink. “To getting the fuck out of the house!” Adri exclaims.