Divided (Unguarded #2) - Ivy Stone Page 0,41

behind hard muscles and an audacious smile. I adore it. I want more of it. I love it.

“Thank you for the clothes and candy by the way. That was very sweet of you.”

The corner of his lips turn up into the grin I can’t resist. “It’s no problem.”

My shoulders curl forward. My hands lean on my knees. “I know. But you also didn’t have to do it either. I know you’ve been here nearly every day. I don’t know whether it’s because you feel guilty or whether there’s more—”

“Ali…” Roamyn pulls both of my hands into his.

“Yeah?” Warmth flourishes through me being close to him again. Time can pass, years without each other can go by, but the moment we’re together it’s as if we haven’t lost a day.

His voice brings me peace.

His touch sparks life inside of me.

But so much still divides us.

I’m twenty-two. He’s thirty-three.

I’m a recovering drug addict. He’s a cop.

We’re a match made in mayhem. A beautiful mess.

Roamyn pierces me with his sincere eyes that weaken my knees. “I’m here because I want to be.”

I stare back at him, dazed. “Why?”

“I’m not here out of guilt, babe. I’m here because I just want to get to know you. I want to be here for you. Be your friend. You know when I first saw you going through withdrawals, I realized how fucking much it killed me to see it… to see you suffering. And now when I look at you, coping and giving this thing your best. You think you come off selfish, Ali, but you couldn’t be further from the truth. Every decision you’ve made since I first met you is because you thought you were doing the right thing. Can’t actually include the addiction to Oxy in that, but don’t think I don’t understand. Don’t assume your sister and others won’t understand because if they care about you they’ll, at least, try to. You’re strong, Ali, and you’re so brave but you don’t believe it. I’m gonna come back every day. I’m going sit with you, learn everything I can about you, we can talk about whatever it is you want to because I believe in you and I’m not leaving until you believe it too.”

I trail a hand over his temple and around his cheek. “God Roamyn, where did you come from?” I ask, my voice soft, disbelieving.

“It’s not about where we came from. It’s about where we want to be. And right now there’s no place I’d rather be than right here with you.”

An appreciative sigh slips through my lips and I skim my fingers over his jaw before letting go.

I point to the door, an idea springing to mind. A burst of energy breaking through. “Do you want to go for a walk? I haven’t been outside my room yet, and the nurses tell me there’s a whole world of awesome past that door.”

I can’t help the smile from growing on my face. Despite the headache, the cramps, the anxiety, the fact I’m sitting in rehab and still facing charges I might not get out of, I can’t not feel the growing happiness in my heart because of this guy. Just a guy who stopped to help a girl out. A guy who never stopped caring. We were strangers. Then we became something else. And now, maybe we can become something more.

Roam angles his head, forehead wrinkling. “Sure. You think you’re ready for that?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. But if you’re with me, it can’t be that bad, right?”

He reaches out for my hand. “Come on. Let’s go.”

I link my arm around his and with a smile on my face, I step out of the room to face the world with my problems, my fears, and I do it with confidence I’ve never had. My entire being shakes, but this time it’s different because scared or not, today I’m okay. Right now, I’m okay. And that’s good enough for me.

Guilty.

Guilty on all charges.

The judge’s calling, the jury’s verdict, echoes around me on repeat as I fly down the courthouse stairs with Lindsey by my side. Cameras flashing are shoved in my face. Microphones try to stop me. But the adrenaline of testifying in court against Giuseppe and Lucio and their associates pushes me forward.

We won.

Shock pumps through my veins. “We did it.”

I still can’t believe it. I still keep thinking I’m going to wake up and this day will be all but a dream. I breathe in air like I never have