Page 22 of Limbo

Beautiful? Forehead kiss? I disregard the whining that ensues when I snatch my phone away, and—unbelievable.

For the last twenty-three minutes, Cate’s been on the phone with Jordan freaking Waters.

“Jordan?”

“Callie?” He sounds concerned. As he should.

“What the hell are you doing, talking to my sister?”

“Uh … we were tired of texting?”

“What?” I check my texts and find a lengthy conversation between them. It includes several pictures of them making faces and all the ones she took of me. One in particular of him with his cheeks puffed out and his eyes crossed makes me laugh, and I slowly bring the phone back to my ear with a sigh.

“Does this mean you aren’t mad?” he asks warily.

“Oh, I want to be furious.” And I do. I really do. “But you distracted her long enough that I finished my assignment for Monday.”

“Sounds like you enjoyed a rather uncomplicated afternoon then.”

I smile, knowing he’s grinning his ass off at a victory. He deserves it though. From three hours away, he actually made my life a little easier.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Anytime, beautiful.”

I relinquish the phone back to Cate, who squeals.

“So, Jordan, I think we should talk about what happened on the playground last week.”

A while later, the phone lands in my lap, and she walks away.

Jordan’s still talking. “The best thing you can do is kick him in the shins.”

Terrible advice, but I smile anyway. “Bye, Jordan.”

He laughs, realizing she abandoned him. “Bye, beautiful.”

Supper dishes are drying in the rack, and I flip off the light in the kitchen on my way out.

I check in on Cate. She’s sprawled across her bed, the short way, dead asleep. All night, she entertained Connor’s friends with dancing and stories, casting her spell on each one.

Physically, the similarities between us are astounding, but she acts so much happier than me at that age. Something Connor and I have worked hard to achieve. Neither of us wants her to ever feel like we did growing up.

I close her door, careful not to disturb her unless I want her in my bed all night.

A gory horror movie plays on the giant TV in the living room. Connor adjusts his long legs so I can sit with him on the much-too-large wraparound sectional. The only thing on the walls in here is an Eagles banner, and a mini fridge hums next to the end table. If only Lauren furnished the house for her children with as much concern as she does her boyfriend. What a ridiculous thought.

I sit next to him, staring at the screen in disgust. A woman impales herself on a metal fence post while trying to get away from the murderer. These types of movies used to give him nightmares, and he would hide under the blankets in my room. At some point, they went from terrifying to fascinating in his mind.

Jordan texts as the murderer slides the dead woman’s body off the post. So unnecessarily graphic.

All right, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Well, him losing interest in me appears to be a bust. Thanks, Cate.

I send,Goodnight, Jordan. Monday.

His response pops up right away.Tomorrow.

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