Page 22 of Endurance

I frowned, unable to mask the anger I felt from hearing the boys’ stories. I’d been through my fair share of shit, but I couldn’t imagine seeing my mother murdered in cold blood. A wound like that ran deep and would have long-lasting scars.

The waiter returned with Colton and Rylee’s drinks, then took our food orders. Colton and Rylee decided to share a sushi sampler platter, and Kallie ordered something equivalent to rabbit food—edamame, avocado salad, and a vegetable sushi roll. I, on the other hand, managed to find the only thing that looked remotely edible on the menu—steak teriyaki.

The conversation continued to be about the two boys Rylee planned to bring to tomorrow’s photoshoot, but I was only tuned in with half an ear. I was too preoccupied with the shades of purple twisted through in Kallie’s braid. The two times I’d seen her before this, her hair had been rainbow-colored, and I wondered how or why she changed the colors. There was a lock of hair that always seemed to spring free near her left ear. She was forever tucking it back, and I couldn’t tell if it was a nervous habit or if it was a hairstyle that refused to stay in place.

I had so many questions about her. She was like a riddle I had to find the answer to—but it was a riddle that certainly wasn’t going to be solved over just one dinner.

When the food arrived, I shook my head as if to clear it, and I forced myself to focus on the conversation at hand.

“When Eli first came to The House, Ryles said he wouldn’t let anybody touch him,” Colton was saying. “I didn’t realize how bad it actually was. I’m talking about full-on screaming fits. I saw it happen once when one of the younger boys at The House tried to be nice and hug him. It was brutal. My heart broke for the little guy, but they’ve made great progress with him.”

“Thanks to Colton,” Rylee added. “Eli’s love for race cars helped us break through some of his barriers.”

“I was planning on keeping the photoshoot candid—nothing staged,” Kallie said. “I just want everyone to relax and have a good time while the camera clicks away. Considering Eli’s issues, that’s probably a good thing. From what you’ve described, I don’t want a photographer to accidentally trigger him when trying to get a group pose.”

Rylee nodded her head in agreement.

“Eli’s therapist, Dr. Delaney, assured me that he would be okay for tomorrow. Just remember that there can be no physical contact with him, and all should be good,” she warned. My ears perked up upon hearing this.

“And if he’s not?” I asked. “Kallie is insisting on having the press there. What if something goes wrong?”

“Let me handle that,” Kallie said. “There are plenty of other things you need to focus on, including getting me a list of other possible problems that could arise.”

“Such as?”

“Crazy ex-girlfriends, a falling out with a friend, bad blood with a family member—stuff like that.”

“Right!” Colton scoffed. “Like Sloan has kept any woman around long enough for her to collect dirt on him.”

“Well, there was Skylar,” Rylee reminded with a teasing wink. “I think she lasted, oh… maybe two weeks? Then there was Erica. How long did you keep her around for, Sloan?”

“Alright you two. Enough. What can I say? I’m a busy guy. I don’t have time for the latch-on types.”

I glanced at Kallie, feeling slightly uneasy. I wasn’t sure why I cared about her opinion so much—I just did. Sure, I’d been around the block more than a few times, but I didn’t want her to think I was some kind of philandering skirt-chaser. Although, after my advance on her this morning, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what she thought.

“Two weeks or two months. It doesn’t matter,” Kallie waved off, then looked directly at me. “I need to know about any skeleton in your closet that could give you negative publicity. I’ve got six months to make it disappear. I also need to know about anything that could help you. What is your relationship with your parents like?”

I instantly stiffened and felt my jaw clench. An uncomfortable silence fell over the table.

“I’m sure that information is in the file you have on me,” I responded coolly. Kallie’s eyebrows pushed together in confusion.

“Actually, I don’t recall reading anything about them.”

“Well, Miss Know-It-All, I don’t know what to tell you then. I guess Milo was slacking.”

Kallie’s head snapped back, and she blinked twice, her expression showing that she was clearly offended by my words and tone.

“Sloan, is there something I need to know?”

Before I could respond, the waiter approached the table with the check. Taking advantage of the distraction, I signaled for him to hand it to me.

“I’ve got dinner covered,” I told the group and reached into my back pocket for my wallet.

“Nah, man. You don’t have to. I’ll split it with you,” Colton said.

“I insist. You can get it the next time.”

Kallie didn’t say anything but continued to look perplexed. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head. It didn’t matter. A basic Google search would tell her everything she needed to know.

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