Page 217 of Only Be Mine

Trevor tilted his head slightly. “Aren’t you going to answer it?”

His voice wasn’t sharp. Not yet. It almost sounded curious.

I shook my head once. “No.”

The buzzing stopped.

The silence afterward was worse.

Trevor’s gaze didn’t leave my face. He watched me the way someone watches a poker table - waiting for a tell.

“Why not?” he asked.

I swallowed. Carefully. “Because he worries. And I don’t want to make things bigger than they already are.”

Trevor smiled.

Slow and approving. “Good,” he said softly. “That’s smart.”

My stomach twisted.

The phone lit up again almost immediately.

Trevor’s eyes dropped to it this time. Then back to me. “Put it on silent,” he said.

Not loud.

Not demanding.

Certain.

My fingers trembled only slightly as I pressed the button.

The buzzing stopped.

Trevor took two slow steps toward me.

I didn’t move.

Didn’t back up.

Didn’t give him the satisfaction of watching me retreat.

“That’s the right choice,” he murmured.

He reached for the phone and I hesitated, just long enough.

His eyes sharpened. “Cate,” he said.

I handed it to him.

He didn’t pocket it. Didn’t throw it.

He turned it off.

Completely.

Then he set it on the entry table, just out of reach.