“Will you at least stay in contact?” she asks.
I consider it. “Yes.” Because I’m not reckless. But I’m done letting them decide everything. “If you promise to stay in contact with me… this time.” I can’t help the last words. They echo the anger and bewilderment still flooding me at all that I didn’t know before this call.
“Noted,” she says. “You’re on your own from here, Marielle.” She adds, “Your alias remains valid. We highly recommend you maintain it, though we can no longer guarantee its security.”
The line goes dead.
I don’t move right away. The phone stays in my hand for a long moment, like I can’t let go of it or this moment.
Finally, I set it down slowly, breathing in and out.
That’s it. No more running… or waiting for the other shoe to drop. The realization settles deep, but it doesn’t scare me anymore, which has to mean something.
The front door opens behind me. I don’t turn right away. I don’t have to because I know it’s him. Pine and spice fill the air, and my chest warms, shoulders relaxing.
“Hello, Burgundy,” he says, sliding up next to me and pulling me close.
“How was your day?” I ask, pasting on my best smile.
“Fine. Though there’s plenty of gossip going around the station these days. You think we caused trouble?” Donovan says. “You should hear what Waldon’s up to.”
“Seriously?”
“Actually… better yet, let me show you.”
He pulls out his phone, scrolling before handing it to me.
I read:
Waldon
You still got bail money?
Donovan
Why?
Waldon
Hypothetically speaking… how bad is it if you kiss your best friend’s little sister?
I cover my mouth, laughing. “Oh, he’s in trouble.”
Donovan huffs. “He’s a dead man.”
I glance back at the screen.
Yeah.
He really is.
He closes his phone, setting it down on the table. Then, he stops, eyeing me for a long moment. “You alright?”
I nod once. Then I turn.
He looks as steady and solid as ever, like nothing in the world could shake him. But now I see it differently. He’s not just someone I might lean on. He’s someone I chose. And keep choosing.
“I made the call,” I say.
