Page 23 of Choose Me

"Anything new down there?" I changed the subject.

"Brock and I are going through some footage and tips from the locals, and we think we may have a trail to follow. But hey, I spoke to Everett, and he said that they think they may have a location on Commons. Someone phoned in and said they saw him at a nearby gas station. So, I want you to pay attention to your surroundings, and please don't go anywhere without someone. Commons likely knows we are close to catching him, and when an animal is cornered, things can go from zero to sixty real fast."

"Okay, hopefully, he will be brought in soon, so I don't have to look over my shoulder anymore. I am tired of this, James."

"I know you are baby. And I promise I will do whatever it takes to close this case and get back home to you."

There were muffled voices in the background, and a woman called his name.

"I got to go, babe. I'll call you tonight before bed. I love you."

"Love you too."

I hung up the phone, momentarily letting my finger linger on the end call button. I slid my phone into my purse and stepped out into the hallway. I looked up to see Everett waiting patiently for me. His amber eyes sparkled with genuine concern.

He offered me a sincere smile, "Everything okay?" He asked.

"Yeah. James called." I tried to steady my breath.

"Yeah? What does he think about the baby?"

"He was excited," I responded, walking in step with him to the reception desk. After scheduling another appointment, we stepped into the parking lot.

"I meant to tell you we might have a lead. Someone called in an anonymous tip and said they saw someone who matched his description at a gas station a few blocks from the apartment. Unfortunately, it was one of those gas stations with a fake CCTV setup that didn’t work, so there was no footage for me to corroborate the caller's tip. The local news plans to release a story tonight, and we will have his face plastered all over. But until we catch him, James and I agree that you shouldn't go anywhere alone. If you need anything, I will get it for you, or we can Door-dash it."

"So, I'm on house arrest then?" I asked skeptically.

"I wouldn't say house arrest, just more of a controlled environment where you can rest and relax and have a handsome snack like me waiting on you hand and foot." He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes and opened my car door. "You're insane."

"Hey! People pay for things like that," he confidently said, flashing me a sly smile.

"Well, I guess if the Bureau doesn't work out, you have a bright future of escort services to fall back on." I jabbed sarcastically.

"I think you're right. What am I doing slaving away as an agent when I could feed some lonely cougar bon bons while her husband is away on business?"

"Do you ever take anything seriously?"

"What's the fun in that?"

"You're a child."

"Maybe I just like seeing you smile."

His comment caught me off guard, and my head turned involuntarily toward him. My heart skimmed at the edge of my ribcage, his words holding an undercurrent of something I couldn't place, and I found myself glancing at his lips before I could catch myself. He stood there with his lips parted slightly, a wall of confidence behind him, one hand on my car door and the other in the pocket of his dark denim jeans. My cheeks felt like fire, so I quickly averted my gaze and scrambled into the driver's seat, nearly tumbling into my car.

I preoccupied myself with buckling my seatbelt, my hands trembling. My thoughts raced as confusion filled my mind. What in the actual fuck was going on? Why was I feeling like a teenage girl when Everett was around? I never felt like this in Oregon, but something has changed, and part of me is overwhelmed with guilt at the way my stomach flips when I catch him staring at me. The other part of me feels excited. More and more, I feel ashamed that I am attracted to my boyfriend's best friend and someone I consider family. I can't deny that I was drawn to him, but I have no fucking clue why.

I couldn't look at Everett, so I twisted the key in the ignition and held my breath, waiting for him to say something.

Anything.

"I will follow you back home, and then I need to head to work and take care of some things."

I dipped my chin in polite acknowledgment, not daring to look up at him. He shut the door gently and walked to his car. The entire drive home, my stomach churned with guilt. His presence evoked a physical reaction that made me feel like I was betraying James. After unlocking the door, Everett half-smiled a goodbye as he made sure I was safely inside before taking off. I shut the door behind me, pressing my forehead against the cool metal, tears pooling in my eyes.

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