Page 45 of The Silent Note

“Why not?”

“For many reasons, Sloane. Starting with it being unhygienic and very, very inappropriate.”

“There you go, overthinking everything again. Loosen up, Grey.”

“How about I loosen your?—”

The door bursts open and Sol stands in the brightly lit doorway.

He blinks at me. “Miss Jamieson?”

“Uh…” I freeze. And then I set the phone to my ear. “Sorry, mom. I gotta go.”

Sloane smirks at Sol like a tiger spotting prey.“Rawr. Who’s this hottie?”

“No one.”

“Huh?” Sol glances over his shoulder. “Are you talking to me?”

“No, Sol. I just… it’s nothing.”

Sloane waves her hands over his torso.“Look at those big arms and those dreamy brown eyes. Ay, papi!”

I stiffen in horror.

Sloane walks a circle around Sol, who can’t see her but he can definitely see the way my right eye is twitching.

“He looks a little wild. My type of bad boy. Is he single?”

“Miss Jamieson, are you okay?”

“Yes, er… you should go.”

Sol gives me another strange look before walking down the stairs.

“Bye, papi. Call me?”Sloane stretches on her tiptoes and waves, craning her neck to see over the banister.

Finn walks out next.

Sloane whirls around and her jaw drops.“I think I just died again.”

I glare at her, a not-so-subtle instruction for her to shut the hell up.

“You good?” Finn tilts his chin up, watching me with those onyx eyes.

“I’m fine.” I know better than to address Sloane this time, even though she’s in the background sayingthemost inappropriate things.

“You look a little… sweaty.”

I cringe when I hear Sloane using the words ‘choke’ and ‘me’ in the same sentence.

Dutch and Cadence join Finn in the doorway.

I donotwant to listen to what Sloane is saying about Zane’s twin.

“Miss Jamie—Grey!” Cadence pushes past Finn and grabs my hand, “Come inside. Sit down. You look like you’re about to faint.”

Zane must hear them because he appears out of nowhere. The next thing I know, I’m being hauled into his arms. I roll against his chest, inhaling his woodsy scent. He gives me a worried look as he carries me to the bed.

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