Page 70 of Off the Grid
“Are you okay?” Leo’s voice drew her gaze from the window.
“Yeah.” McKenzie finally met his eyes, wondering if he could see the silent goodbye hidden within her own. “I’m fine. I’m just excited to go home.”
Then she crossed her legs, so he had no choice but to pull his hand away, and shifted toward the window. Returning her focus to the dark night outside, she tried her best to leave everything that had happened there behind her.
- 25 -
Leo
Leo reached for the phone on his desk, but halfway there, he let his hand drop with a thud against the heavy wood surface. A moment later, he lifted it…then put it down. He tapped his fingers and forced some air through his gritted teeth, then grabbed the bright red stress ball sitting behind the keyboard. Pushing off the ground with his feet, he swiveled toward the wall and threw the ball. He caught the rebound, then threw it again, then caught, then threw, repeating the motion for he didn’t know how long, until someone finally told him to politely shut the F up. He jerked in his seat and promptly returned the ball to its spot, then stared at the phone some more.
I should call her.
I should definitely call her.
I should—
What am I saying? I can’t call her.
Of course I can’t call her.
I—
Leo growled under his breath and leaned back in his chair, pushing off with his toes so it bounced back and forth as he ran over the list one more time.
Reasons to call her?
There’s only one—I want to.
Reasons not to call her?
She never actually gave me her number—I stole it from a federal database. We’ve only been back in New York for two days, so I’ll definitely come off like a desperate stalker. Oh, and there’s the fact that even though I gave her my number, she hasn’t tried to call me. Not once, at least since the last time I checked five minutes ago. So, yeah. That’s a pretty clear sign she doesn’t want to see me.
Leo sighed and tapped his fingers on the desk again.
What to do? What to do?
He reached for the phone and dialed before he could stop himself.
“Leo!” Manny’s voice was frustratingly cheerful as he answered the phone. “What’s up, big bro?”
“How’s Hawaii?”
“Oh, terrible. Just terrible. Worst place in the world.”
“How’s Mom?”
“Absolutely heartbroken that you couldn’t come on our brothers’ trip and she was forced to take the spot instead.”
“So she’s having the time of her life?”
“Pretty much.”
Leo rolled his eyes even as a grin came to his lips. He sighed dramatically for effect. “I’m glad someone is benefiting from my misfortune.”
A deep chuckle transferred through the line, and something else too, a gentle, repetitive crashing sound.
Leo sat up. “Are you on the beach right now?”
