Page 49 of The Embers That Remain
“Guess you will,” she replied. That was enough.
The guy stepped back, clearly satisfied. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Take care of yourself,” she said, her tone shifting seamlessly back to professional. He walked out through the automatic doors, already looking down at the paper in his hand.
Cali watched him go. The second he disappeared through the doors, her smile vanished. She exhaled hard and rubbed the back of her neck.
Before I could stop myself, I stepped forward.
“Still doing that, huh?”
Cali froze, turned slowly, seeing me for the first time. When her eyes met mine, recognition flashed across her face, followed quickly by something more guarded.
“Lane,” she said. My name sounded wrong in her mouth.
I crossed my arms, leaning back slightly. “Didn’t take you long.”
Her brow furrowed. “Didn’t take me long to what?”
“To fall back into old habits.”
The confusion on her face was immediate. “I’m sorry—what?”
I let out a quick breath. “Still using that smile to get your way?”
Her expression became guarded. “I was doing my job.”
“Looked like more than that.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, stepping closer, her eyes fiery.
“I know exactly what I saw.”
“You saw a patient who wouldn’t take no for an answer,” she said, her voice firm.
“And that’s your solution?” I countered. “Play along? Give him your number?”
“I didn’t give him my number.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
Her jaw clenched. “You walked in on one moment and decided you understood everything.”
“Seemed pretty clear to me,” I said.
“Wow,” she breathed. She looked at me like she didn’t recognize me.
I kept going. “You always had a way of making things look one way when they weren’t.”
Emotions flickered across her features before she masked them.
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” she asked.
We held each other’s gaze.
“It means”—I took one step closer—“I guess I wasn’t the only idiot who believed you.”
The fire left her eyes. Her lips parted. Nothing came out.
