I need to get you out of my system.
Just once…
Sunny
Do you think that will fix your problem?
Matteo
Yes.
Sunny
Come by tonight.
Holy shit.
Matteo
I’ll be there in an hour.
My heart races and for a moment, I forget I’m in the same room with my teammates.
“Did she ever say anything about reading one of her books?” Shaw adds in.
Theo whips his head to the side. “You’re the worst at reading the room.”
Shaw shrugs. “He never said anything about it.”
I lock my screen, clearing my throat and tucking my phone into my front pocket. “She said we can read one for Cross’ book club.”
“Yes!” Shaw pumps his fist. He looks at me, cocking an inquisitive eyebrow “What’d she say just now?”
I swallow hard, ignoring the warmth building in the pit of my stomach. “She told me to come by.” I look back and forth between both of them. “I don’t want to hear a single word out of either of you.”
“Hey, if it helps you get your groove back,” Theo says with a shrug.
“We need you distracted in the way only she can provide,” Shaw adds with a wink
“I hate you both,” I mutter, shaking my head as I head for the washroom to take the fastest shower of my entire life.
I’ve waited four days for Jade to reach out.
I’m not wasting another damn second.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
JADE
“He caught me staring and he smiled.” - Clara Foss, Painted Inferno
Matteo’s quiet as he walks into the building, falling into step with me as we walk over to the elevator shaft. The tension is palpable and thick in the air around us. My heart races and I glance at him from the corner of my eye.
“Is everything okay?”
He pushes his hand through his hair as I press the button to call for the car. “No, Sunny. It’s not okay.”
My stomach twists with dread and falls onto the floor.“What’s wrong?”