Page 40 of Fated to Her

“God, you smell like you bathed in Calum’s scent,” Eli mutters before shaking his head and turning to look at Calum.

He shrugs. “You said not to let her away from my side.”

Eli nods, though Addie’s thoughts are all over the place, like she is trying to avoid thinking of something, which instantly makes me suspicious. I know something is up when she glances over his shoulder at me only for her eyes to dart away when she sees I’m watching them.

Emery places the bags on the counter before turning to Calum. She, too, won’t meet my gaze, so I know something is up. I just have to figure out why they are both on edge. Addie will break; she doesn’t have the years of practice Emery does at keeping her thoughts secure from me.

“Come on, Calum, we should let them be,” Emery says, grabbing his arm and tugging him toward the elevator.

“Did you have fun?” Eli asks Addie.

“Fun? No, your sister bought half the store, my feet are killing me, and this underwear is creeping up my ass,” she says, making for the bedroom, trying to pull her wedgie out.

I shake my head at the sight before turning to Eli, who is staring after her.

“Calmer?”

“Much. I don’t like her leaving without us,” he says.

“I haven’t noticed,” I tell him sarcastically.

He huffs at my comment. “Did my sister seem off to you?”

Yes, she did, but he has enough stress with his feud with his father; I won’t add more to it.

Addie walks back out of the room with my sweatpants on and Eli’s top, and I know it will probably be a while before she agrees to leave the place again. I lean over where she flops on the couch and kiss her cheek. She reaches up, touching my face.

“I know you’re hiding something,” I tell her, and she turns to look at me. “I’ll figure it out,” I tell her. She chews her lip nervously.

“Hungry?” Eli asks, going into the kitchen.

“No, I ate while I was out,” Addie tells him, glancing over the back of the couch before locking eyes with me.

“Well, I am so you can eat again,” he tells her, rummaging through the pantry and snatching out ingredients to make something.

Addie rolls her eyes but says nothing.

Chapter 11

• Adeline •

Cyrus is onto me. He knows something is up and reciting the ABCs and that stupid song from an ad I saw in my head is becoming irritating. Eli is cooking something that smells wonderful, and Cyrus comes over, lying on the lounge and placing his head in my lap. I brush his hair with my fingers.

“So, are you going to tell me or make me figure it out?” he asks.

I glance over the couch at Eli.

“He isn’t paying attention, Addie,” he says, gripping my chin and turning my face back to his in my lap.

I say nothing. I don’t want Emery to get in trouble and continue thinking of that incessant TV ad.

“I’ll figure it out, but you can keep your secret for now,” he says, turning his face toward the TV.

“How is the rebuild going?”

“Annoyingly slow.”

“Any news on Sam?”