Page 63 of Never Forget

Hell, I already miss him, and he’s been here all day. I could feel his eyes on me, watching me, begging me to trust him.

Except that I do trust him.

In my shock, upset, and confusion over everything that’s happened and then having the texts piled on top of it all, I never once doubted him.

Realizing my opinion matters here, and that Blake and Cory might listen to me if I tell them I won’t accept another bodyguard, I turn in the opposite direction of the group heading to the elevators.

“Naz?” Emmy calls out.

“I’ll be right behind you,” I say, then think better of it in case I need more time. “Just head to the condo, I’ll meet you there.”

Emmy beams at me like I’ve done something to make him proud. It’s not like anyone else can argue. None of them can look me in the eye without tipping off whoever is watching the cameras that they aren’t who they’re supposed to be.

I don’t make it halfway down the hall before Cory comes out of Blake’s office.

“What happened?” I ask him.

Cory pauses, looking down the hall to see everyone gone already. He’s supposed to be leaving with the group, but so am I.

“I’ll explain when we get back to the condo,” he says, trying to usher me out.

“No,” I say, pulling my arm back. “I need to know what happened in there. Why isn’t Scott leaving with you?”

“Scott already left.”

I heard the words perfectly well, but it takes me too long to process them.

“What do you mean he left?”

“He didn’t like what he heard, and he walked out. I thought he’d cool off and come back, but he didn’t. I’m sorry.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. Scott wouldn’t just leave me like this.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Naz. I really am sorry. But we need to go, I’ve got to get everyone to the condo.”

“I want to talk to Blake.”

“There isn’t time right now, you can talk to him later.”

“You go. I’ll be fine.”

“That’s not happening and you know it.”

“Well, I’m not leaving, and if you try to make me I’ll make a scene and you know it. Tell Lawrence to wait for me if it makes you feel better.”

Cory lets out a frustrated sigh. “You’re worse than Jesse sometimes, you know that?”

I shrug, because that’s not my problem. I’m tired, confused, and pissed the hell off. It doesn’t even matter if Blake won’t listen to me, my heels have dug themselves in and my mind is made up.

Scott didn’t leave me. He didn’t.

“Fine. Lawrence will wait in the lobby and call a car service. You have fi–”

“Ten minutes,” I interrupt before he can finish.

Another sigh. “Ten minutes,” he agrees through his teeth. “Please don’t make my job any harder than it is right now, Naz. Your safety is my responsibility, and right now, that’s a pretty big job.”

“Okay,” I say softly, trying to placate him a little. I do feel bad for being difficult, but I have a manager to cuss out.