Page 84 of The Last Love Story

Ettie screams, too, jumping back from her crouched position on the other side of the bed.

“Ettie? What are youdoing?”I whisper, watching her wide eyes dip from me back to Hux. In the time it’s taken her to look at us, he has pulled his knife out, his other arm snaking protectively around my waist to pull me behind him.

“I-I... was....” she stutters, and Hux steps closer.

“Answer the question,” he growls.

Ettie holds her hands up, relenting. “I was looking for more books!”

Hux and I both freeze in surprise.

“Books?” I ask.

Ettie looks sheepish, and a little scared. “I was in here a couple of nights ago, snooping because I was bored. I flopped on your bed and felt something under the pillow.The Lord of the Rings.”

A disbelieving laugh bubbles up inside of me. “Youwere the one who broke in here?”

Ettie slaps her hands over her face. “I’m sorry. It’s just... you know my dad. I can’t risk asking for books around him. I’d get a lecture, and...”

I sit on the bed across from Ettie. I reach into my bag—the one that has miraculously survived everything with barely a scratch—and pull out my copy ofDracula.

“Here,” I say, sliding it over to her. Her eyes light up as she grabs it. “But don’t sneak in here again, okay?”

Ettie nods, slinking to the door.

“I won’t tell, by the way,” she says, her eyes nervously darting over her shoulder.

“Tell what?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light and failing miserably.

Ettie rolls her eyes. “Tell what. Nice pants, Ripley.”

She opens the door, stopping short.

Ettie jumps, putting her book behind her back. From my perspective, I can see her expertly slide it into her waistband, so smoothly that I almost miss it. Perhaps Ettie missed her calling due to being the president’s daughter. She could have been a professional thief.

Only once she’s gone can I see who stands in the doorway.

“Callum,” I say. His eyes are ringed purple with exhaustion. Next to me, Hux tenses, and Callum’s eyes lock on him immediately.

“What are you doing here?” Hux asks.

Callum curls his lip at Hux, apparently wanting to ask him the same thing. “I heard a shriek,” he says.

This looks bad. I know that. Probably because itisbad.

When Callum steps into the room, the door clicks shut behind us. Just the three of us: Callum, Hux, and me.

“What is this?” Callum asks, motioning between Hux and me.

I go to answer, but Hux starts for me. “This is me bringing Ripley back to her room to get her things,” Hux says breezily. A little too breezily, almost like he’s enjoying the way Callum’s expression tightens at the familiar tone Hux is using.

“You mean you were bringing myfiancée home?” Callum corrects, and I step forward, putting myself between them at the foot of the bed.

“Is she your fiancée?” Hux bites out, and I close my eyes tight before opening them and flashing Hux achill outlook.

Callum crosses his arms and widens his stance. “Whether or not she still wants to marry me is Ripley’s decision. I won’t make that for her. Even though I’d kill anyone who made a move on the girl I love without her consent. But I know she sure as hell doesn’t need anyone else to speak for her.”

Callum has a point, as much as I hate to admit it. Hux seems to agree, because he steps back.