43. Going To The Party
Going To The Party
Fly
“Who should we talk to next?” Sheri glances down at the notes she started taking on her card.
“There might be another clue in the conservatory. We should try looking there again.” I grin down at her.
“The conser—Nope, I’m not falling for that one again. We are playing this game, not kissing in the conservatory for two hours.”
“We don’t have to kiss for another two hours. I’d be okay with just an hour. Then we should start looking for a snack.” See, I’m a reasonable man.
“It started out as just being five minutes. Don’t think you’re conning me, mister.” She pokes my good shoulder.
Like I haven’t noticed how she shifts to my unbruised side every time we move. That’s what started the first kissing streak.
My phone chimes. Something it hasn’t done all day. Probably because we’re near a window. I should ask for the Wi-Fi code so that I stop losing connection. My brothers know where I am if there’s an emergency.
But they all also know I’m on a date…which means—
I pull it out so quickly.
Unknown name
We’re meeting on Willow Street. Come prepared. 9pm tonight. Everett
No.
No.
No. Not again. Not while we’re on a date.
Well, a sort of date. I need to leave now if I’m going to be on time.
“What’s wrong?”
The words won’t come out of my mouth.
“Something happened with the thing you can’t tell me about.”
I nod.
“And you have to leave again.”
“Yes. I don’t want to. This has been the best…second sort of date.”
She shakes her head. “Nope. This doesn’t count as a date. For it to count as a date, you need to officially ask me out and plan something fun. We just hung out at a friend’s event.”
“So is this your way of telling me I need to ask you out again soon?”
She takes a step forward and wraps her arm around my shoulder. “It could definitely be.”
“Message received.” I lean forward and give her a peck on the lips. “But now I’ve got to go.”
“Will you be back tonight?”
“Probably not.”
“Will you have more bruises when you come back?”
That woman asks the right questions. “Possibly.”
Her brows wrinkle.
Is she about to ask me not to go?
Would I stay here if she asked me?
I’d hate it, but I’d probably say yes to whatever she asked, then regret it.
“Stay safe.”
What?!? “That’s all you’re asking of me?”
She shrugs. “Yeah. You showed me the man you are. And I respect your decision. Just be careful and stay as safe as possible.”
Those words change nothing and everything. Forever just took on a deeper meaning…
***
I step out of the castle as Havoc, Rogue, and Bishop are getting into their vehicles.
“Want a ride?” Havoc asks.
That might mean waiting for a ride back to the castle. Though I doubt he’s going to tarry with Greer staying here. “Nah. I’ll take my bike.”
“Sheri good with this, or do we need to worry about Vex killing you?” Rogue teases.
“He doesn’t need to worry, but you do.” Vex’s voice booms from behind me.
I’d jump, but that would show weakness, which isn’t something you do with a predator like Vex.
“You all in a rush to get somewhere without inviting me?” He stops on the stair next to me, folding his arms with a glower.
“We didn’t send out the invites. That was Everett and Max,” Havoc rushes to explain, aka, prevent our imminent slaughter.
“He’s probably still a little irritated with me that his fiancée almost got bit by a cobra.”
That would make me grumpy.
“I’m coming to the party, anyway.”
Having him along for the ride isn’t a bad thing as long as he doesn’t fight with Max the whole time. Though they don’t call him Max Rage for no reason. He can hold his own.
Taylor steps out of the castle. “Thanks for the invite.”
Wait. “If you’re coming, who’s watching the women?”
“My team is on it. And I hired a few subcontractors to help. Don’t worry, they’re good.” Taylor runs the best security company in the world, so that sounds good enough to me.
“They better be, or you’re dead,” Vex doesn’t bother to mutter the words under his breath.
“You hired me. You wouldn’t have done that if you didn’t trust me.” Taylor grins like he’s dealt with Vex more than once.
“Are we going to stand here all night, or are we going to kill someone so I can get back to my wife? She doesn’t like sleeping alone.”
Do I actually have something in common with the crazy man? Sheri seems to hate sleeping alone as well.