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Rhys narrows his eyes at me, looking incredulous. "Did you think we broke up?"
My breath hitches. "Yes. No. Maybe?" I shrug. "I hurt you. You didn't want to talk to me."
"Babe," he sighs, "I know we haven't had the traditional dating start. Instead of fighting about where we want to go out for dinner, we argue about your secret brother, brainwashing, and a crazy stalker—two, if you count Kat. But that doesn't change the fact that we are together and will be for a very. Long. Time. If it's up to me. But we can still be mad at each other. Keeping the migraines from me and how they affected you was like a knife to the gut. The same goes for your cloak-and-dagger escape. But none of that changes my feelings for you. I just needed time to digest. We have to be better at communicating."
I hiccup a laugh between the waterfall running down my cheeks. I have no clue if these are happy or sad tears. Both, I think, based on my internal turmoil. "I promise I will never shut you out again."
"That’s all I ever wanted from you, babe—to let me in. Well, maybe I also want your sexy body... No, I definitely want that as well." He winks.
"You are in. I’m all in." He holds my gaze, and I add, "I love you."
"I love you, too, Calla." The A is drawn out by a yawn.
"Were you sleeping?" Is that why his hair is such a mess?
"I fell asleep during a movie. Wes just left, which is why I finally could call you back."
"I see." Hearing him say that he wanted to talk to me this entire time is like a soothing blanket. He’s not breaking up with me. We’re okay. He loves me.
He’s not breaking up with me.
I keep repeating it over and over in my head.
I’m about to tell him about the video when he yawns again and rubs a hand over his face. "Shit, I’m so out of it. I haven’t slept much the last few daaays." Another yawn.
As if on cue, I can feel one building up inside of me as well, and I try to suppress it—unsuccessfully.
"Why don't you go back to bed and call me in the morning?"
That way I can finish the video and tell him everything in the morning. I want to have all the information. My gut tells me there is a lot more on Brooks's video.
You’re keeping the video from Rhys immediately after telling him you would never keep anything from him again, my inner voice accuses.
I'm not. I want to have all the details. I justify myself against myself. I’m losing it.
We say our goodnights, and another yawn escapes me just as we hang up. I need caffeine. With the video still paused on the screen and my phone in hand, I head to the kitchen to make some tea.
While I waitfor the water to heat, Brooks's words replay in my head, causing my adrenaline level to skyrocket again. What else is on that recording?
When the kettle signals that the water is boiling, I grab it with a trembling hand and pour the water carefully over the tea-filter.
I need to tell Nate about the video, but I have no idea where he is, if he's alone, or what. Hoping his phone is silenced, I type out a message: Call me asap.
Realizing how that sounded, I add, I’m fine but found something. Need to talk to u!!!
I place the phone down, not expecting an answer right away. I'm on my way to the trash can to throw the filter of soggy leaves away when the beeping of the alarm system chimes. I peer over to the panel installed in all the main rooms. The message on the screen makes the blood in my veins run cold. "Garage Second Entrance disabled."
I stare at the blinking notification. What the—?
"Hello, Lilly."
I spin around at the voice, sending the tea dripping from the filter spraying across the kitchen.
No!
