Page 157 of The Obedient Lie
My hand shook as I opened the door — slowly — unsure if I wanted to interrupt or hide. The second it swung open, the room went still.
They turned to me like they’d seen a ghost.
Luca’s chest was rising fast. Bastion looked like he’d either punch a wall or collapse.
“Where have you been?” Bastion snapped.
Luca’s voice cut in over his.
“Fuck. We thought you left.”
They both looked like they were coming undone.
Not because I’d done something.
But because Ihadn’ttold them where I’d gone.
Because they didn’t know if they still had me.
I supposed I had been gone since six this morning, and I hadn’t been able to check my phone.
I stepped into the room fully, closing the door behind me.
For the first time, I reallylookedat them. The stiffness in Bastion’s shoulders. The tight hold Luca still had on the chair back. It wasn’t just frustration.
It was panic.
Real, raw, silent panic.
My chest tightened. I didn’t know what to say to ease it, but my fingers moved before my thoughts caught up. I pulled out my phone, opened the tracking settings, and tapped both their names.
Shared Location: ON.
A second later, both of their phones buzzed.
They glanced down.
Luca was the first to register it. His head snapped up. Then Bastion’s brow furrowed as his screen lit.
They looked at each other.
Then at me.
A visible breath left Bastion’s chest, his jaw unclenching for the first time since I walked in.
“You know this lets us stalk you now, right?” Luca said, lips twitching.
I shrugged.
“Like you don’t already.”
That made Bastion huff a laugh — just barely — and Luca smiled. Arealone.
I walked toward them. Slowly.
And this time,Ireached first.
I kissed Bastion.
