Page 141 of His Secret Gift

“Well, if she doesn’t stop bouncing up and down against that boy, I don’t think he’s going to be able to perform very well in the bedroom.”

Again, we share a laugh.

“They’ll be fine.” I’m surprised to find him so extroverted. The way Jack described him made him seem cold and standoffish. But he’s not like that at all.

“So, what does being a stewardess entail?” he inquires.

“A lot of cleaning, mostly.”

“Ah. That doesn’t sound all that fun.”

I shake my head. “No, not really. But if I must clean a few toilets in order to travel the world like this, I’ll take it.”

However, our conversation is interrupted when Callie comes running up. “Kayla, I need your help. I just made a guy come on the dance floor. I don’t think he’s noticed. What do I do?”

I clear my throat loudly. “Callie, may I introduce you to Mr. Yannis Drakos.” Then, her face goes as white as a ghost.

But he just snickers. “I told your friend here that was going to happen. Just go get some paper towel out of the bathroom and tell the kid what happened.”

“Okay, okay.” She goes away and seems to do as he said.

“I’m really sorry about her.”

“Nah. Don’t worry about it. Hey! I was young once too.”

I’m still a little mortified for her, but at least her presence substantiated by story.

When he finishes his drink, he says, “You know, I don’t do this often, but would you want to get a sneak peek at the fourth book in the‘Til the War Starts series?”

My hands cover my mouth. The chance at reading anything of his before it hits shelves would be an honor. “Wait, did you say fourth?” I thought he was working on the third.

His head bounces from side to side. “I preemptively started the fourth after getting frustrated with the previous one. Don’t worry, it doesn’t reveal any spoilers, and you’ll still enjoy the third just as much. I promise.”

Again, as much of an honor it is, I can’t leave Callie.

“I—” I’m about to explain why.

But he cuts me off. “Hey, think of it this way. Knowing Jack has someone with a keen literary eye on his team will only help his cause.”

With that, I know I have to do it. So, I find Callie in the crowd, tell her I will be right back, demand her not to leave with a man until then, and then I head out with Yannis.

“My apartment is just over here.”

Chapter 43

Gone and Betrayed – Jack

Iwoke up in the middle of the night to someone calling me. I don’t recognize the number, but I answer it anyway due to its familiar area code, 954, which is from Fort Lauderdale.

“Hello?”

“Jack. Oh, my god. I am so sorry to call you. But I didn’t know who else to contact—”

I sit up. “Okay, try to calm down. Who is this?”

“It’s Callie. Callie Knight.”

With that, my heart drops down in my chest. I know Kayla was going out with her tonight.

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