Page 29 of Crossing the Line
She could hear Sylvia weighing her options.
“I did see the most adorable little convertible the other day,” her mother mused out loud.
Waverly knew she was off the hook this time. Although her father might kill her. But he would do what he always did, go along with Sylvia’s demands affably until something shinier or younger or more adoring came along.
She declined her mother’s invitation to join them, told her to have fun, and hung up. She wanted to close her eyes and lean against the leather of the seats. But that would be a tell, a sign of weakness. And she wasn’t about to give Xavier yet another one.
Her stomach reminded her of its emptiness with a yawning growl. There was nothing in her fridge at home, and she didn’t want to chance sneaking into her parents’ kitchen for a snack in case they tried to wrangle her into dinner and car shopping.
Her only other option sat next to her.
Waverly closed her eyes and took an inaudible breath. “Could you please ask the driver to take us through a drive-thru?” she asked in a frostily polite tone.
“No.” Xavier said without looking up from his phone.
“No?” Waverly blinked.
“No.”
“There’s a taco place coming up on the next block,” she informed him.
Xavier slid his phone back in his jacket and sighed. “We don’t have time. I need to report to your parents before they leave and then run some errands.”
Report to her parents?The man couldn’t even tell her what happened with her own potential stalker. But he could go running to her parents’. If there had been any doubt before, Xavier’s loyalties were now clear. Her parents’ signed the checks, and he would do whatever they asked. Including holding her prisoner.
She’d had enough of the prisoner routine. And it had been a while since she’d escaped. Waverly fired off a text to Kate.
Up for a nice, quiet evening in?
The response came a few seconds later.
Sure, but are you sure that’s the best idea with Creeper running around?
Waverly’s thumbs flew over the screen.
I’m desperate. It’s either this or you lock me up in a mental hospital.
She waited for a response. Waverly could practically feel Kate’s indecision. Listen to Xavier and keep Waverly on a short leash, or let her friend blow off some steam?
Ugh. Fine. But you owe me and if Creeper murders you I’m going to be really pissed.
Waverly’s lips turned up at the corner. Freedom was just a few miles away.
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When the car came to a stop in her parents’ driveway, Waverly hopped out without waiting for Xavier. She just had to play the part for a few more minutes and then she could finally relax.
Xavier got out on the other side of the car. “Waverly,” he called to her.
She turned. “What?”
“You’re not going anywhere for the rest of the night.”
He made what should have been a question sound like a command.
They both turned when Kate’s Explorer pulled into the drive and skirted the limo to park in front of the garage. Kate bounced out, pizza box in hand, and waved.
“Just a quiet night in,” Waverly told Xavier.
