Page 56 of Barinov

Haley and I both crack up as the door slams shut behind him.

She grins. “So, where were we?”

“You were talking about O’Malley.”

“Oh yeah.” She nods. “Mac’s actually really funny when you get to know him. Had me and El in stitches by the end of rehearsal.”

I smile. “How is Ellie?”

“You mean how is Ellie? Or how is Ellie and Caleb?”

I blink. “Caleb?”

“Ugh! Briggs!” she shrieks. “You guys do know that the Black Books actually have first names, right?”

“I just…” I sigh. “I just don’t get it.”

“Look,” she says, the green hues in her eyes flickering in the lamplight. “I know you’re her big brother and you want to protect her. But Caleb’s good for her.”

“How can you know that?” I frown. “We just found out about their secret whatever-the-hell this is a few days ago.”

“I didn’t,” she corrects.

“What?”

“I’ve known since the masquerade.”

I sit up a little. “What do you mean?”

“When Caleb took us upstairs before Laing did his mind-meld shit or whatever he did to get Bella back, Ellie completely broke down. She fell into him sobbing and the way he held her.” Her voice softens. “It wasn’t just comfort, Cade. He held her like she was his entire world. Like he knew her. Way more than he should’ve.”

I stare at her.

“I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

“And you didn’t?”

“Well, I told Knox.”

“Of course you did,” I huff.

“What can I say?” She smirks. “Pillow talk’s sacred.”

“I wish she would’ve told me.”

“You can’t really blame her,” she says, twirling the end of her braid on her finger. “I mean between Luca and all the other drama this year?”

“Still,” I scold. “I’m her brother.”

“And you can be a little judgy,” she says, wrinkling her nose.

“I’m not judgy,” I mock, wrinkling my own nose right back at her.

“Oh please,” she snorts. “You moped around for over two months after you found out Bella’s past. Ellie remembered that, Cade. She was scared you’d freak out and made Caleb promise to keep it quiet.”

Her phone dings from the nightstand. She reaches over, picks it up, and laughs as she reads the message.

“What is it?” I ask.