“That’s how rumors start.” Calliope chuckles. “They do say it’s easier to talk to strangers, though, don’t they?”
Strangers.
That confirms she really doesn’t remember me.
There’s no time for me to press, though, as I pull into the parking lot of the Angelic Jewels building. Several other people I’ve seen around the office are milling about outside the building, chatting about the end of their day while huddling against the cold. Those who can’t stand it are already hurrying toward their cars.
“That’s mine on the end,” Calliope says, pointing out her car. “The red one.”
“Is that a bumblebee on the roof?” I ask as I pull my car into park. A small antenna bounces back and forth on the top of her car.
“Yes.” She laughs. “Nick got it for me for Christmas. I’m not entirely sure those things are meant for cars, but it’s where he wanted to stick it and I’ll keep it there for as long as I can.”
“Cute.”
“Thanks for the lift,” Calliope says. “I really appreciate it.”
“It’s no problem.”
“You say that now, but if you’ve forgotten anything, we’ll need to take that warehouse tour again, and it won’t be as fun as the first time.”
“As fun?”
“Sure.” She unclips her seatbelt and opens the door. “There’s no mystery the second time around. Anyway, goodnight, Elijah. Thank you.”
She’s halfway out of the car when the words escape me like vomit, and my cheeks flush warm as my question reaches her. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
Calliope freezes, half in, half out of my car.
“From the ethical gemstone convention six years ago?”
She climbs out of the car, turns, and then leans back in. As our eyes lock, my heart jumps and the friendly warmth in her eyes has faded for something else, like a wall has suddenly formed between us.
“I do,” she replies, and my stomach clenches.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Her eyes drop away for a moment. “At first… I didn’t think you remembered.”
“And now?”
Those gorgeous, icy blue eyes return to mine. “The past is the past, Elijah. That’s all there is to it. Goodnight.”
She closes the door and hurries away toward her car, leaving me staring after her with both hands clutching the wheel. So, she does remember me.
Despite her immediate shutdown of any more questions, a bubble of excitement rises just beneath my ribs.
The past is the past, that’s true.
She is definitely in my future.
10
CALLIOPE
“Honey, you didn’t have to get me flowers!” Stacey leans forward and buries her face among the petals, inhaling deeply. “Oh, my God, they smell amazing!”
“I wanted to,” I reply, easing back in my seat. “You really saved my bacon a couple of days ago.”
