Page 146 of Devious Lies (Cruel Crown)
Nash eyed my lips, watching them form and pocket the words.
“I’m driving you home.” He nodded in the direction of the parking garage. That would go horribly when he realized I didn’t have a home. “Before you waste our time arguing, it’s non-negotiable. It’s late, dark, and cold enough that I see your nipples every time we pass a streetlamp. I know you don’t have a death wish, so your stubbornness will only come off as stupidity.”
Ignoring all but his first sentence, I backed away, inch by inch. “I’m good.” My shoulder lifted. “Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do, Nash,” I taunted, a little pissed that he never told me the word.
“Emery.”
“Stop saying my name like it’s a demand.”
“Emery.”
My eyes dipped to the penance tattoo I wanted to taste. I allowed myself two seconds to study it, turned, and walked away.
I pivoted when I remembered how persistent he could be. Better to let him scheme where I could see him. He already had his phone pulled out when he glanced up at me, like he’d known I would return.
Dick.
He'd already opened the Uber app. “Where do you live?”
Shit. Shit. Shit. What do I do?
I kept my mouth shut and held my hand out. As soon as his phone touched my fingers, I moved the dot on the app to a random residential neighborhood close by. Giving him my back, I leaned against the hotel, tapped my fingers on the glass, and stared at the sky.
I’m starting to think Nash isn’t the villain, Starless Sky. Maybe you are.
Nash held out his palm. “My phone.”
Oh.
I glanced down at it, my eyes pausing on the Eastridge United app before I returned it to him. Of course, he had the app. He owned it. But did he have a pen pal? He didn’t seem like the type.
Then again, if I used it for phone sex, maybe he did, too.
That, I could see him doing.
Jealousy coiled around my throat. I pulled at the collar of my tee, forgetting the huge rip as I flashed Nash with some serious skin.
Ignoring him, I tipped my head at the sky.
Shut up, dude. Even the moon is jealous of the stars. And you, Starless Sky, have no stars. I bet that makes you jealous of everyone.
When I lowered my head, Nash still studied me, so I watched him back, daring him to break the silence. Secretly thrilled at the feeling of his eyes on me.
I had no intention of kissing Nash tonight, but if I had to explain it, I’d chalk it up to the look in his eyes when he told me about the starless night in Singapore.
Nash reminded me of a favorite song. One you play so often you think you can't stand anymore. But in the silence, when the world is quiet and your brain is pliant, the chords repeat in your mind, and you remember it’s your favorite melody.
I broke first, dipping my eyes until he followed suit, much slower than I had. We stood a foot apart, neither of us talking as we stared at our phones. He was probably playing Candy Crush, but I opened the Eastridge United app to check if Ben was on. I squashed a smile at the sight of the green dot.
Durga: How was your night?
Benkinersophobia: Satisfying. Until it wasn’t. Yours?
Durga: Satisfying. Until it wasn’t.
Flicking a glance at Nash, I angled my screen away from him. I didn’t need the headache of him catching me on his app and accusing me of whatever shitty things he thought I’d done. Cryptic comments my pride didn’t allow me to ask about.
Durga: Tell me something ugly.
