Page 115 of The Echo of Forever
“Because I do, and you’ve been calling out for help long before learning who I am to you. I’m worried… I’ve beenworried, but I won’t push you to open up. Just remember that you can talk to me about anything.”
He pulled his fingers from mine and wrapped them around my wrists, tugging me forward until my body collided with his and our lips met in an accidental kiss.
“No need to steal kisses, my forever,” he teased, nudging my head back with his. “They’re free for you.”
I rolled my eyes and untangled myself from his hold, turning away to hide my smile.
“They’reonlyfor me.”
He hummed as my phone began to ring.
“What can I do for you, Eliel?” I asked upon answering. “I’m busy.”
“Have you forgotten there’s a job you need to be doing?” he asked. “Or that I can have you removed from your post at any time.”
I sighed.
“My job is to delegate, remember? I have an assistant to keep me on track; no need for you to check in anymore. Deal? Great, let’s talk about—”
“Forever Reid, I want to see your face in the next twelve hours, or I’ll have to get the board of trustees involved. Is that what you want?”
I hung up and blocked his number.
That was exactly what I wanted.
“Forever!” Solei yelled from downstairs, followed by the slam of a door. “Where are you hiding my sister-in-law, Demetrius! Everybody is talking about her.”
He chuckled and walked past me to get into the closet, dropping his towel along the way to provoke me into following. I licked my lips and made my way downstairs without falling into the trap, but only after he was out of view.
Solei was in the kitchen, pulling a plate from the microwave.
“Oh, hey! Your meds are on the counter. Are you okay?”
I nodded and pulled the bottle from the bag, not sure if I’d take them or not. She studied me from across the island, while stuffing her face, and I pretended it wasn’t happening .
“You really don’t remember me at all.”
Ah.
That’s why she’d been staring.
“I’m sorry,” I told her, meaning it. “But I feel like I know you, if that means anything.”
She smiled, and I saw a little bit of Oliver in her at that very moment.
“Well, at least you don’t remember me threatening you the first time we met. I won’t cut your throat, but I do still hope you won’t break his heart.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, which only made her smile wider.
“You laughed the first time, too, and said—”
“Me breaking his heart is the least of your worries,” I said before it even registered in my mind.
Solei set her plate down, mouth agape.
“Exactly that. Do you remember or…”
I shook my head and grabbed a bottle of room-temperature water to take the ibuprofen. Committing to Demetrius meant trusting him and the people he relied on, which meant the doctors, too.
