I’ve seen her fake phone calls to escape awkward small talk.
But this?
This doesn’t bother her?
Why?
She reaches up and cups his face. The gesture is so familiar, so tender, it’s like a punch to the gut. It’s the way you touch someone you know, someone you feel something for.
Have I been so blind as to miss the fact that she’s been making connections while I’m busy feeling sorry for myself?
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. I got away from him. I’m safe.”
Alek’s eyes soften as he stares down at her, and something in my chest goes cold. I know that look. I’ve worn it. I just never expected to see it on someone else’s face.
“Not for long. He’ll be coming back. With reinforcements. And he now knows where you work and where you live. You can’t stay here, Kallie. You’re not safe anymore.”
“Pretty sure none of them can come in without being invited.”
Kallie’s tone has a hint of sass, her eyebrows raising in challenge, making Alek rear back in surprise.
There she is.
Terrified five minutes ago and already arguing with the bastard.
That’s the Kallie I know.
But once again I feel several steps behind.
What the fuck are they even saying?
“You know this and yet you let me step inside your home?” The tall asshole’s eyebrows raise in what seems like genuine awe, like he’s impressed with Kallie.
She has that effect on people. She effortlessly leaves an impression, without even realizing she’s doing it.
“Technically, Casey let you in. I was going to leave you out in the hall.” She says my name and I glance over, but she isn’t looking at me. Instead, she has a little smirk on her face that makes Alek chuckle.
Are they… flirting?
I open my mouth to say something, to break the moment, to insert myself right smack in the middle of whatever is happening here because I’ll be damned if I’ll let the tall asshole charm his way into Kallie’s heart right here in my fucking house.
Kallie can flirt and date whoever she wants, I never deluded myself in thinking I could have her all to myself, but right here in our sacred safe space? This is mine. Ours.
I regret inviting the fake cop inside our apartment, and I’m about to tell him he needs to leave when a knock on the door interrupts us all.
I cross to the door, my hand just closing around the knob, when Alek somehow beats me to it and slams a hand on it, closing it with a bang.
“Don’t.”
One word. That’s it.
Except his tone is now hard, unyielding. Bossy as fuck.
What the hell? This is my house. What’s his problem?
“Get out of the way.” The words come out even, but inside, my pulse hammers a frantic rhythm against my ribs. That is until I hear the weird hissing noise coming from the other side.
“The flower... Give ussss the sssweet one...”
