Page 31 of Callan

“Wait. Can you do me a favor? Bring it to me,” he says, and the corners of my mouth slacken.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll pay for your time.”

Uh-huh. Sure.

“How much?”

“Let’s not talk numbers over the phone. I’m a few blocks away from where you live. Bev will give you the directions.”

Bev. You little…jerk.

“Of course, My Prince.”

The irony falls on dead static as he moves away from the phone and hands it to his minion.

I spend another minute with Beverly––Bev––on the phone and get the directions and the passcode to her building.

Moments later, I drop the phone on the couch and make a beeline for the closet.

Cussing under my breath, I peel off my robe and pull on my street clothes––sweatpants, a thermal top, warm socks, a wool scarf, a beanie, gloves, boots, and a winter jacket.

He is lucky that he pays me to do this crap.And I need the money.

Admittedly, it’s quite easy money.

But, boy, can you imagine working for such a dick?

Frowning, I grab my phone, his phone, and my keys and storm out of my place.

This is not how I imagined spending my evening.

A gust of icy wind pounces at my cheeks with tiny blades of frosted snow.

It’s cold, and the street looks spooky, the cars, trees, and buildings draped in fog.

I generally like this weather if I’m inside, holding a cup of tea and watching TV. Maybe that’s my problem.

I love staying in my comfort zone too much.

Well, forget about any resemblance of comfort as I cut my way through piles of freshly sifted snow and reach the next block.

And the next.

Fifteen minutes later, I look up at the building I’m supposed to enter so I can talk to him.

Dimly lit windows line the last floor.

That’s where the heartthrob…lives? I doubt that as much as I didn’t believe the phone he left behind was his main phone.

Whatever.

I thump my way up the stairs, punch in the passcode, and push the door open. I skip the elevator and take the stairs.

Later, I need a moment to catch my breath in front of his door. Or Beverly’s door.

First, I press my ear to it and listen.

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