Page 72 of Speak of the Devil

“You do?”

“Yeah. Of course.” I hit the green button because why not? “Thank you.”

Laughter trails across the room. “Glad you like it. I really thought you wouldn’t because the beats are so bad.”

“They’re the worst.”

She laughs even louder. “It’s a gag gift, Shane. You don’t have to keep it the rest of your life.”

“It’s from you, so I’m keeping it.”

My words seem to give her pause, and a fresh smile grows on her face. That’s what stops me in my tracks. She’s breathtaking even when she’s not trying, maybe more so. Looking around, I ask, “What can I take to the car?”

“Let me get my suitcase.” She rushes into the bedroom.

“Suitcase? It’s two days.”

Pulling a carry-on into the living room, she shrugs. “It’s not big, but it was easier to pack the essentials in this. Plus, I could organize by day.” I have no doubt she took the extra step. I once threw out the word orderly like it was an insult. Since then, I’ve worked on getting my life together and have discovered that being organized isn’t such a negative concept to me anymore. Clarity came with more sleep over time.

She pulls a tote bag from the kitchen, looping it around the suitcase’s handle.

I tuck the toy into my pocket and start for the car with her stuff. Scene of the crime is correct for how it made me feel. Shitty. I left when I should have stayed back then, but that’s too much to get to when we’re trying to reach Deer Lake before the day gets away from us.

I click open my car, but before I can load her stuff in, Cat runs out. “I’m taking my car.”

Stopping, I stand there with her carry-on in my arms, unsure if my confusion is evident to her. This wasn’t something Iexpected. “You want to take both? I assumed we were riding together, but I can load it into your car, if you’d like.”

I’ve given her every out, and she’s still moving forward with this wild plan I’ve thrown at her. She looks at her car, then at mine, and back at hers again, a debate raging inside her. “To be honest, Shane, I worry about being stuck somewhere without transportation to escape.”

My hand rises, my forefinger and thumb sliding outward on my brow. I hadn’t considered how this would make her feel. I just wanted what I wanted, and it’s coming at her expense.

Fuck.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

“I want to spend time with you, Cat, but I’ll be honest. I never worked out the consequences of what this would mean to you. My intentions were good. I was giving you space, time, and whatever else you wanted to make this happen, but the results are not what they should be. Not for you, anyway. I owe you so many apologies. I don’t know where to start.” My thoughts are shooting like darts in all directions and hoping to land on something solid. I start back for her apartment with her suitcase and bag in hand.

“Hey, Faris?” Just past the stairs that hide her front door from the world, I turn back. Her arms are wide away from her sides, head tilted, the crack of a smile revealing itself. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know anymore.” Truth laid bare. I’m lost when it comes to her.

“I packed my bikini for the lake.”She plays dirty.

I look down, trying to hide the grin that will surely offend if caught on my face. But visions of her in a bikini aren’t easily swept from my head. “What are you saying?”

Her expression softens as she lowers her arms and clasps her hands in front of her. “We should get on the road. The day will disappear before we know it. You know how LA traffic is.”

Our eyes stay fixed for a few seconds before I return to the back of her Toyota. I don’t think we need to have a long-drawn-out conversation. There’s no impasse keeping us from moving forward this time. “Pop the trunk.”

She walks to my car, parked two over, and says, “I was thinking we could ride together.”

“I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

Shifting on her feet, she moves around me and quirks a smirk. “Maybe we’ll leave the keys on the counter.”

I look down at the keys in my hand. “The keys to my custom-designed Ferrari? My initials were hand-embroidered on the driver’s headrest.”

She kicks a tire as if checking for air. I flinch from witnessing the abuse. “These look like an upgrade as well.”

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