His Drug Of Choice

5 - Us

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 open my eyes not caring about anyone else' reaction but Clay's. She has a blank look on her face, it kills me that I don't know what to make of it. 

"Did you know?" Larah asks Nate, he slowly nodded.

"Of course, we're practically brothers, so I know almost everything about him," she smiles at him.

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

We took turns with the questions and answers, hopefully everyone told the truth. I see a start of a great friendship with this duo. Unlike other girls we have met before, they seem cool and reserved to some extent, Larah mirrors Nate a lot it makes me laugh. 

I didn't realize how invested I was in everything about her until an hour ago. I have never fallen this hard for someone, in a short span of time at that. 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 am just going to be honest with my feelings and talk to her. Well, there's nothing really there to hide after all. Although I took a chance confessing about the Mafia, it gave me relief, it felt as if a heavy burden was 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?" She nodded, I shot up and gave her a hand to help her up. We left the mancave making a way to the kitchen. I wasn't even aware that I was still holding her hand until I had to reach the upper cabinet for some snacks. We moved from one room to the next. We were passing jokes the whole time; it helped ease up my nerves. We were now in my office.

I sat on my chair as she sat on the one opposite.

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

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

"Why?" she asked with raised eyebrows, 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 get this off my chest the better. 

"You can start anyhow and anywhere, I promise not to judge," she smiled bringing her folded hand 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. I have never had anyone affect me like you do, I just know what I know," she gulped, staring at me like I just grew 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 is the moment I dreaded the most. I got up from my seat moving to her side, 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.