Page 43 of Delayed Offsides

“I know. But I never thought you’d do it right in front of me.”

“Tell me what to do.” I cup her face in my hands. “Tell me how to fix this. When you left and didn’t call, I knew what that meant. It meant stay away. I know that. But you didn’t say it. If you want me to leave you alone, then say it and I will, but you have to mean it.”

Her chin lifts, her jaw taking on a determined set I love because it’s her feisty side. “YouassumedI was with him.”

I lean back, letting go of her, my hands resting beside my hips on the sink behind me. “I know.”

Someone knocks on the door. “Excuse me, you need to get out of the bathroom,” a voice says on the other side of the door.

We both turn to the door. Callie rolls her eyes and reaches for the door. Cracking it just an inch, I smile at the flight attendant. “Wanna join us?”

Callie stiffens and pushes away from me; the absence of her warmth felt immediately. “You’re such a dick.”

Without another glance in my direction, she moves past me.

I let out a heavy sigh and watch as Callie stares down the flight attendant and then glares at me. Not sure why I do what I do next, but you really shouldn’t be surprised by it.

I reach down and adjust myself, like we’d just done something in there. “Sorry, honey. I’m taken.”

Callie rolls her eyes, pushes me back into the bathroom, where I fall on the toilet. Turning around, she growls at the flight attendant. She actually growls at her.

Laughing, I pick myself up, wink at the flight attendant, and make my way back to my seat. Or, if we want to get technical about it, I’m escorted back to my seat. “You got handcuffs back there?” I ask the attendant when she points for me to sit down without a scene.

I’m only joking, but the flight attendant motions me forward with a beckoning finger. “I don’t… but the air marshal two rows back does.”

Well fuck.

Callie smacks my shoulder. “See what I mean?”

“What?”

She turns her attention toward the window. “If you don’t stop talking to me, I’m going to tell the captain your bag is ticking.”

So many threats coming my way.

“I swear to God, Leo,” Mase warns, pointing at me when I reluctantly sit back in my seat. “You get us thrown into a Mexican jail, and I’m going to murder you.”

“Don’t make threats like that. It’s rude.” I slouch in my chair, reaching for my phone and headphones. “You could nevermurderme anyways. I’m too nice of a guy.”

I doubt Callie feels that way, but Mase loves me.

I’m sure it’s no surprise to you, but Callie doesn’t talk to me the rest of the plane ride, nor does she talk to me while we’re getting our bags or on the ride to the hotel. We’re staying atEsperanza, the same place Remy and I stayed last year when we came down here.

As soon as we walk into the hotel, Ami’s eyes are on the brochure-filled counter.

“I wanna go,” Ami remarks.

Mase shakes his head, his arm around his touristy girlfriend. “No. We don’t leave the resort.”

“And why not?” Ami can stand her ground when she needs to or wants to, for that matter, but I don’t think Mase is budging on this one.

Callie walks away, looking out at the pool and ocean behind it.

“Because. You’ll get kidnapped and held for ransom. This country has the highest number of kidnappings for ransom.”

“That’s only in the movies,” I say, adding myself to the conversation, whether they want me in it or not.

Mase glances at me. “Thenyougo.”

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