Page 67 of Anton

I clear my throat, trying way too hard to sound natural. “Oh, hey. What’s up?”

Don’t act relieved to hear from him. He doesn’t deserve that.

“Nothing.” I catch the heavy exhale that follows.

“How did you get my number?”

A dry chuckle leaves him. “I have ways.”

I roll onto my side and pull the blanket higher. “Okay. So…do you need something?”

“Thora…” He sighs, and my grip firms around the phone.

“What?”

“I…”

You what? Missed me? Regret disappearing for a whole fucking week? Realized you’re emotionally constipated and mildly ruining my life? Or maybe you’ve finally figured out you’re a giant asshole I somehow want to protect from the world—which is ridiculous, because the world needs protecting from you.

I squeeze my lashes to a close.

Okay, Thora. Calm the hell down.

“Can I come over?”

My eyes fly open. I didn’t expect that.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

Another harsh exhale leaves him. “Please.”

The word tugs painfully at my heart. Damn it. Why did he have to say please?

More importantly, can I really bring him here? No one knows about this place. What if he tells someone and this blows up in my face?

“All right,” I say before I can talk myself out of it. “If you must. But only for a little while. I have plans later.”

A deep-chested sound escapes him, almost like a growl. “With who?”

I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see it. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“Everything you do is my business.”

I let out a snicker. “I haven’t heard from you in a week. So no, Anton, nothing I do is your business.”

“Then why did you just tell me I could come over?”

“That…” I pinch my eyes shut. “…is actually a really fair question that I don’t have a good answer for right now.”

Because what am I supposed to say? That I missed him? That despite how angry I am at him, I still want him here anyway?

God, this is so bad.

His laughter comes easy and unguarded, and somehow, it’s become my favorite thing to hear. “I’ll be there in ten.”

“Oh.” I straighten. “I’m not at the farm.”

“I know.”