Page 14 of The Twilight Theft

“He second-guesses everything I do.”

Emmett swatted my hand. “Stop using Drew as an excuse and admit it. You always get this way when we go to Washington.”

Fear standing still.“I’m going to the kitchen. Don’t make me knee you.”

“You have a whole drawer devoted to food.” He didn’t budge, just pointed at my desk. “If you want us to check in on Tanner, we can. Or if you prefer, you can visit him while we’re there.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rather than continue the battle to leave, I knelt by my desk and rummaged through the food drawer. Beef jerky? Hazelnut energy bar? Dried mango slices? I yanked out a small jar of peanut butter and a spoon.Focus on the food. Anything was better than thinking of Tanner.

Of the screams.

The blood.

The tears.

“I can visit him, if that helps.” Emmett stayed put. “Then I can report back.”

Even thinking about Drew was better. “I don’t have clothes for black tie.”

Emmett sighed and leaned against the door. Afraid I was going to bolt the second he gave me a chance? He was probably right. “And you’re eating more than usual. You only do that when you’re stressed.”

“And you’re psychoanalyzing me.” I took a spoonful of peanut butter, rolling the creaminess over my tongue. “That usually means you’re bored.”

“Worried.” He scratched at his short brown beard. He’d shave it off soon—he always complained it got too itchy after a month. “Drew’s watch, I understood, because you returned it right away. That was a taunt. But his phone?”

I waved the spoon around as I swallowed. “Also a taunt.”

“What was your plan?”

“Ask Yvonne to ship it back?” Not that I’d come up with that plan until I’d stepped through the office door.

“Why?”

Why did I do anything? Because it was interesting. Because it was a challenge. Because… Maybe because he pressed me up against the wall, and something in his sandalwood cologne fried my brain? Why did Drew Donovan have to be such a hottie and such a jerk at the same time?

“You should talk to Scarlett.”

I took another mouthful of peanut butter, which wasn’t satisfying whatever craving I had. I covered my mouth with a hand. “About what?”

“Your outfit for the gala.” He pushed off the door and opened it, signaling he was done grilling me. “I’m sure she’d love to dress you.”

“I prefer black spandex.” Anything I could climb in and go unseen. Nothing with a skirt or that included words likedrapeorslit.

“Careful what you wish for,” he called over his shoulder as he left for wherever he was going.

Good riddance. I took one more taste of the peanut butter and closed the container. Iwaseating more than usual, and that was saying something.

Another trip to Washington meant fifty more times I’d consider visiting Tanner. It’d been twelve years and there’d hardly been a day I hadn’t thought about him.

Let alone seeing him in my nightmares.

Nightmares that included my mother forbidding me from seeing him. Or me lying about staying with friends for a weekend and sneaking down to check on him. Then his parents blaming everything on me.

I reopened the jar and took a spoonful I barely tasted.

Thinking about Drew was safer.

Thinking about neither of them was even better.

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