His Drug Of Choice

5 - Is She Mommy?

We've been running for our lives _ We've been hiding from the light
We've been far too scared to fight _ For what we want tonight
Close your eyes and leave it all behind _ Go where love is on our side
It's a trust-fall, baby 🎼🎤
- P!NK

Ron's POV

I slowly opened my eyes, not caring about anyone else's reaction, but Clay's. She had a blank look on her face, and it killed me that I didn't know what to make of it.

"Did you know?" Larah asked Nate. He slowly nodded.

"Of course, we're practically brothers, so I know almost everything about him," he said, smiling at her.

"You're an amazing friend, Popsie," she told him.

We took turns asking questions and answering, hoping everyone told the truth. I could see the start of a great friendship with this duo. Unlike other girls we've met before, they seemed cool and reserved to some extent. Larah mirrored Nate a lot, and it made me laugh.

I didn't realize how invested I was in everything about her until an hour ago. I've never fallen this hard for someone, especially in such a short span of time. She hasn't questioned me about the Mafia since earlier, and I was shitting bricks right now. What if she wants nothing to do with me? What if I ruined my chances altogether?

She already knows my deepest secret, so I'm just going to be honest with my feelings and talk to her. Well, there's nothing really left to hide after all. Although I took a chance confessing about the Mafia, it gave me relief—it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted off my shoulders.

I don't even know how or when the game stopped. Nate was cuddled up with Larah on the other side, talking the night away. I gently nudged Clay, and she looked at me.

"Care for a house tour?" I asked. She nodded, and I shot up, offering her a hand to help her up. We left the mancave and made our way to the kitchen. I wasn't even aware that I was still holding her hand until I reached up to the upper cabinet for some snacks. We moved from one room to the next, passing jokes the whole time. It helped ease my nerves. We were now in my office.

"I thought you'd be a little uptight, you know," she said, playing with a Rubik's Cube she'd picked up from the couch.

"Well, I usually am. But right now, I'm literally a neurotic," I said, shifting my gaze between her beautiful face and the solved cube.

"Why?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Because I want to talk to you, but I don't know how to start." I felt I had to be direct—the sooner I got this off my chest, the better.

"You can start anywhere and anyhow. I promise not to judge," she smiled, bringing her folded hands to me for a pinkie swear. I laughed at how childish she looked; I loved it regardless.

"Okay, I like you, Clay. I mean, I know we've just met. You might think it's too soon for me to be certain about my feelings, but I've never had anyone affect me like you do. I just know what I know." She gulped, staring at me as if I had just grown another head.

"Ron, I—I don't know what to say. Would it be okay, given that I work for you and—" I unintentionally cut her off, my mind on overdrive.

"Is it because of the Mafia? I mean, I'd understand, because that's one of the reasons I was a bit hesitant. Or is it about m—my daughter?" I asked.

This was the moment I dreaded the most. I got up from my seat, moving to her side and pulling another chair to sit next to her. I took her hands in mine, searching her face. Her head was bowed, and I felt really bad for her.