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She picks up a dated rug that is thrown on the hardwood floors. "I like that it's furnished."

I do too. It's not my ideal neighborhood. The décor looks like it came right out of the eighties, but it's comfortable and safe. "I think I should take it."

"Do you need me to help you with the damage deposit or first month's rent?"

It's a question born out of our friendship, not her desire to get me out of her place. "I can handle it."

"You're sure?" she asks through a smile. "I want to help if I can."

I reach for her shoulders, pulling her into a warm embrace. "You've helped me a lot the past two weeks."

"You've lost weight." Her eyes rake over my thin frame. "You're skinnier now than you were when you got here."

I am. I haven't had an appetite. Food, sleep and a quiet mind have been in short supply. Even though Alexa has cooked delicious meals for me the past few weeks I haven't been able to stomach the taste. I'm not sick. Physically, there's nothing wrong with me. I finally feel as though I'm being lifted out of the fog of emotions that I experienced after my break up with Parker. I can see

the future now, even if it means moving into this apartment that is three subway stops away from her place.

"We'll go out to celebrate your new place with Noah tonight." She claps her hands together. "I can fix you up with someone from work if you want to make it a double date."

I visibly wince at the words. "I'm not into teachers," I tease.

"This one is hot. His name is Doug. You'll like him."

I study her face. There's a hopeful glint in her eyes. She wants this for me. She wants to push me into my future with full force. "What does he look like?" It's shallow but it's important. The last thing I want is to be with a man who physically resembles Parker in any way.

The question doesn't rattle her at all. "He's about average height I guess. He's got blonde hair, and blue eyes." Her hand darts to her chin. "He has a beard and he's ripped."

"How would you know if he's ripped?" I tap my foot against the faded throw rug. "You're making that up."

She pats me on my elbow. "I'm not." She grins. "He wears tight t-shirts sometimes. All I can say is wow."

"Wow?" I parrot back.

"Wow," she repeats, her brows jumping up.

"I don't know, Lex." The knot that is overtaking my stomach is reason enough for me to derail this plan. "It's really soon."

"It's a dinner." She pushes my hair back over my shoulders. "One dinner. It's not like you're marrying the guy."

"I'll do it," I whisper. "I guess I'll do it."

Chapter 5

Doug gestures towards Noah with a nod of his chin. "What's with his face?"

Any desire that may have been edging its way to the surface is lost with that one question. "What do you mean?" I whisper the question. "What are you talking about?"

I know exactly what he means. Noah Foster was stabbed years ago and now the ever-present reminder of that juts down the length of his face. I've grown so accustomed to it that I don't even register it anymore when I look at him. It doesn't define him in any way but brash, thoughtless comments like the ones that Doug just made tear through Noah still. I've seen it happen in the past.

"Something is wrong with his face."

Something is wrong with your sense of decency, jerk.

"It's a scar," I point out the obvious.

"How did he get that?"

Alexa turns her attention away from Noah to lock eyes with me. She's sitting next to Doug. There's absolutely no way she hasn't tuned in to the current conversation Doug is straining to have with me.


Tags: Deborah Bladon Ruin Romance