Page 233 of Only Be Mine

I had nothing to hide.

The screen lit up suddenly.

Seth was calling.

My pulse detonated.

Trevor’s typing stopped, nothing but silence from the office.

Waiting.

I stared at the screen long enough for it to look intentional.

Then I picked it up and answered.

On speaker.

“Hey,” I said, light. Almost annoyed. “I’m kind of busy.”

Trevor’s chair creaked faintly.

Seth’s voice was tight. “You okay?”

“Yes.” I forced a small laugh. “I told you, I’m fine. You don’t need to keep checking.”

“I just wanted to make sure,” he said carefully.

I let my tone sharpen slightly. “I’m not a child.”

Trevor shifted in his office. I could sense his approval in the movement.

“I know,” Seth said. “I just…”

“I’ve got this,” I cut in. “Okay?”

There was silence on the other end of the line, long enough to feel like a code.

“Okay,” Seth said finally. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I won’t,” I replied, and ended the call.

The house went quiet again.

A moment later, Trevor stepped into the doorway of his office, leaning casually against the frame. “You handled that well,” he said.

My stomach turned.

“It’s exhausting,” I said instead. “Everyone thinking I’m fragile.”

He watched me, trying to read past the surface. “And are you?” he asked.

I met his gaze steadily. “No.”

Something flickered across his face.

Respect?

Possibly.