“What do you mean? What is it that you want?”

“What I told you all along. You didn’t believe me, but I want someone to take care of me like he did. I want all the luxury and none of the baggage.”

“No offense, but you sound like a gold digger, which is absurd, considering who you are.”

“There are worse things to be.” She shrugged. “And who am I anyway? Any money I have comes from my father, who is also forcing me to live with my pervy asshole stepbrother. I can’t live like this forever.”

Eric’s eyes went wide. He didn’t like Pace. She knew that much, but there was something else in his eyes that she couldn’t place. Pity?

“This guy really fucked you up, didn’t he?”

Her silence was answer enough.

“I’d kick his ass if I could,” he said.

“Don’t bother. I could have buried him, but I didn’t. I wanted to come out of this on top.”

“You were hurt in a relationship. I can understand that. You don’t have to put up this act for me.”

Bryna shook her head. “It’s not an act, and I’m not hurt. I’m finally seeing things clearly.”

“All right,” he said.

But she knew he could never understand. How could he?

Her phone buzzed noisily in her pocket, and she plucked it out. The text message was from a number she didn’t recognize, but it had an L.A. area code. She frowned. This felt eerily familiar.

“Hmm…” she murmured. She opened the message.

Are you free?

“Well, that’s interesting.”

“What?” Eric asked.

“I just got a message from the devil himself.”

“ARE YOU GOING TO ANSWER HIM?” Eric asked.

Bryna shrugged. “I guess.”

He gave her an exasperated look as she typed back a response.

Who is this?

She was pretty sure it was Jude, but she had deleted his number out of her phone long ago. It was possible it was someone else. She just doubted it. After seeing him on campus, she had done nothing but think about him. Perhaps it was vanity to think he had been doing the same.

Bri, you know who this is.

With proof before her, joy sparked in her belly with the new knowledge.

Do I?

She knew she was playing coy, but she wanted him to say it. She wanted him to admit that it was him and that he couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was sick and twisted, but she couldn’t deny it.

Yes.

His answer was so resolute, but another message followed quickly behind it.

I wasn’t expecting to see you today.

I noticed. Why are you texting me?

Let’s meet up.

She ground her teeth together. Honestly? Just like that? She could tell in one text message that he wanted to start everything up all over again. A year down the drain, and all for nothing.

So, you saw me for a whole two seconds, and what? The temptation to cheat on your wife was too great?

I just want to see you.

No. I haven’t heard from you in a year. You made your bed, and now, you have to lie in it.

“Ugh,” she grumbled.

“What’s he saying?” Eric flipped the burgers and tried not to look too interested in her conversation.

“He’s being…himself.” The next buzz sent her scrambling back to find out what he’d said.

You’re not the least bit curious about what I have to say?

No.

Yes, she was insanely curious. Why now? Is it because he’s in Vegas and his wife isn’t here to watch over him? Is it ease of access? Or does he have something legitimate he wants to say?

She cursed her heart for hoping. Hope was the drug of the weak.

Liar.

That one word cut like knives.

That’s your repertoire.

I’d say we share the talent.

Ugh! Why am I even considering this? Why am I even allowing him to have this conversation with me? After everything, he was weaseling his way back in.

What do you want?

To see you. To talk.

Talk? Honestly? How do I know this isn’t a lie? A trap?

She knew who he was. Jude never wanted to just talk, and being near him was toxic. This very conversation was bad enough. Seeing him would be the equivalent of Hiroshima.

What does it matter? You’re considering it by talking to me. Give in to your curiosity. I have a hotel room nearby. Meet me.

She shook her head. He would never change. She knew she shouldn’t even consider going. But then again, she wasn’t seeing anyone. Not really. That also had never been their problem.

She hated second-guessing herself, and she hated wondering what-if. What-if had never done anyone any good. She needed to put this all behind her.

Fine. Send me the address.

Bryna tossed her phone into her purse at her feet. “Speaking of the devil, guess I have to cut our lunch short.”

“So, you’re really going to go see him? After everything you told me?” Eric asked.

“Yep.” She stood and stretched out her legs. “It probably doesn’t make sense to you.”

It didn’t make much sense to her, except that she was drawn to Jude and too damn curious not to go.

“No. It doesn’t make sense. Do you think this is a good idea?”

“Probably not.”

“And you’re going to go anyway?”

“Yeah,” she confirmed.

“What’s the likelihood that you’ll walk out of this less fucked up?”

She considered the question. “I’d guess it’s a one-in-a-million shot.”

“And you’re still going to go?”

“Pretty much.”

“How exactly do you plan on getting there?” he asked. His arms were crossed over his chest. His hamburgers were forgotten on the plate he had rested them on.

“I guess if you don’t take me, I’ll have to walk there myself,” she told him defiantly.

He sighed. She could see he was as resigned as she was.

“All right. Can I take you, and when he inevitably pisses you off, kick his ass?”

“You’re not going to fight me on this?”

“I’d love to. Trust me,” he grumbled. “But arguing with you is like trying to move a mountain. You’re set on this.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Promise to be careful.”

Bryna shrugged. She was never careful. Life was too short. It was better to live dangerously and recklessly or not at all. She had every right to give Jude a piece of her mind, an opportunity that had been robbed from her for a year. He had taken so much and given nothing in return. She deserved this moment.

This time, she wasn’t naive enough to think that he cared about her or that she loved him. She wouldn’t be caught off guard with his presence like she had been on campus. She was too smart to be trapped in his snare.

Eric clearly wanted to argue with her more, but he didn’t. He didn’t pressure her to do the right thing. He didn’t try to tell her that seeing Jude would be the wrong move. He didn’t even say anything about the nerves in his posture. He must seriously think she was going to die after one interaction with Jude. She was stronger than that.

She would have to be.

Eric and Bryna made it to the hotel where Jude was staying. It was a five-star hotel off campus, and Eric knew where it was without her telling him. He drove up to the entrance to let her out.

She took a deep breath.

She started to get out, but he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?” she asked.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me, too,” she whispered.