Page 80 of Elusion

Since it’s not a question, I don’t answer and direct my full attention to the mirror, perfecting my hair. Her arms wrap around me from behind. The feel of her pressed up against me screws with my ability to think, but the temptress won’t fool me.

“Not happening, beautiful. I’m not going to your ex-boyfriend’s birthday party.”

Her cheek rests on my back, and she walks her fingers down my chest to my stomach. “We can just make an appearance and leave as soon as you want to.”

“I already want to leave, so no point in going.”

“Don’t you want to know more about who I used to be?”

I look up in thought. An all-access pass to Callie’s life intrigues me but not enough to deal with her ex. “Nah.”

She steps between me and the mirror, her crystal-blue eyes cast upward. I steel myself for her to pout. Now that she’s shared her preferred tactic with Felicia, she won’t catch me off guard with it anymore.

Only then her gaze drops to my crotch. She fingers the hem of my shirt. “Not even if we fool around in the Jeep on our way?” She peers up through her lashes.

Fuck.

Connor goes out with his friends, a neighbor agrees to watch Cate for a few hours, and—to no one’s surprise—I drive us from Waymore to Sutterville. The trip takes longer with our pit stop on a gravel road to collect on Callie’s promise. Well worth the potential awkwardness of the night.

Back roads weave us the rest of the way to Sutterville. Her left-turn-right-turns lead to a shabby house with a blue truck parked out front. A tightness creeps through my chest when I recognize the rust spot on the rear bumper. The truck from in front of the dorms.

“Is this Graham’s house?”

“Cate’s lived without her favorite book all week because she forgot it,” she says, reaching for the handle.

Without thinking, I grab her hand. “She’ll be fine until next weekend.”

“In and out. Two minutes, tops.”

It takes a second for me to let her go. The unease drops to my stomach the farther away she gets. She promised he’s never laid a hand on her, but it doesn’t matter. Physically or not, he’s hurt her. Probably more than she’ll ever admit.

She disappears inside, and I check the time. Two minutes. It’s all I’m giving her.

About the minute mark, the screen door flies open and bangs against the side of the house. The outline of a man appears with the lights shining behind him. My fists clench the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.

Graham. I watch the shadow over his face, wanting a better look at him to see if any of them resemble him. The possibility he shares Callie’s eyes or, even worse, her smile, unnerves me.

He refuses to move aside, so Callie shoulders past him to get out. On the steps, she comes to an abrupt stop, her back to him. I roll my window down to spy—no, monitor.

“We’re late,” she says, not turning around.

“It only takes a minute to introduce me to your boyfriend.” He’s louder than the situation warrants, his gruff voice carrying a harsh edge. “Tell him to get in here.”

“Not tonight.”

“I’m not asking,” he says.

She ignores him, walking down the steps.

“Callista,” he shouts.

Callie flinches and ducks her head but continues across the grass. He backs inside and slams the door, the sound echoing off the surrounding houses. I have the Jeep in gear when she crawls in.

“We good?” I ask, driving off.

“Mission was a success.” She tosses Cate’s book in the backseat.

“And areyougood?”

---