Page 31 of Always: A Legacy Novel

Catherine stared at him as though he had grown a second head.

“What?” he asked.

“Why would I tell them I was breaking rules?”

“Why would you wait until you got to ten write-ups instead of telling them at eight?” Cross tapped the pad of his pointer finger on Catherine’s small nose. “I’m just saying.”

“I have a different opinion.”

“One that only makes sense to you because you don’t want to be in trouble earlier than you’re going to be anyway,” Cross replied.

Catherine gave him a dirty look. “Stop making sense.”

It was what it was.

“I don’t sugarcoat shit, Catherine.”

“You could try for me, Cross.”

“Especially not for you.”

It wouldn’t do her any good.

It didn’t benefit anyone to lie their way through life.

Catherine shook her head and went back to doodling.

“This weekend, Natasha is having—”

Cross made a face and said, “No.”

“You could let me finish.”

“It’s not my thing.”

“Let me finish.”

“Shoot,” he said.

“She’s having a bunch of people over, like for the night, but I was thinking I’d skip out with you and Zeke for a while on Saturday since I’m supposed to be at her place anyway. If you’d be able to get over there and pick me up.”

Cross liked that idea.

Except …

“I’m going to Chicago all weekend,” he said.

Catherine’s smile faded instantly.

He didn’t like that at all.

“Sorry,” he added.

She shrugged. “It was an idea. Are you going for your birthday?”

Likely business.

Cross couldn’t tell her that, though.