Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Toss in a chocolate croissant. Doesn’t that sound good, my little fox?” I only nod my head. I haven't turned around to face him, but his tone is so casual.
The barista hands us a number to place on our table. Ronan grabs it before I can, then slips my bag off my shoulder, taking it too. Finally, with no choice, I turn to face him.
“Hi?” It comes out sounding like a question. Why is he smirking down at me? Ronan is an expert at hiding his expressions, so I know he wants me to see the smirk. I'll take it. It's better than him being pissed.
“Hi.” He slips my hat off my head before leaning down and pressing a kiss to my lips. "Let's grab a table." Ronan takes my hand, leading me to one in the corner. He pulls a chair out for me, and I drop down into it.
"You're here."
"Where else would I be?" He takes the chair across from me, his back to the wall.
"In bed?"
"There's no point staying in bed if you're not in it." The barista brings over the food and coffee. Neither of us speaks until she's gone. "Eat."
"That's what you have to say right now?"
Ronan leans back in his chair. "What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. I thought you'd be mad." I fidget with the side of the napkin, folding the edge back and forth.
"I wouldn't call it mad."
"Then, what?"
"It's twofold, really. I'm hurt you took off, but it's also a lesson you should learn now: If you run, I’ll chase." He leans forward. "And I always catch. Always.” He draws out the last word to make his point. I shift in my seat because that annoyingly turns me on.
My vagina needs to get it together. But in all fairness, Ronan wrecked her last night—hell, he wrecked all of me. After our night together, I know I'll never be the same. It’s the main reason I took off. I wasn’t prepared for what I would feel afterwards. I don’t know how to deal with all of these feelings I’m having for him.
“Get out of your head, Ellie. Talk to me.” Oh noes, he’s using my real name, which means he’s dead serious.
Plus, him saying I hurt him when I left crushed me inside. It was never my intention. I was too inside my own thoughts and trying to do what was best that I didn’t even think of how Ronan would feel overall. I just thought pissed would be where he landed. Hearing him say hurt is like when your parents tell you they’re not mad, they're disappointed.
“It’s my head, I can’t really get out of it. But you should stop trespassing there so frequently.” Most times I love that he reads me so well, and others not so much. I can’t get away with anything.
Ronan’s expression remains serious. Double crap. The silence stretches between us. Ronan made himself vulnerable, which I’m sure was a first for him. He did that for me, and I need to return the favor. It’s time. He’s been so good to me, and I hate that I hurt him. He doesn’t deserve it.
“I’m sorry I left. I would never try to do anything to hurt you.” I make sure to look him in the eyes. “I don’t want anything to happen to you because of me.”
“You see how that logic is flawed, don’t you? You’re worried about this Cyberius hurting me, and then you go and do it yourself?”
“He’ll kill you!” I hiss, too loudly. I don’t want him to die over me. “And you shouldn’t say his name.” I glance around, but we’re the only ones in here still, and the workers are paying us no attention.
“There are a lot of people that want me dead, Ellie. He can get in line or”—he shrugs—“I’ll go kill him.”
“You’d just go kill him?”
“That’s the easy part.” Ronan leans back in his chair again. I know he’s dead serious. That should irk me, but it doesn’t. Not with how he helped me come to terms with what someone else believes is wrong; you don’t have to. We all live by our own code.
“I could never live with myself if you got killed because of my shenanigans.”
“Well, I don’t want to live without you.” He shrugs. Ronan is so casual about everything. At least that’s how he presents.
“We’re at a crossroads then, I guess.” I return that same casual shrug as him.
Then Ronan does the last thing I think he’ll do. He throws back his head and laughs. I narrow my eyes on him, not sure what's so freaking funny.
Chapter Seventeen
RONAN
Iknow she’s not trying to be cute right now, but I’m not scared of this Cyberius. He might be a computer genius, but he’s still a dick and an ego, and I was able to lure him in to one trap. I’m sure I can do it again. All you need when it comes to a person like him is bait and a dent to his ego.