Page 95 of The Photograph

Well, that was a waste of time. Now, I’m annoyed for calling him. I go back to Em who’s in mid-kiss with the attractive guy who’s been watching her since we entered the club and wait for one of them to come up for air. When she does, I tug her hand.

“Em, I want to go home, sweetie.”

She frowns and checks her cell. “Already? It’s only three something.”

I’m about to reply when my cell vibrates in my hand. It’s Gabe.

Emma grins while her kisser scowls at me. “Go answer your man and then we’ll go.”

I nod before returning to the lounge. “Hi, Gabe.”

“Aelin, when will you be back?”

I sigh. “The day after tomorrow.”

“You didn’t tell me you were leaving.”

I roll my eyes. “No, I didn’t.”

“Why not?”

I pace the darkened room. “You don’t tell me when you leave and frankly I didn’t think we had this kind of relationship.”

A girl’s head perks up from one of the low couches in the corner of the otherwise deserted room. She grins before she returns to her nap.

Gabe’s deep timbre yanks my attention back to my cell. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. I —”

“Fly back tomorrow, we’ll talk.”

“Let’s do that on Sunday. Bye, Gabe.”

Idiot. Him. Me. Idiots.

Back to Em’s apartment, I step out of the shower to find her sprawled out on the couch sound asleep. I remove her shoes and earrings, cover her with a blanket and go to sleep in her bed.

We spend the next day indoors with Sam and Mindy, and after a last cuddle with Sam, we grab a taxi to the airport.

At my departure gate, Emma squeezes me tight. “I love you, Ael.”

“Love you, too. I’ll text you when I land.”

Back home, I’m making my way to the exit when Jason appears before me, and I jump.

He chuckles and extends his hand. “Hello, Ms. Aelin. Can I take your bag?”

I pull my wheelie bag behind me. “Jason, what are you doing here?”

His lips press around his smile. “Mr. Matthews asked me to pick you up and take you to his house.”

Of course he did.“Jason, I want to go home. Go and I’ll tell Gabe it was my decision, so you won’t get in trouble.”

He nods and his lips twitch. “Ms. Aelin, let me take you home and you can call Mr. Matthews from the car.”

Once in the car, I take a deep breath and pull my cell out. “Hi, Gabe, I—”

“Where are you?”

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