Page 118 of Misdirection

“Not at all.” Olive forced a tight smile.

She didn’t want Jason there when she heard whatever news it was Tevin had to share. She wanted to process it alone—especially depending on what he told her.

A moment of awkwardness shifted between them.

Then Tevin stood as if realizing Olive and Jason still had things to talk about. “I’m going to go grab some water. You want me to get some for you?”

“That would be great,” Olive murmured. “Thank you.”

After he’d walked away, she and Jason glanced at each other, mountains of unspoken conversations standing between them.

Jason sat beside her. “Are the two of you . . . ?” He glanced from Olive to Tevin.

“Tevin and I?” Her voice rose with surprise. “No. He’s like a brother to me.”

Jason only grunted and nodded.

Her and Tevin? Why in the world had Jason asked that?

Another moment of awkwardness fell until finally Jason said, “So I guess your assignment is over.”

Olive nodded slowly, feeling a strange grief over that fact. It wasn’t because the assignment itself was over. It was because she and Jason had just started to catch up.

“I guess so,” she told him softly.

“That was a close one. But, thanks to you, the deal didn’t happen.”

“It was a team effort. Thank you for all you did also.” She paused. “I’m sorry about Adriana. I could tell you really liked her.”

“I’ll be okay. It’s not the first time I’ve had my heart broken. But there’s only one person I’ve ever truly been in love with.”

His words caused a knot of emotion to catch in her throat. Was he talking about her? By all indications, yes.

They stared at each other another moment. They needed more time, didn’t they?

But she didn’t have any time.

She already had another assignment lined up.

Finally, Jason shifted and asked, “So what now?”

She swallowed hard, knowing what the reality of her future was. “Now, I go to my next assignment.”

“Where is that?”

Olive shrugged. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

Disappointment and understanding filled his gaze. “I see. Will I see you again?”

“I hope so.” She meant the words, though she had no idea what that hope might look like.

Would she and Jason stay in touch? Or would they simply see where their paths led?

She wasn’t sure.

Just then, her phone buzzed. A text message from an unknown number appeared on her screen.

I know who killed your family.

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