Page 46 of Smash

“Yeah. That’ll be good for you.” His eyes then veered to the right. “Talia…”

“What?”

“Whatever you do, don’t turn around.”

Of course I didn’t listen. I immediately whirled to find two beady little mouse eyes staring back at me.

I let out a blood-curdling scream before running out of the room and up the stairs.

If that wasn’t karma, I didn’t know what was.

CHAPTER 13

“Hey, babe. Can you do me a favor today?”

I grinned. “Only because you did me one last night.”

Calder chuckled and stepped closer, and I took over fixing the knot in his tie.

“What do you need?” I asked.

“Could you drop the cordless drill downstairs at Rafe’s?”

I froze mid knot. “Can’t you do it on your way out?”

“I tried when I went for my morning run. But his door was closed.”

“Really? His door is never closed. He leaves it open so he can listen for his aunt.”

Calder smirked. “He probably wants to hear his aunt, but he doesn’t want his aunt to hear him. I think he had his girlfriend over last night. Sarah. I heard someone go out the front door when I was going down the stairs earlier.”

“It’s Cara.” I tightened the knot and stepped back, suddenly needing space. My face felt hot just from hearing about Rafe’s stupid sleepover. I turned and headed for the closet, eager to get out of my bathrobe and get dressed. “Yeah, sure. I’ll drop off the drill.”

Calder came to the bedroom a minute later to get his suit jacket. He slipped it on and leaned in for a kiss. I went through the motion, but my heart wasn’t in it. When he pulled back, he lingered like he was about to say something. Then he didn’t.

My brows pulled together. “What?”

“Is everything okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

He shrugged. “I just noticed you have dark circles under your eyes. I don’t mean that to come out wrong—you always look beautiful. But you’ve been tossing and turning in your sleep lately.”

“Oh.” I shook my head. “It’s just the mattress. It’s firmer than the one I had back home. I’m still getting used to it.”

Another lie that slipped out too easily.

Calder wrapped his arms around my waist and tugged me closer. “Too firm, huh? Sounds like something I could fix.” He brushed his lips with mine. “I think I know a good way to break it in.”

I laughed, though it wasn’t real, and he didn’t seem to notice.

He kissed my forehead and headed to the kitchen to grab his keys and wallet. “I shouldn’t be home late.”

“Great,” I called as I followed.

He waved, and the door shut behind him. The apartment went still. I stood there for a moment, listening to the quiet. Then my eyes drifted to the counter and the cordless drill Calder had asked me to return. To Rafe. Who had been downstairs with his girlfriend. With the door shut.

My chest grew tight as I continued staring. “This is ridiculous,” I muttered, tearing my gaze away as I let out a long breath. “Nope. Not doing this again.” I turned and walked straight to the bedroom to get my journal. I’d started writing in it more recently, hoping it would help with the intrusive thoughts that kept creeping in—thoughts about Rafe.