Page 61 of Choke

I see red as the door swings closed behind one of my best friends andmyfucking girl.

Keys

Lex

I clasp my hands in my lap as we make our way out of the underground parking garage and onto the quiet downtown streets. Leaving with Adrian’s teammate? Probably not my best idea. Maybe even stupid. But here we are. Plus, he’s a cop, and he was nice to me. It’s probably okay.

One day, I’m going to get myself killed.

My thighs rub together, pressure there, and my head buzzes from the two drinks I chugged just before leaving in a feeble attempt to calm my nerves. Adrian looked good—too good. That darkness in his eyes did something to me. Maybe I should be afraid. Instead, I just wanted to stoke it, push harder, and see what it would take to make him break.

“Lex?” Calloway calls for my attention.

“Yes,” I reply. I’m not sure what he asked, but the answer is yes tonight.

He laughs heartily and repeats the question I missed.

“Am I taking you home tonight? Saw you with a friend at the game.”

Shit. Rosie. I assumed the older man was a client but completely forgot to check in with her to make sure she was good enough to get home without me. I confirm I’m heading home as I dig into my purse for my phone. Relief washes over me when there is a text from Rosie, letting me know not to wait up.

I fight the urge to ask Calloway about Adrian and instead ask him about hockey. A sport I don’t like or know anything about: the conversation is somewhat forced but pleasant. We’re within a few minutes of my condo when he goes quiet. I shift awkwardly.

Why does silence make my skin itch?

“Why’d you give your tickets away?” He asks.

I hesitate before answering him.

“Well, it didn’t seem wise to use the tickets that mysteriously appeared on my nightstand after my condo was broken into.”

We’ve been driving for about 15 minutes, and the warm, fuzzy feeling from the few drinks I had at the event is subsiding, and my brain is starting to work a little faster.

“Actually,” my tone turns serious. “I find it pretty interesting that my condo was broken into, and a lovely police officer changed my locks without being asked to, and then someone broke in again. Very coincidental, do you think?”

His eyes are fixed on the road ahead, and his jaw tenses, but he doesn’t reply.

Fine, be like that.

I fold my arms across my chest and shift to look out the window, refusing to look at him. Nothing more is said before we arrive out front of my building. I grab my purse, open the door, and climb out before spinning back to him.

“Thanks for everything, Calloway.” My tone delivers the message: I am not grateful. I slam the door with as much force as I can manage.

I make it halfway to the door when I hear his car door slam. Footsteps. Running.

I spin, feigning fear.

Should walk away. I should let this go.

Fuck it.

He slows, his hands coming up.

“Lex, look.”

“Look what, Calloway?”

My volume is probably a little higher than it needs to be. My skin heats with the rush of adrenaline. The last few days have left me ready for a fight. The look on his face suggests he is very nervous — I could do a lot of damage with the information I have. He gave that deviant access to an innocent woman’s home. Okay, maybe I am not all that upset about it. He doesn’t need to know that.

---