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“So you’d rather be alone?”
“No I’d rather—” She was cut off by the sound of her cell phone ringing. She pulled it from the pocket of her jacket and checked the screen.
It was Breck.
Immediately, she covered the screen. She wasn’t ready to tell Harper about him. It would only take her a moment to put two and two together, and realize the guy she’d kissed back when she was a kid wasn’t named Brent or Brant. She should let it go to voicemail, pretend it was a work call, do anything to pull Harper’s attention from the way Caitie’s face was starting to redden, her heart sounding like a train hammering down the tracks.
“I should take this.”
“Who is it?”
“Um… a friend.” God, she was lame. Harper raised her eyebrows as Caitie swiped the phone and lifted it to her ear. “Hey.”
She turned to Harper and mouthed, “I’ll be back in a minute,” intending to finish the call in her bedroom.
“Who is it?” Harper mouthed back, catching her wrist before she could leave. “Don’t leave me hanging.”
Caitie rolled her eyes at her friend, but stayed where she was. “Nobody you know.”
“So you’re not dead?” Breck asked, his voice soft in her ear.
“Yep. I’m dead.” Caitie grinned. “This is me answering from beyond the grave. By the way, turns out in Heaven there are no oceans, no lakes, and no baths. My kind of place.”
“Is it Damon?” Harper mouthed furiously at her.
“No,” Caitie mouthed back. Trying to keep up two different conversations was harder than it looked. She really should have gone to her room.
“Very funny,” Breck replied. “I’ve been worried about you. Kept imagining having to tell your brother that I could’ve saved you from a serial killer, but instead I let you sweet talk me ‘round. I think I’d have joined you on the other side.”
“I didn’t sweet talk you.”
Harper’s eyes widened.
“Of course you did,” Breck said, his voice full of humor. “You always have. Remember that summer when you persuaded me to help you make mud pies in the garden? Your mom went crazy when we pulled up all her begonias to decorate them.”
“It’s a guy, isn’t it?” Harper mouthed. “What’s his name?”
“Breck, I’m sorry, Can you hold on? I need to go to my room. It’s really noisy in here.”
“Breck?” Harper said out loud. “As in Brant?”
Oh shit. Caitie swallowed hard and covered the mouthpiece. “Um…no…”
The next moment, Harper grabbed the phone from her hands, and ran out of the living room and into the kitchen. Caitie rushed after her, trapping her next to the stove, but Harper was holding the phone out of her reach.
“Hey, Breck,” she shouted. “This is Harper, Caitie’s best friend. Remind me, where did you two meet again?”
“Give it back.” Caitie jumped once, then twice, trying to grab the phone from her. But each time she tried, Harper moved back. Then she was running again, this time down the hallway, the phone against her ear.
“Is that right? You’re in Angel Sands now?” Harper was breathless from running. “Ah, yes Lucas, he’s a great guy, isn’t he?” She stuck her tongue out at Caitie who had caught up with her.
Harper was in the corner of her bedroom, her knuckles white from holding the phone. She was laughing, still listening to Breck.
Murderous thoughts galloped their way through Caitie’s head.
“Oh, Caitie wants her phone back,” Harper said, her voice as sweet as honey. “It was great talking with you, Breck. Oh, by the way, are you going to be in California for Thanksgiving? Caitie’s coming back and I’m sure she’d love to meet up with you again. I’ll be there, too. I can’t wait to meet you.” She paused while Breck replied, then said, “Oh yeah, I’m sure we can sort something out.”
Smiling sweetly, she handed Caitie back the phone. Giving her a death stare, Caitie snatched it away, turned on her heel, and walked into her own bedroom. Slamming the door, she locked the knob, and finally lifted the phone to her ear.
