Page 78 of When Darkness Calls

I pull my phone from my back pocket, careful to keep the screen tilted in just the way to shield his view. There was nothing on my screen aside from the time, the background image of me, Cade, and Mom staring back at me.

Cade.

Shit, he’s going to be pissed I didn’t tell him I was on a date, let alone I was here, but fuck it. I’ll deal with his lecture if it means I can get the fuck out of here.

“It’s my brother. It seems like something important. I’m going to call him really fast. Do you mind getting me something to drink?” My smile widens, lashes fluttering. God, I feel sick.

“Of course. I’ll be right back.” Ethan gives me one last look, then he leaves.

I skirt around the makeshift ring, towards the far side of the room that’s stayed relatively empty near an opening that’s much more brightly lit than the rest of the warehouse. I wonder if it leads to the bathrooms? Or maybe a back exit.

Phone in hand, I move between the people lingering near the fight and dodging the swaying, grinding bodies dancing closer to the walls. The last couple hours more and more people have arrived and it’s only just beginning to feel a bit overwhelming.

Just as my feet cross the cracked concrete floor under the first light of the hall, a sharp voice calls from further down.

“What do you think you’re doing here, Doll?”

Alex stands in a large doorway at the end of the hall, shock and confusion marring his features.

Relief settles in my bones.

Just over his shoulder, someone speaks, the sound is muffled. Grayson peeks out of the room, wearing a matching expression.

Then, as if I had resurfaced from the frozen lake, I took a deep breath.

And I finally feel like we’re alone.

twenty-four

Grayson

After a day of nothing but staring at my phone, or my TV, or really not doing anything, my phone ringing is like seeing a buoy after being lost at sea.

These “self-care” days Keegan and Alex have mandated for all of us are seriously the bane of my existence. I cannot handle the boredom any other time, but now, any spare time I have I’m itching to see Dani.

“Please tell me you got something for me to do. I’m dying here.” My voice is rough from not speaking for hours upon hours today.

“Um, hi.”

My heart stops. A lump forms in the back of my throat, and my mouth runs dry.

“I’m not sure what to say.” She speaks calmly. Her tone is even, and yet it's strong, unwavering in the face of this crazy idea she has.

“Dani,” I choke out in a hoarse whisper.

“Hello. I hope this isn’t a bad time.” I can hear her chew on the inside of her lip, taking a sharp inhale.

“No. Never. Never for you. What—” I stop.

FUCK!

She’ll know it’s me. She’ll know my voice.

Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuuuck.

Okay, Grayson. You can do this. Just…

I clear my voice, praying to whoever is listening that it comes out in the same rough, low slightly hoarse whisper. “Why are you calling me? Don’t you know this is a bad idea.”