Page 35 of Reading Between the Lines
“I disagree. I bet I can come up with at least a dozen. Like, with all due respect, I feel this conversation is not going in a direction I’m comfortable pursuing. We’re talking ourselves in circles, and I think it best we agree to disagree. Take care. Buh-bye now.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Tell you what. We can finish this lesson, go inside and see if Mr. Writing Club is around, or wecan go back to the Doomed Fortress of Rotting Flowers, and you can work on your online training. I brought my iPad.”
“Oh, hell no. Teach me, oh great one. You have my full attention. I’m done sassing.”
On the verge of smiling, I opened the Jeep’s door and got out, poking my head back in and meeting Tallus’s confused stare. “Lesson over for now. You get sixty percent because I’m feeling generous. We do all the things you suggested, and when he tells us to kindly fuck off—because he will—we report to Delaney that we agree with the police, go the fuck home, and hope something better lands on my desk. You know what that means?”
“No.”
“No more sharing a bed.”
Tallus gasped, the look of panic on his face utterly priceless. “You are not worming your way out of this.”
I slammed the Jeep door, removed the disintegrating leaf from under the wiper blade, and hustled to the school. The cold, wet rain was already running down the back of my shirt and trickling over my face.
Tallus was on my heels in an instant, tugging me to a halt. “D, wait. It’s not Weston’s story. We have to stay in town and check things out.”
“Can we do this inside?”
“No. I don’t want to go home yet.”
“Look. Unless this guy agrees with us, we have no way to prove that story isn’t Weston’s. We can’t move forward. The end. Case closed. Then I’m telling Delaney it’s over, and I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight.”
I went to walk again, but Tallus wouldn’t let go of my sleeve.
I growled. “It’s fucking pouring, and you’re underdressed. Can we go inside?”
“I’d like a chance to bring my satisfactory sixty percent up to a more respectable eighty or ninety percent. Hear me out.”
“By all means. Let’s have a conversation in the cold November rain.” I tilted my face to the sky, observing the charcoal clouds overhead. I wanted to laugh because this was the definition of Tallus. Stubborn, persistent, and never one to back down. This was the man who had caught me off guard from day one. Who was never put off by my piss-poor attitude and stood his ground no matter what.
Fighting back humor, I crossed my arms and puffed my chest, feigning irritation. “Spit it out.”
Tallus patted my chest. “You’re verygrrright now, and we both know that doesn’t work on me.”
“Talk, Tallus, before we both catch pneumonia.”
“Let’s say the teacher gives us nothing useable, which is likely since the police have probably already chatted with him. In that case, we need to find out who Weston’s friends are. Locate the girlfriend, who calls herself Londyn Brydges. We need to see if Weston had enemies or rivals or if he recently pissed someone off. We need to find out who’s in this writing club and ask them about the story. Don’t say they’re underage. I know that. We’ll be careful.” Tallus accessed his internal data bank, then nodded, seemingly satisfied. “There. That’s it. That’s all I got. Did I bring my grade up?”
I glared, rain dripping off my nose while my unimpressed expression remained for as long as possible. Maybe the weather had weakened my resolve, or maybe it was how Tallus looked like a drowned puppy, but before I could second guess myself, I snagged the front of his unsuitable jacket—which he hadn’t buttoned—and drew him into my arms, tucking his head under my chin and hanging on for dear life.
He wrapped his arms around me and clung for a long time before peering up and taking me in. His lashes, clumped together and dripping, framed his hazel eyes, and I doubted he could see well with his lenses speckled with rain.
I dropped my forehead to his and sighed.Thiswas a comfort level I could manage, and it was progress. Six months ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed it possible to touch Tallus this freely.
“Eighty-seven percent.”
“That’s it?”
“You can bring it up to ninety-two if you kiss me.”
He took my face between his palms, rose to his toes, and pressed his mouth to mine. I melted, no longer feeling the cold or the rain that was fast turning to sleet.
His tongue teased the seam of my lips, and I invited him in. Warm. Comforting. Invigorating. When we finally came apart, I found a smile reserved only for Tallus. “Hundred percent.”
“You see? Between my sass, charm, and irresistible good looks, I can accomplish anything.”
“Your modesty knows no bounds.”
