Page 121 of The Rut in the Road

“Give me a second, Hart,” Raj said, then turned to me.

Hart looked like he wanted to say something, but then didn’t. The bell jingled as he left through the front door, headed to the Charger I could see parked down a few spaces on the curb.

I looked back at Raj expectantly.

He walked up to me, reaching out and brushing my too-long hair out of my eyes, then running his fingers around my jaw. “How are you?” he asked softly. “Did you manage to catch up on your sleep?” He glanced down at the cast on my arm that would be there for another seven to eleven weeks. “How’s your arm?”

“I’m okay,” I replied. It was more or less true. “I—I’m still tired, but better.” I wasn’t completely exhausted, the way I’d been when he’d last seen me, but I wasn’t sleeping all that well, either. “And it hurts, but not as bad as this summer.” I looked up at him. “Are you okay?”

His forehead was creased in a frown. “I—I’m worried about you,” he replied.

I sighed. “I’m fine,” I replied. “Or I will be, once I can get a full night’s sleep.”

“What’s stopping you?” he asked. “I thought you were done with the late-night gigs?”

I shot him a look that I hoped communicated how stupid of a question that was. “Nightmares,” I replied shortly.

He swallowed. “Because of the case?” he asked. “Or the protests?”

I looked up at him, studying his face. “They’re the same problem,” I replied, hoping—but knowing otherwise—that he’d tell me they weren’t.

His lips pressed together tightly. It was enough of an answer. “Rayn—” But he didn’t finish whatever it was he’d been about to say. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed my forehead. Then, “Please let someone drive you home tonight. Unless you want me to?—”

“I need to just sleep,” I interrupted him, annoyed that he was back on not wanting me to walk home. “Or try to.” I was working against myself, I knew, since I slept better when he was there if I was agitated or worked up about something, which I definitely was. Except when the thing I was worked up about was Raj’s stupid overprotectiveness. Well, when one of the things I was worked up about was Raj’s stupid overprotectiveness.

I saw the disappointment flash across his face, but only briefly, before he made his expression carefully blank. He nodded once. “I understand.”

I didn’t believe him.

He dropped his hand from my cheek, but then caught my fingers in his, as though he was changing his mind. “Can—” He hesitated.

I waited.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” he asked softly. “Would you come over?”

He seemed both nervous and hopeful at the same time. It was endearing, so even though I was annoyed with him, I couldn’t help but be pleased. And I did want to see him. So I nodded.

A smile flickered over his lips, and he lifted my fingers and kissed them. “I’ll text you, okay?”

I nodded, and he dropped my hand and turned to go.

“Raj?” I called, and he turned.

Aware of the hypocrisy, I said, “Be careful, okay?”

His smile flickered again. “You, too.”

It was almosttwo when Mason came out to the lobby. “You ready?” he asked me.

I looked up at him, confused. “Ready for what?” I asked him.

He frowned a little. “To ward the office,” he replied.

I continued to stare at him. “I don’t know how to do that,” I said, still confused.

He handed me a small sheaf of papers. “You will,” he replied, his voice serious, but not threatening. “Because we’re going to need your power.”

I swallowed, then nodded.