Page 19 of Inseverable (Carolina Beach)

“You’re welcome, Batman.”

I close my eyes and choke back a swear. Now here’s a woman who knows how to ruin a moment.

Chapter Seven

Trinity

I don’t work the next day following the brawl. It’s good in way because I get to sleep in. But it’s bad because I’m not on the beach waiting to see if Callahan will magically show up as I’m prepping for watch. Either way, I don’t sleep in as much as I probably need to, my mind busy wondering where we stand.

Will he show up looking to talk to me? Or at the very least run when he used to so I can join him? I don’t want him avoiding me like he’s been doing, but I won’t pound on his front door either. My stalker tendencies do have their limits, after all.

I rise and stretch, giving up on sleep. After a few failed attempts at a yoga work out, I turn on the TV and flip through the channels.

My phone buzzes just when I find a classicBuffy the Vampire Slayerepisode on TV?Oh! And it’s that creepy one where everyone loses their voice, too.

I pick up the phone as I settle back into bed only to jerk up when I read Becca’s text.

Call me. Call me NOW.

She picks up on the first ring. “What happened?” I ask her. “Is someone hurt?”

“Nope,” she answers.

“Becks! What’s wrong?”

She clears her throat like people do when they have something important to say. “Guess who ran by when we were setting up?”

“Who?” I ask, rushing to the edge of my bed.

“Hawkeye!”

“Who?”

“Hawkeye!” She pauses. “Isn’t that what you call him?”

Poor girl never could keep her superheroes straight. But I’m too busy grinning to correct her. “Callahan ran by during set up?”

“Girl, not only did he run by, but he looked over by your chair, the office,andtoward the parking lot.”

“That doesn’t mean anything, does it?”

In all actuality, I know it does, seeing how Callahan keeps his focus ahead so he doesn’t have to engage anyone. But I need Becca to confirm my suspicions—tell me I’m not crazy—or imagining things—insist that there is hope—and convince me Callahan can’t live without me. It’s what best friends do, after all.

“Of course it does! Trin, he was looking for you. He never looked your way all those times you joined him on his run. At least not around us.” She makes a funny noise so I know she’s moving something. “Did he say anything to you after the fight broke up?”

“Only that he had to help clean up.”

“And nothing happened?” she asks. “Nothing?”

I flop back down on the bed. “You know if it did I’d be telling everyone who’d listen.”

“True?Hold on. Sean, could you take this for me . . . Thanks, hon. Trin? You still there?”

“I am.”

“So what are you thinking?” she asks.

I adjust the phone against me. “I don’t know. I’m hoping it’s a good sign. Last night, things sort of changed between us. Callahan didn’t have to come charging when that idiot shoved his tongue in my ear. I could handle myself—and you, and Hale, and everyone were already moving in. But not only did he swoop in and get involved, he was majorly pissed.”

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