“I’m sorry, James. I’m tired and pissy and I shouldn’t be taking it out on you.”
“No,” he said, keeping his eyes on the ground. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I screwed up the first time around.”
“I just want you to try.” She tucked her hands into her pockets, waiting. He didn’t answer. “For me?” she added.
He glanced up. “I’ll give it a chance.”
Her phone rang, interrupting them. Eden pulled it from her pocket. She hit Ignore and shoved it back.
“Who was that?”
“No one,” she answered, trying to keep her voice even. If Az left a message, she would delete it without listening. Just like she had all the others.
CHAPTER 20
Gabe stalked past the corrugated metal covering the storefronts, his finger tracing vibrant bubble-lettered graffiti. He gauged the honey sky, the smog already fading to amber. The sun would set soon.
Jamming his hands into his pockets, he slowed his pace. He’d cut out of the apartment early, but even the long walk hadn’t done much to rebound his mood. Az’s snippy little comments had damaged his usual cheer. Sure, Az had reason to be all angst and issues, but the constant drama was getting to be a bit much. He seemed to forget, he wasn’t the only one who missed Eden.
A memory from summer flared. All he’d asked was for her to rub sunscreen on his back. Of course, she feigned innocence when the “missed” spots formed a perfect smiley face. It took him a week to get her back, polka dotting her arm after she fell asleep in the sun.
Gabe sighed, pulling the heavy coat around him. Now everything was a mess. All because of him.
He dropped onto a set of concrete stairs, pulling the hood of the parka over his golden curls. Heat filled every crevice, steaming into the sleeves. A drop of sweat trickled between the last curls near his hairline before it slipped down his neck. But instead of taking the jacket off, he yanked the cords on either side of the hood, drawing the fur lining closer.
He wondered again if he should tell Az about the other guy in Eden’s life. He didn’t know if she’d noticed the way the brown-haired boy looked at her yet. Kristen had said she’d kept Eden away from the others as much as possible, but he’d left with her.
From where Gabe sat, he could make out just enough of the steps of her apartment complex to know if she left. The city was lighting up, even here in the interesting part, before the ghetto really took hold.
He tucked his head down, playing the part of just another loitering degenerate, albeit one with a damn nice coat, and took in a few breaths of frigid air. The hood masked his eyes, but still let him see out. He focused on the steps across the way and down the street, ignoring the cars that fractured his view every few seconds.
Stilettos clicked behind him, someone leaving the building at the top of the steps he’d hunkered down on. He kept his eyes low, staring down the street until a voice spoke.
“You got a cig?”
He peered sideways. The red stilettos were connected to a pair of legs in torn fishnets. “Don’t smoke,” he said, going back to his watch.
“A light then?”
“Why would I have a lighter if I don’t smoke?” he asked, distracted. A figure had turned the corner. On the stairs, Gabe tensed. In the deepening twilight, he couldn’t see the face. Every few feet the figure stopped, head cocked as if listening at every alcove and alley.
One of the shoes kicked lightly at his side. “You cute under that shit? You sound cute.”
Gabe didn’t answer, distractedly slipping the hood off to get a better look down the street. Next to him, he heard the girl take a surprised gasp.
“Damn. Looking for some company, angel?”
Gabe startled, turning to give her a good once-over. She was painfully mortal. It hadn’t been an observation. Only a pet name, probably something she whispered to a dozen guys a night.
“We don’t play for the same team, sweetheart,” he said, keeping an eye on the trench coat making its way closer.
The hooker dug through her purse, probably looking for the misplaced lighter. “Ain’t that just my fucking luck,” she mumbled. He heard the swish of leather against nylon; the swinging of her purse back onto her shoulder. On the sidewalk, the shadowy figure was almost in front of him. Close enough to see the shoes.