Page 56 of Stealth Mission

“You didn’t sleep well?”

We’ve yet to talk about my sleep last night, but it feels like we’re both dancing around the subject.

Walt is quiet for a beat. He turns left and drives quickly out of town. “I didn’t get back to Karma until a few hours before I saw you this morning.”

“Oh.”

A slow realization takes root in my mind. Followed by a weird pinching sensation in my chest. “Did you go back to the party?”

He nods.

“Was it still crazy?”

The tendons on his knuckles twitch. “Yeah. Like nothing happened. The remains of the car were still smoking, and they’re dancing and drinking.”

“They go all night, I never stay more than an hour or two, but I’ve heard sometimes it goes into the next night.” I look out the window, my hand rising to my throat. “Which was one reason it surprised me that my father was in town this morning. He must have had something important to do.”

“Your meeting wasn’t planned in advance?”

I sigh and drag my hair over my shoulder. “He called me this morning and said to meet him at Bueno Sol because he needed to talk to me.”

Walt glances at me, but focuses on the road again.

Twisting the end of my ponytail, I frown as I watch the passing scenery. “Anyway, I guess you must be tired if you partied all night.”

He glances over at me, this time his normally serious expression is different. Harder. “That’s one of the things I need to talk to you about.”

My nerves flutter like startled sparrows. “Okay. Talk. We’re alone now.”

After a beat, I think maybe I shouldn't have egged him on because he looks tortured.

“I stayed at your house all night, watching over you.”

What?!?

My hand shoots out and grips the handle above my door. Now I know why they call it the oh-shit handle. I must look like a scared cat right now.

I feel like I’ve been turned around in circles.

“Hey, look at me.”

Calm. His tone is so steady when I’m already hyperventilating.

The inside of my mouth feels like I’ve downed a bag of pretzels without any water. “You were in my house all night?”

“I didn’t want to leave you unprotected after what happened.”

He reaches over to me. When his hand wraps around my forearm—the one I’m gripping the center console—I let out a startled, meep.

“Marianna, take it easy. I promise I just watched over you.”

Mother Mary. He really stayed at my house.

Heart pumping, I hang on as I try to wrap my head around this news.

He stayed at my house all night.

I swallow.

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