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“Don’t be late.”
I look over my shoulder. “For?”
“Our safari tomorrow.”
“You want to go?” My pitch rises.
“Wantis a bit of a stretch. But I am willing.”
I grin. “Be ready by 5 a.m.” I walk across the deck and pull on the handle of the sliding door.
“Iris?”
This time, I turn around and press my back against the glass. “Yes?”
“If you try to leave me again, I’ll make you regret it.” The slight rasp in his voice does something catastrophic to my lower half.
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a promise.” His face remains blank, but his eyes rival the stars above us.
I blink. Somehow I pull myself together and nod before leaving the deck.
Declan’s words follow me all the way back to my room, but it’s not until I shower and crawl into bed that I realize what struck me as odd about what he said.
If you try to leave me again, I’ll make you regret it.
Not quit but leavehim. Such a strange choice of words for submitting a two weeks’ notice, but I believe Declan considers them one and the same. I think he would see me quitting as a slight against him. Maybe he would even go as far as to consider it some kind of betrayal after all these years.
He doesn’t need anyone.Cal’s voice plays on repeat in my head.
Except maybe me.
19
IRIS
Unlike yesterday, Declan is already waiting in the main living space for me at 5 a.m.Sharp.
“You’re late,” he grunts.
I groan. “By two minutes.”
“Here. Let’s go.” He slaps a Styrofoam coffee cup into my empty hand.
I blink at it. “Thank you?” I take a sip and sigh as the first dose of caffeine hits my throat.
He makes a noise with the back of his throat. “No need to thank me. Offering you caffeine is solely for my personal benefit. It tends to make you much more compliant.”
My jaw drops. “Excuse me?”
He doesn’t bother answering me as he exits the bungalow.
“Someone is mighty eager to get going today,” I call out to him after grabbing my backpack with all my supplies. The sun hasn’t risen yet, so I’m stuck sticking close by Declan’s side, using the lamps on the dirt path to guide us toward the meet-up location.
“The sooner we get out there, the sooner we get this over with.”
“Please keep your excitement to a minimum. I’m afraid the experience won’t live up to your hype.”
