Page 205 of Override

Maeve stares at me. I stare back.

I look down at the screen again. Another message.

Callum Rizzoli:

WAIT FOR ME.

Then another.

Callum Rizzoli:

SKEE. I MEAN IT.

I put my phone facedown on the table.

Maeve looks at it. Then at me. "Shouldn't you answer him?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't intend to wait."

Her mouth falls open slightly. "You really don't listen to anyone, do you?"

"That's not true." I stand and offer her my hand. "I listened to Rachel."

Maeve takes it and lets me pull her to her feet. "After arguing with her."

"Still counts."

She smiles up at me. The strange feeling in my chest comes back. I decide to ignore it.

I've already dealt with enough emotional development for one morning. "Come on."

She looks toward the hallway, but she doesn't move.

I wait.

Her fingers tighten around mine. "What if you're wrong?"

There it is. The real fear beneath everything else. I step closer.

"Then I'll be wrong." Her gaze lifts to mine. "And I'll bring you back here, make you coffee, and allow you to insult my glasses again."

"I didn't insult them."

"You stared at them for an uncomfortable amount of time."

"I said I liked them."

"Repeatedly."

Her mouth twitches.

I squeeze her hand. "But I'm not wrong."

She studies my face for another moment.