Page 37

As my vision becomes clearer, I realize that I’m lying on my side on the ground with my cheek pressed firmly into a pool of my drool. Gross. I lift my heavy arms, pushing myself to a sitting position. Dragging my head up, I blink a couple of times to clear my vision. My eyes zero in on the cell bars staring back at me.

What the hell?

I’m instantly alarmed as my pulse skyrockets and my breathing accelerates. Turning to scan the rest of the cell, I nearly jump when I see a random, giant man passed out on the other end of it. No, not some random man. It’s freaking Callum Thorne. Tilting my head, I track the steady rise and fall of his chest. Relief overwhelms me as I scoot over to him, my movements slow and mildly painful. When I finally reach him, I sit up onto my knees and try to wake him.

“Callum,” I scream-whisper, shaking him roughly. He groans but doesn’t wake. Falling back on my heels, I release a heavy sigh and try again.

“Callum!” I shout, a little louder this time, pushing him as hard as I possibly can with the little strength that I have. “Wake up,” I grit out. After what feels like an eternity, he finally begins to stir to a somewhat wakeful state.

“What is it, Kaila?” he mumbles, groaning and rolling onto his back.

Kaila? Who the fu—

“Lydia?” he questions, his eyes fully open and on me now. I stare down at him, stunned and unable to mutter a single word when all of the things I want to say right now would not be very nice.

Kaila? I mean, duh. Of course, Callum Thorne is seeing someone else. He told me one date, and I guess he really meant that. No wonder he keeps pushing me away. How could I be so moronic to think that he might have felt a fraction of what I feel for him?

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his expression worried as he pushes to an upright position.

He winces, grabbing his left hand, still in a cast. A very dirty cast, might I add. As hard as I try, I can’t find it in me to feel sorry for him right now.

“I-I … nothing,” I say, averting my gaze. “Well, I mean, kind of everything. As you can see, we’re locked in a damn cell.” I wave my hand out to the small space around us.

He studies my face for a second, narrowing his eyes in suspicion before looking away and taking in our surroundings. His expression morphs into one of anger, perhaps mild panic, as he clenches his jaw hard. In an instant, he stands, pacing the small space with his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He’s unsteady on his feet, swaying a couple of times as I track his movements. My eyes follow as he paces back and forth, back and forth.

Ugh, I think he’s giving me motion sickness.

“Can you stop that?” I ask, peering up at him from my place on the floor against the bars.

He drops his gaze to mine, and I think I catch a hint of panic. “Stop what?” he grumbles.

“The pacing, and the brooding, and the clenchy jaw thing,” I say, growing grumpier by the second. I’m pretty sure he’s rubbing off on me.

He scowls down at me, a hint of amusement flashing across his features. “Then what would you have me do, love?” he asks, arching a brow.

“Well, I-I don’t know,” I say, raising my hands in question. “Maybe use those big broody muscles of yours to break us out of this thing.”

He sighs, dragging his gaze across the bars surrounding us like he’s actually considering my words. I was only joking, but I won’t stop him from trying and making a fool out of himself. It would be a nice form of entertainment, at the very least.

Hmm, that gives me an idea.

“Oh, come on, Callum. I know you can do it. With those big biceps and sculpted thighs, there’s really no better person,” I purr, laying it on thick even though I’m still very much pissed off.

I stare up at him through my lashes, giving him my very best ‘kitty cat’ eyes. It’s my version of puppy dog eyes, with a seductive twist. Men are simple creatures. If you play your cards just right, they turn into compliant little golden retrievers right before your eyes.

He swallows, trying hard as hell not to let on how much I’m getting under his skin. I can see straight through that shit, and I know my plan is working. I bat my eyelashes, darting my tongue out and running it over my lower lip. His gaze drops to my mouth, and for that fleeting second, I think he might give in to that desire I see burning behind his golden eyes. I hate how much I want him to, even as the name Kaila runs through my mind over and over again. I am no better than him, and the thought leaves a horrid taste in my mouth.

“Well,” I say, nodding toward the bars, “they aren’t going to break themselves.”

His expression hardens once more, and he sighs, moving toward the bars to take a closer look. Grabbing onto two of them, he pushes and pulls roughly. On a hiss, he jerks his left hand away, continuing only with his right. His thick biceps flex beneath his black tee, and I want so badly to know what the muscle would feel like beneath my palm. I shake the thought away, gasping when he drives his right foot back and swings it forward to connect with one of the lower bars. He does it again, and again, and … nothing.

I’m not surprised by this outcome, truly. I stifle a chuckle, watching as he pushes from the bars and runs both of his hands through his wavy hair. Tilting my head, I wonder what the loose strands would feel like between my fingers.

Ugh, no, Lydia, stop it. He has a girlfriend, who isn’t you. You do not want to be his side piece. You are not that girl. I’m clearly dehydrated or suffering from some sort of brain damage. That’s all this is.

“What?” he barks out, staring down at me.

“Nothing,” I say, smiling up at him.