Page 72 of Played
"I might take you up on that."
"Please do." I reach across the table, lacing my fingers through his. "And Julian? Thank you. For this. For everything."
He brings my hand to his lips, kisses my knuckles. "You're safe with me. I promise."
I want to believe him.
I really, really do.
Julian's kitchen is all sleek lines and dark wood cabinets, the countertops a polished charcoal grey, and there's a small herb garden on the windowsill—basil, rosemary, thyme. It smells like coffee and something faintly citrus, clean and lived-in.
I balance my phone between my ear and shoulder, unpacking a box of my favorite foods and coffee mugs onto the open shelf near the sink.
"So lunch at the pool hall?" Jenna's voice crackles through the speaker. "Just like old times?"
"Except with Julian this time." I nestle my favorite mug—the chipped ceramic one with the cartoon cat—onto the middle shelf. "I want you to meet him. Officially."
"I'm so there. I've been craving those cheeseburgers like crazy. This baby wants red meat and cheese, like, constantly."
I laugh. "When are you free?"
"Thursday? I can drive down after my class."
"Perfect. I'll tell Reeves to—"
A suddenthudagainst the window.
I yelp, my favorite coffee mug slipping from my hand. It hits the tile floor and explodes into jagged pieces, ceramic shards skittering across the kitchen.
My heart hammers. My breath catches.
"Liza? What happened?"
I press a hand to my chest, scanning the window. A small smudge mars the glass—a faint outline. I run to the window to investigate further.
Outside, a bird flutters awkwardly on the ground, then takes off into the trees.
Just a bird.
Poor bird. I hope he’ll be okay.
"Liza?"
"I'm fine." My voice shakes. "A bird flew into the window. Scared the hell out of me."
"Oh my God, are you okay?"
I head back to the kitchen, and crouch down, gathering the broken pieces of my mug with trembling fingers. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I just—" I stop, staring at the shards in my palm. "I overreacted."
"You're on edge. That's normal."
"I hate this." The words come out sharper than I intend. "I hate that he's done this to me. That I jump at every noise. That I just broke my favorite stupid mug."
Jenna's quiet for a beat. "He's messing with your head."
"I know." I toss the pieces into the trash, harder than necessary. "I've never hated anyone like this. Never."
"You have every right to."
