Page 149 of Keeping Kasey
I’m on the brink of consciousness when my phone rings.
It’s a call I’ve put off long enough.
“Hello, Elise,” I say in a monotone that I hope clearly indicates my mood.
Of course, she doesn’t care one bit.
“You’ve been avoiding my calls.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy for me?”
“Too busy to fight you on coming to town, yes.”
“I’ll save you the trouble. Our flight lands mid-afternoon tomorrow.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I’ve already made the arrangements,” she says. “We’re only staying for the weekend, and I expect you and Kasey to come to dinner at the manor tomorrow night.”
I shouldn’t have answered the phone.
“She’s not going to agree to that.”
“Then I’ll bring everyone to the hotel. Either way, she’s having dinner with us.”
I lean my head back against my chair and close my eyes. “What possible benefit is there for you?”
Elise scoffs like that’s the most ridiculous question I could’ve asked. “You forget that I actually liked Kasey. I want to see her before you run her off again.”
“There isn’t much need to run her off. She’s eager to get out of here.”
“Gee, I wonder why.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Elise laughs. “Well, I’m not under the impression she came back because you asked nicely. What exactly happened?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I repeat.
“Fine. Don’t tell me, but I expect to see you both tomorrow.”
“That’s not happening, so you might as well stay home.”
There’s a pause. “Well, seeing Kasey is only half the reason we’re coming into town.”
As if I wasn’t having a bad enough day.
“And the other half?” I ask, though I’m fairly certain I already know.
“Joshua wants to check out the situation.”
“No.”
“Logan, you’d feel the exact same way.”
“I don’t care,” I snap and force myself to soften my tone when I remember who I’m talking to. “Elise, I don’t get mixed up in Moreno’s business, and he has no right getting mixed up in mine.”
