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“Nothing, let’s go.” War reached for the backpack but she yanked away.
“Aww fuck, I’m out,” York mumbled, stepping around War, who didn’t bother acknowledging him. He kept his eyes on Cali.
“It’s not nothing. I heard what he said. He asked if you were fucking Merritt’s girl.” Cali’s pulse sped up, her heart clenched and beat erratically in her chest.
“Cali…” War said quietly.
“No, answer the damn question. Are you fucking Merritt’s girl?”
She knew the answer the minute his eyes met hers and she felt like someone had gut punched her. “You…you knew him. You knew Merritt? Is…is that why you were there that day, at his grave? You were there to see him.”
No, I was there because I was following you.
“Can you just let me explain?”
“No!” she yelled.
“Cali, what’s wrong?” Conner stopped next to her sister and pulled Cali to her side.
“Answer the gotdamn question, War. Did you know Merritt?” Her voice trembled as her body thrummed with anger and she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“I knew him.”
“Oh my god,” she rushed out. “How? How did you know him?”
“He was my cousin.”
She almost collapsed. “Your… He was… Did you know about me?”
When her eyes met his, that look was there again, guilt, remorse. “You did. You knew.”
“Cali, let me explain…”
“Oh my god, I’m so fucking stupid. This was all a game. You knew who I was, you knew about me and Merritt…”
“It’s not a game, love. It was never that.”
“Then what is it? Because this feels very wrong, so fucking wrong.”
“Let me help you get your sister’s stuff and we can talk when we get back to my place.”
“Your place…” She quickly shook her head. Cali felt conflicted. Every inch of her body called out to War, wanted him near, needed him, but her heart and mind were struggling to keep up. Nothing about this situation felt right. No matter how right he felt. She had so many questions. Questions she couldn’t formulate the words to ask at the moment. “We’re going home. I can’t…” She shook her head once more.
“You can’t what?” His expression shifted and turned hard.
“I need to deal with Conner. I can’t do this with you right now...”
Fuck.
War knew what to expect. He understood his position and that as soon as Cali found out who he was and how they were connected, things would change. “Will you at least let me get you home? We don’t have to talk. I just want to make sure you’re good, Cali.” His eyes shifted to Conner. “Both of you.”
“You can take us home,” Conner said and her conflicted gaze darted over to Maurice who was watching her intently with wrath in his expression.
“Conner…” Cali was prepared to argue but Conner shoved the suitcase she was clutching toward War.
“It’s just a ride, Cali. You don’t have to talk. I’ll even sit up front if you don’t want to. I need to leave. Please. If I don’t do this now, I may never have the chance to. We both need to be as far away from that asshole as possible.”
Conner’s pleading gaze locked with Cali’s. She nodded and War relaxed, taking the suitcase Conner shoved his way and the larger one next to Cali. He grabbed and balanced a few more things, shielding them both from the stairs where Maurice was sitting but that didn’t stop him from trying.
