Page 136 of His Good Girl

“Tomorrow, you do not try to solve the relationship in the elevator.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“You absolutely were. I could hear you pre-writing a speech.”

“I had maybe a few bullet points at best.”

“Avery.”

“I don’t want to walk in there and not know what I am to him.”

Her expression gentled. “Then ask.”

“Just ask?”

“Yes. Radical, I know.”

“What if he says something awful?”

“He won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know enough. That man gave you exits before he kissed you and severance before he touched you. He may be morally complicated, but he is not careless with you.”

I swallowed.

That was true. It was also what made the whole thing harder. Callum, unfortunately, kept giving me choices and then making the dangerous one feel like mine.

My phone buzzed shortly after nine.

Callum Rowe:I’m back. Meeting ran long. Are you home?

My heart, traitorous thing, lifted so hard it almost hurt.

Jules leaned over my shoulder. “He says ‘are you home’ like an overbearing husband and a security consultant had a baby.”

“Stop reading.”

“You held the phone at a readable angle.”

I typed back.

Me:Home. Jules is here. We ate soup and discussed my moral decline.

His reply came after a pause.

Callum Rowe:I assume Jules had notes.

Me:Footnotes. Appendices. A proposed documentary. Maybe we should introduce her to Benjamin.

Callum Rowe:Terrifying idea. Sleep tonight.

I looked at the message for too long.

Then another came through.

Callum Rowe:Tomorrow will be work first.