Page 31 of Stolen Voices
But my brain bats that down, reminding me he had no choice but to be in my presence because Hudson had made him “babysit” me. Even repeating the word in my head makes me feel sick.
How embarrassing. I have a crush on a man who doesn’t even like me and thinks I’m a child.Real hot.
I shake my head. “Oh no. It’s not like that. We work together. He’s just being nice.”
“We’ll see.” She gives me an impish smile, like she knows something I don’t.
Eli enters the room, a water bottle in his hand. His shoulders relax, and the crinkles on his forehead disappear as he approaches the bed. “You’re awake.”
“Yeah,” I rasp.
“Here.” Eli hands me the bottle. Our eyes lock as his fingers graze mine, sending a flash of heat through me that singes my nerves and makes my heart speed up.
Dr. Taylor clears her throat. “I’ll see myself out.”
“Thanks again for coming, Tay. I appreciate the house call, and tell Jack I said hi and that I’ll see him at poker night soon.”
“Sure thing, E.” Taylor places her hand on mine and squeezes. “I’m here if you need me. Eli will give you my number.” She looks over at Eli, who nods, a weary look on his face. “And if you can, visit your allergist soon. I left some extra EpiPens with Eli, but you should get your own prescription refilled and let them know what happened.”
“I will. Thank you. I really appreciate you coming to see me.” And I mean it. Dr. Taylor has been nothing but sweet. It also helps that she’s happily married to some guy Eli is friends with.
“Anytime, Callie.” Taylor gives me a finger wave. She pats Eli on the shoulder and lets herself out of his home.
An awkward silence fills the room as Eli rocks back on his heels and grips the back of his neck. “So, um… I brought you to my place.”
My eyes dance around the room at the mention of this being his home. The room I’m in is small and decorated like a little boy’s room, with posters of a baseball player pinned to the wall. The name reads:Cameron Miller, pitcher for the Los Angeles Evaders.
His brother.
Cameron is just as good looking as Eli, but where Eli is serious and intense, his brother looks carefree and playful. A total playboy.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. I didn’t want to take you home and chance drawing the attention of the cameras in case anyone was hanging around outside your place.”
Little does Eli know the paparazzi are the least of my worries. Silla is going to freak out when I’m not home and she finds out where I’ve been. “You can take me home now. Or call Mike to come get me. I’ll be okay.”
“No. You heard the doctor. Someone has to watch you all night.”
“Silla can watch me,” I lie. There is no way in hell I am telling her what happened. She’s been erratic and jumpy.
“No.” He shakes his head, and I know there is no fighting him on this. Eli is stubborn as hell. When he’s decided on something, there is no changing his mind. “I don’t want to hear another word about it. Rest. Then, tomorrow, I’ll take you home. I canceled rehearsals tomorrow so you can rest.”
My throat swells with emotion, and the ache in my chest blooms. “Fine.” My voice cracks and I look away, afraid that he will see too much.
“Hey, look at me.” I feel the bed dip as Eli sits beside me. He uses his forefinger to tilt my chin to the side, forcing me to look into his blue-green eyes. “What’s wrong?”
Nothing. Everything.
A tear leaks out of the corner of my eye, and he uses his thumb to wipe it away.
Ugh. Why does he have to be so sweet?
“Callie, talk to me,” he whispers. “Is your breathing okay? Should I get Taylor back?”
“No, no. It’s just…” I shrug, unsure how much to say. “You keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
