Page 50 of Faithful

A knot tightens my throat and my vocal cords.

Glasses reaches out to pat my shoulder in such a fatherly manner you’d think he really cares about me. “I suggest you be careful, Dylan, in your choice of company.”

He walks back to Gavin’s study.

I’m speechless at first as I rush to my car parked outside by the curb. Surprisingly (or not), it’s drizzling and the air smells like wet dust.

My hands are shaking when I try to slip the key into the ignition.

I stop. Slump back into my seat. Fumble with my phone for a bit, then dial Kai.

Knowing how hectic his schedule is this week, I don’t expect for him to pick up.

He answers after the third ring. “Hey.” His voice is drowned out by the background noise.

“Hey.”

Silence. Footsteps. The slam of a door. Then, “You miss me that much? You can’t wait till Vegas?”

“What if I do?”

He laughs. A hint of laughter, of course, since Kai Delisa isn’t the kind of person to grin at you every waking second.

“What’s so funny?” I ask, slapping my palm against my knee that apparently has been bouncing all this time.

“You.”

“Me?”

“Uh-huh.”

“How?”

He ignores my question and instead poses his own. “Did you get everything sorted at work?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool.”

It’s so weird–hearing him say the most banal things. Hearing him being so normal.

“I’ll see you Sunday then?” I say.

“I’ll see you Sunday.”

7 WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS…

It’s been a minute since I left the state for more than two days and my upcoming trip to Vegas requires some major prep.

As promised, I pulled double duty at work up until Saturday night to ensure there’s no backlog while I’m out.

Sunday morning I go by the mansion to say goodbye to my mother and walk in on her and Amelia having breakfast by the pool. Obviously, there’s no way I’m getting out of this one, so I join them.

A plate of poached eggs with avocado toast and a healthy portion of mango salsa is set in front of me the minute I drop into a wicker chair.

We eat in peaceful silence at first, and then my mother begins to talk about shopping and traveling. Ava isn’t mentioned.

After, I have a second to chat with my aunt in private.

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