Page 11 of Reticent

“I need the money, Ar.” Last time I checked, it didn’t grow on trees. Working is what I do. It’s what I’ve always done. And it’s what I’ll continue to do to provide for me and mine.

“No, you don’t.”

I shake my head. The last thing I need Hunter—or anyone—thinking is that I’m a gold digger. “I’m not asking him for his money.”

“Who said you’ll have to ask? You don’t think he’ll step up?”

“I don’t know him to answer that. But it’s his choice.” I signal my blinker to exit the freeway. I’m craving fried chicken, and there’s a KFC off the next exit. A driver in the lane I’m trying to move into lays a hand on their horn. I honk back, even though I’m at fault for nearly sideswiping them.

“What was that?” Aria asks.

“I almost had an accident.”

“Girl, get off the phone. You know you can’t drive for shit.”

The corner of my mouth twitches in a smirk. “Shut up.”

“God help those on the road.”

I chuckle. “Whatever.”

Chapter Six

I count every ring while focusing on my breathing.

One. Inhale, exhale.

Two. Inhale, exhale.

Three. Inhale. Ex—

“Hello?” Hunter’s voice slithers through my body, eliciting a jolt of panic. “Hello?” he says again after a moment.

I stop pacing the length of the patio and open my mouth to say something. Anything. Hi would be a good start, but Hunter hangs up before I can get the word out of my mouth.

I sink onto a patio chair, and I press the call button again with trembling fingers.

“Hello?” Hunter’s voice is laced with impatience.

“Hunter?”

“Who’s this?”

I push myself from the chair and walk to the patio’s edge overlooking Niko’s backyard. “Yasmine. Clark. My last name is Clark. Everyone calls me Yas.” I’m rambling. And my heart is beating like crazy like it did when I ran my first 10K.

“Have we met, Yasmine Clark?”

I can’t get a read on him. Is he intrigued? Annoyed? Bored? “We met at Club Vivid,” I clarify.

“Okay,” he says dryly. Definitely bored.

Well, shit. Isn’t he a ray of sunshine?

“Last summer. You and I … we sort of hooked up.”

“Sort of?”

“We had sex.”