Becoming Rain

I hear a soft “shit” escape Rain’s mouth as her eyes close, her frustration so obvious it makes me chuckle. She stands, moving away from my touch. “I’ll see you in a few hours, okay? I need to sleep.” She can’t peel her eyes off me.

Fucking Warner. “Okay.” I know I shouldn’t, but I’m running out of time with her. I can’t help myself. I toss my bedsheet off and stand, earning her wide-eyed stare, before I head for my bathroom, feeling her gaze on me the entire time.

“Do you always watch this much baseball?”

“Yep.”

One-word answers. That’s what I’ve been getting out of Warner for the past four hours, when he isn’t answering calls. Sometimes he wanders off to the other side of the condo while he’s talking, but he holds onto the damn remote so I can’t change the channel.

I could just go back to my bedroom and watch TV there—and that’s likely his aim by being such a dick—but I feel caged in there.

Plus, truth be told, I’m just waiting for Rain to wake up.

With a sigh, I head over to the fridge and crack open a beer.

“That better not be my IPA!” he barks.

I pour half of it down my throat before I hold up the can. “You mean this one?”

He glares at me.

“Want one?”

“Can’t. I might accidently shoot you if I’m drinking,” he mutters, eyes back on the screen.

“Everyone’s talking about shooting me today.” He’s in a pissy mood. I wonder if it’s because of me or because of losing Vlad. Either way, with a gun holstered to his side, I probably shouldn’t irritate him. “When do you think Rain’s going to wake up?”

“You mean Clara? I think I heard her shower running, actually.”

I frown. I didn’t hear a damn thing.

“You know that whatever you two had is over, right?” He watches me through those dark, shrewd eyes, like he can read my every thought. “She’s a good cop and she’s got a big future ahead of her, as long as no one drags her down.”

“I’m sure she’ll figure out what she wants.” I take another sip.

And silently hope that what she wants involves me.

“She wants to make a difference in the world. She’s not the kind of girl to play house. She wouldn’t be happy.”

“What are you two talking about?” We both turn in time so see Rain step out of her bedroom in those yoga pants that she knows I love, her hair dark and wet from a shower. Eyes still weary but more rested than before. And not carrying a gun, to my relief.

“Did Sinclair get hold of you?” Warner asks. There’s excitement in his voice.

She frowns slightly. “Yeah. He did.”

“Good news, right?”

She takes a deep breath and then nods. I could be wrong, but it doesn’t seem like good news.

“What’s going on?” I blurt out. “Is this about the case?”

“Sort of. Clara’s heading home and you’re free to go. Your Russian friend is no doubt aware of the investigation by now, so you two don’t have to keep faking your romance.”

My stomach sinks with his words. That’s it? Just like that?

Rain takes a deep breath. Is it one of relief? Frustration? Does she feel any of the sadness that just washed over me? Stanley trots over to climb her leg. She picks him up and hugs him. “You ready to fly to your new home?”

He snorts in answer.

“Did someone book my flight already?” she asks, her eyes not leaving his bug eyes.

“Ten a.m. tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?

“Okay.” There’s a long pause. “So I’m officially off this case and Luke is officially free?”

“Yup.”

She takes a deep breath. “I want the cameras shut down.” Warner opens his mouth but she cuts him off. “Please, Warner. Make it happen.”

His jaw tenses as his gaze flickers between me and Rain. Finally, he nods. “I’ll take you to the airport in the morning.”

“Sounds great. Thanks, Warner.”

Heading for the door, he stops a foot away from me. “I don’t want to ever see your fucking face again, so stay away from trouble.”

With that, he’s gone.

“So . . .” Rain tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers trembling slightly. “You’re free to go home anytime you want.” Wandering over to the counter, her back to me, she unscrews a fresh a bottle of wine and pours herself a glass. I watch in silence as she takes a long, slow sip of her glass. An agonizingly slow sip.

Where do we go from here?

I don’t want her to leave. That’s all I know.

“Do you remember when I told you that I didn’t like the idea of looking out my window and you not being there anymore?”

Her head bobs up and down.

I step forward, resting my hands on her shoulders, able to see the tears sliding down her cheeks. “I’m dreading tomorrow.”

“Me too.” She leans back and turns her face to rest against my chest, her eyes closed. This is the real girl. And I’ve seen her before. Rain may not have been real, but this person right here is, and I know her. I’ve known her this whole time.

“Can I show you something?”

Glossy eyes open to stare up at me. “Please.”

Curling her fingers into mine, I lead her toward my bedroom.

Chapter 64