Page 90 of The Fallen Ones

“I get it. Like I said, you’re worth it. How about we go to the party and see what happens?” His lips brushed against mine again. “I’m interested in seeing where this leads.”

I bit my bottom lip and nodded.

He chuckled and backed away. “It’s a date. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Pick you up at, say, nine?”

I nodded again. “Sounds great.”

He winked and backed away from me. “Have a good night, Lily.”

“You too.” I watched him swagger down the hall to the elevator. Once he was gone, I went inside and breathed out a sigh of relief.

I’d done it. I’d made it through a date with someone and it didn’t feel awful. That offered me hope that I was finally moving forward with my life and that maybe I could have a relationship in my future.

Jace popped into my head again.

I pulled my phone out of my purse and stared down at his name. Quickly, I typed out a message to him.

Lily: I miss you.

I stared down at the message, my thumb hovering over the send button.

My phone buzzed, Caleb’s incoming text flashing on the screen. I shook my head and navigated away from the message to Jace and looked at what Caleb sent.

Caleb: How was your date?

Lily: It was OK.

Caleb: Just OK?

I smiled at that. He was always looking out for me. I may have been mad about the way he handled it before, but I was grateful to have Caleb trying to make sure I was protected. He was all I really had in that department.

Lily: Yeah. Dinner and movie. I’m home now.

Caleb: He didn’t try to score?

I sighed.

Lily: No. Not really. We kissed good night and he’s picking me up to go to Cam’s party tomorrow night. Are you going to be there?

Caleb: I have to work.

I frowned. Damn. I wanted him to go. On the other hand, I didn’t want a repeat of his anger like he’d had the other night so maybe him not going was a good thing.

Lily: I’ll have a drink for you.

Caleb: Don’t. I don’t need you drunk around Brandon.

I could feel the tension in his words. I didn’t want to get into it with him.

Lily: I’m going to take a bubble bath. I’m really sore tonight.

Caleb: Why are you sore?

My encounter with the masked man in the library slipped into my mind’s eye, making my face heat. I decided against telling him about the situation since I’d already annoyed him with Brandon.

Lily: I did some exercising. It wore me out.

That seemed accurate enough.

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