I’ve had more than enough, and I can tell Owen has, too. I’ve also seen all I need to see, have more than enough data to put to good use. We’ve done more than be social tonight. I know the narcissist will try to fault Owen for leaving early, but I’ll draw her ire onto me.
I’d left my phone in the pocket of my blazer on purpose. I pat my pants pockets and interrupt Grandpa Blazing Guns. “I’m sorry, do you have the time?”
The guy’s wearing a watch that’s probably easily worth what I made in five or six months in the Army. The kind of watch I one day want to be able to effortlessly afford.
“It’s almost eight.”
“Ah, thank you. I’m so sorry, I should have taken my medicine an hour ago. Please excuse me.”
“Not a problem son.” He pats me on the arm as I limp past him, aiming for the spare bedroom, where our blazers are as we left them on the bed.
I make sure to emphasize my limp even more than I have been, and to move slow and stiffly, so everyone can see the gimpy guy.
I remain inside the spare bedroom just long enough to make it look like I’ve checked my pockets before I return to the living room, slowly threading my way around people to appear at Owen’s side.
I lean in but make sure everyone can hear me. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Solemar, but I think I left my meds out in Owen’s car, and I’m overdue to take them. Owen, if you’ll give me your keys, I’ll go get them.”
I’ve made sure to stand with my foot close to Owen’s, and I’m willing him to look me in the eyes.
It’s almost like it takes him a moment to realize I’m there and talking to him. He makes eye contact with me as his mother releases his arm so he can retrieve his car keys. He looks close to panic and I feel him tap my foot with his.
He hands over the keys and I offer him a smile and a subtle tip of my head. “Thanks.” I focus on his mother again. “I’m so sorry to interrupt.”
“Oh, not at all, Carter.”
Yeah, what’s she going to do? Bitch out a wounded vet who needs his meds?
Riiiight.
Despite how I want to grab Owen and get the fuck out of there, I keep my gait slow and pained, limping, taking my time. I make it look good, pausing at his car and sitting in the passenger seat with a pained grunt, in case anyone’s watching me from the house. I make a show of searching for something, including hauling myself out of the car and looking in the backseat, spending several minutes making this charade look real.
When I finally return to the house, I immediately head directly for Owen.
I don’t know if he realizes I’m keeping his keys, for now.
“Man, I amreallysorry. I think I left my meds sitting on the counter back in our room. I can’t find them. I could have sworn I’d put them in my pocket.”
Owen’s a quick study, for sure. “Oh, we really need to get you back, then. How overdue are you?”
“An hour.” Everyone’s already heard the story about how I was injured, so no one’s going to question me about that, or be so gauche as to ask me specifically what my meds are for.
Hopefully.
If they do, I’ll simply glare at them.
“Yikes,” Owen says.
I turn to Elandra. “Ma’am, I amsosorry about this. I feel like such an idiot.” I glance at Owen. “I mean, I could drive home and take them and come back to get you, if you’d rather? I’ll pay for the gas—”
“Don’t be silly,” Elandra says. “It’s quite all right, Carter.” I’m sure there’s a flare of panic in her that perhaps someone went in to the bedroom and swiped the pills from my blazer pocket, but she doesn’t say it, and neither do I. The way she speaks just a touch faster than she was before betrays her.
The last thing she needs is for anyone to think someone stole a wounded vet’s medication while in her home.
“But I feel so bad about this. I know Owen was looking forward to tonight. He was so excited when he received your text the other morning.”
The narcissist is slick, but very predictable. Now she’s annoyed at me and not Owen.
Which is exactly what I wanted.
