Page 25 of Elusion

She shakes her head. “I know a lot about a small part of her. Anything that happens away from here is a mystery.”

The Callie Henders enigma continues to grow. Bad news, considering my dwindling timeframe. “Well, I’ll get out of here then.”

I start to stand, only for Felicia to drag me down again.

“She won’t be much longer; I’m sure of it. Stay and be here when she gets back.”

A pang of guilt settles in my chest as Felicia’s hazel eyes meet mine. I’m almost positive Callie knows my challenge to make her life easier veils my true intentions of fucking her. Hell, other than bringing her coffee and the random luck with Cate, I have done nothing remotely helpful. But I’m not convinced Felicia knows. She might be acting as my accomplice with the notion that I want todateCallie.

“Do I get to pick the next movie?” she asks.

I force a smile. “Just no girlie shit.”

Felicia claps and dashes over to the TV.

I shake off the unsettling feeling and check my phone. Almost eleven. Well, if for some reason Callie doesn’t make it back, I’m not going to miss keeping our little ritual intact.

All right, beautiful,I text her,in case I miss you, I’ll see you tomorrow.

Jess tells us goodnight, her eyes lingering on me before she goes to her and Felicia’s room. There’s a looming possibility of her jumping me one of these days. Either she knows better than to think I want to date Callie or she’s a genuinely awful friend.

With her gone, I take advantage of the full length of the couch. I grab the pillow and stretch out. Felicia pops in a movie and doesn’t hesitate to sit on my feet until I pull them out of her way. This is another unusual occurrence—I’m with a girl on a couch, watching a movie with no temptation to do anything else. Something I haven’t done since middle school. These girls are ruining me.

The screen lights up, and I groan. A movie about animated puppies.

Ruining me!

Coconuts and Callie. The contacts stick in my dry eyes, making it hard for me to keep them open, but I sense her close to me.

A hand reaches out, and I stroke her hair. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“Hey, Jordan,” Jess says.

I jerk upright to see her hungry eyes gazing at me. She’s on the floor in front of me. Confused by my whereabouts, I search around. The dorms. I fell asleep on the couch, waiting for Callie. Who’s nowhere in sight. The blanket on my lap normally resides on her bed, explaining the scent.

“Sorry, I thought you were Callie.”

“Sure you did.” She twists back around to finish eating her bagel.

I swipe my phone off the table. Callie texted at midnight, saying goodnight. Then I see the time.Shit. Her first class starts in fifteen minutes. In no scenario will I make it to the coffee shop and back in time. Then Felicia—the miraculous angel she is—walks in the door, carrying three coffees. I drop to my knees in front of her to grovel.

“Stop being so dramatic,” she says. She hands me two cups and disappears into her room.

Two days without seeing Callie has me standing in front of her door, hesitant. Sweaty palms. Adrenalized heartbeat. Add a suit, and I might as well be in the coat closet with Cecelia Buckley at Philip Weston’s thirteenth birthday party again.

When I knock, she swings the door open, holding the phone to her ear. “Yes, for the morning classes,” she says. “Just feeling a little under the weather … Right, rest and fluids. Thank you, Mrs. Rodriguez … You too.” She tosses her phone on the bed and slips the coffee out of my hand without looking at me. “Good morning, Jordan.”

A warmer welcome than all of last week.

Given the phone conversation, I almost ask her if she feels all right, but she looks fantastic. She’s in a sexy sweater and tight jeans with her hair in loose waves.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

On the second delivery of the line this morning, it receives the right reaction. An eye roll.

“Please don’t make a habit out of sleeping on our couch.” One side of her mouth turns up on her way past me. “The blanket needs to be folded and put back on the bed.” She leaves but pops her head back in. “And no, I don’t need a ride, but thank you for the coffee.”

I shake my head and complete my chore. Bossy Callie—I like her.

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