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“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Chapter Fifty

Bea

Cal knocks lightly against the open door.

Mabel is sitting propped up in bed with a book open across her lap and a pair of glasses balanced low on her nose. She looks up.

“Back already?”

Then she sees me.

“Mabel,” Cal says, and for the first time since I’ve known him, Callum Fox sounds almost nervous. “This is Bea.”

Mabel closes her book.

“Ah.”

Cal narrows his eyes. “What does ah mean?”

“Nothing.”

“It definitely meant something.”

She ignores him and holds a hand toward me. “Come.”

I glance at Cal.

He shrugs. “You heard her.”

I step closer and take her hand. Her grip is surprisingly firm.

“I’m Bea.”

“I gathered.” Her eyes are sharp and bright as she studies me.

Then she looks at Cal.

“The tutor?”

“Former tutor. I was helping Cal with anatomy, he passed.” I say quickly.

Mabel’s eyebrows rise.

“Good. Sounds like a forbidden romance, I love those.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.

Her attention snaps back to me and the corner of her mouth lifts. “Oh, I like her.”

Cal drops into the chair beside the bed. “Great. Glad this introduction is going well for everyone except me.”

Mabel pats my hand and lets go.

Then her expression changes.

Only slightly.