Page 95 of Stolen Hearts

We’ve hardly talked for a week—as if we’re forcing ourselves to create this wall of silence between us. But it feels good to tear it down and actually have a conversation like this. Honestly, there arefarworse women I could be forced to be married to.

Like, pretty much any of the women I’ve ever dated, for starters.

“Watched a lot of brainless television. Neve came over for a little bit.”

I nod as she looks at her plate.

“Got accepted to NYU’s MBA program. You know, how you do.”

I freeze, my brows arching as Callie casually chopsticks some noodles into her mouth.

“I’m sorry—what?”

Her lips curl up at the corners. Her eyes swivel to glance at me sidelong.

“I got accepted to NYU’s Stern School of Business. Well, it’s a preliminary acceptance. There’s an essay I have to submit and two different meetings with admissions before it’s official—”

She jumps when my hand lands on her, my long fingers almost circling her slim forearm as her skin prickles under my touch. Her cheeks heat as she turns to me.

“That’s incredible, Callie. Congratulations. You should be proud.”

She beams as she bites her lip. “Thanks,” she murmurs. “Not gonna lie, I’m pretty stoked. Especially because I’d already gotten rejected by like four other schools.”

“I didn’t even know you were trying to get an MBA.”

She shrugs. “I’ve been thinking about it for over a year. Ares doesn’t think I have enough undergraduate experience to make it at business school. Hades thinks I’m going to get bored within a month.”

I frown. “Well, personally I think you’re gonna crush it.”

She beams. “Thanks, Castle,” she says quietly. She takes a sip of her beer before glancing at me. “Okay, my turn. Tell me something about you I didn’t know.”

I frown. “What?”

“You didn’t know I was looking at MBA programs. Tell me something about you I don’t know.”

I shake my head. “Nothing to discover, Callie. I’m an open book.”

She snorts. “I’m sorry, that is legit the most egregious lie you’ve ever told in your motherfucking life. I don’t know athingabout you. How about, why did you join the army?”

I don’t like where this is going. “No reason.”

“Youjoined the armyfor no reason—?”

“No reason that needs to betalkedabout, Callie,” I add with an edge to my voice, willing her to drop it.

But, again, this is Callie Drakos we’re talking about. The queen of “not dropping anything, ever.”

“Huh. That sort of sounds like a reason to me.”

My jaw tightens as I glare at her. She shrugs innocently.

“What? I’m just asking.”

“Well,don’t.”

“Was it because your sister died?”

When I whirl on her with a dark fury in my eyes, it’s clear Callie realizes she just stepped way thefuckover a line.

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