Ruin My Life (Mangled Masterpieces #1)

62. Remy

62

Remy

T his is more anxiety-inducing than a first date.

Scarier than initiating our first kiss.

I’m having heart palpitations.

“Baby, put the phone down. You’re driving like a maniac.”

I drop it in my lap and blow out a sigh, glancing at Win in the passenger seat. He’s holding onto the handle above the door, complexion a ghostly shade of grey-green. My driving isn’t that bad. He’s been nauseous since getting discharged this morning (as expected after surviving an attempted murder via drugging a day ago.) In my defense, this is a rare circumstance. I’m not usually one to text and drive, but I need to know that Ma cleared out before we arrive. And that Mitz didn't get loose while she set everything up. Hopefully she didn’t break anything… or worse snoop… Maybe I should've recruited Andrea to supervise.

Surprises are fucking stressful.

Minutes later, I’m shifting the truck into park and Win is launching himself out of the vehicle .

So dramatic . Unfortunately, I’m forced to do the same because I’ll dive into a pool of nails before letting him into that apartment ahead of me. It’ll spoil everything.

“Ay! Slow down!”

“I’m about to piss myself,” he mutters, booking it for the stairs.

God. Dammit .

Thighs burning, I chase after him, catching up in no time. (The guy was literally just released from the hospital, how is he moving this fast?) Once I’m a step behind him, I steal his hand.

He pauses.

I don’t.

His eyes narrow as I take the lead. “You’re acting weird.”

“No, I’m not."

“Bullshit.”

Ignoring him, I drag him to my apartment door and shove the key in the lock, fighting to smother the riot of excited anticipation.

Before opening it, I spin to face him… and immediately forget what I was going to say.

I suck at this.

“Baby, my bladder is about to explode,” he whines.

“I know, I know, but just hear me out really quick.” Pretty sure, I’m about to make a fool of myself but whatever. It’s too late to stop this runaway train. “Just… ok, fuck it.”

Behind my back, I twist the knob and push the door in, backing over the threshold and reeling him with me. The corner of his lips kicks up. My face is on fucking fire. Oh my god, what if he hates it?

I release his hand and step aside, my mouth already running. “I don’t want you to think it’s out of sympathy or something because of the shit that’s happened— I got it a while back and I was waiting for your birthday to give it to you, but well, everything kind of just exploded and I thought it might cheer you up a little so I told Ma to bring it over…”

Win stares at the gift sitting on the coffee table.

“How… the fuck… did you afford an electric violin?”

I’m a fish out of water. Blushing like mad, I rub the back of my head. “Um, well Ma and dad cover my rent until I graduate and before you judge me, they literally won't let me get a job while I’m in school so I kind of had to do some under-the-table business writing people’s essays for cash.”

He’s still just standing there, gaping.

“If you don’t want it I can—”

A Win-sized projectile slams into me. I catch him— barely— and stumble back as he rains kisses all over my face.

“I love you,” he chants. “I love you, I love you.”

Cascading waves of relief wash over me. I squeeze him tighter. “I expect private concerts daily.”

“All day.” A kiss on my eye. “Every day.” A kiss on my nose. “Even naked.” On my mouth.

I bite his lip. “Naked, eh?”

Chuckling he molds our mouths together for a slow, passionate kiss. When he pulls back with glassy eyes and a smile overtaking his face, I’m overwhelmed with emotion.

He’s more beautiful than ever.

“Can I ask you something?” I murmur. “You can say no, but—”

“Ask me.”

My heart races. I’m sixteen again, on the beach in winter, the ocean spray stinging my cheeks.

“Will you… move in with me?”

Shock widens his eyes. But now I recognize the awe and disbelief shimmering in his gaze.

“Are you serious?” It’s barely a breath.

I nod.

He swallows. Blinks.

Then attacks my mouth again.

With a laugh, I kiss him back. “Is that a yes?”

“It’s a, Fuck Yes .”

I’d lost hope that I’d ever have this. That I’d have him . But here we are on the other side.Because love isn’t a snowball: Life is. It starts out small and simple, gaining depth and swallowing painful truths as it rolls through a cold world.

But love? Love is the sun thawing the ice, layer by layer to reveal the hope beneath.

A high-pitched meow.

We glance at my cat who sits on top of the giant wicker tote overflowing with goodies Ma left on the coffee table beside the electric violin.

“That’s not yours, you gremlin!”

“Oh shit, is this for me too?” Win asks, untangling from me to inspect it. Swatting Mitz off, he plucks something from the top and gasps.

“New headphones?”

I sigh. “As usual, my mother has to one-up me.”

He pauses exploring the obscene amount of shit Ma gifted him to make a sad-puppy face at me. “Aww, are you getting jealous of my bounty, Sir Remington?”

“You’re a spoiled brat, Prince Winston.”

His grin widens. “ Your spoiled brat.”

I can’t help grinning back. “Get over here and kiss me again, you idiot.”

He’s on me in half a second, arms wrapped around my neck, kissing me like I’m his oxygen and he’s been underwater, fighting to the surface. I hold him close, breathing him in too.

“We’re gonna keep healing together, ok?” I whisper, grasping his face. “You and me? We’re gonna be ok because we’ve got each other. Always.”

“And forever.”

Love is a natural wonder healing all wounds.

I guess I’m a romantic after all.