Page 226 of Power Play

I’m thinking about you. I miss you. Come back to me.

His response took longer this time.

Ryan: All three?

I bit the inside of my cheek.

Charm: All three.

The phone rang before I could put it down. I answered with a smile already pulling at my mouth.

“You were supposed to be busy.”

“I am busy.”

“You called me.”

“You told me to come back to you.”

My chest tightened. “That wasn’t technically a command.”

“It sounded like one.”

“You’re very obedient for someone who argues constantly.”

Ryan laughed softly through the phone. “How was Klein?”

I sat straighter. “You’re going to hate this.”

“Why?”

“She liked the revision.”

“Obviously.”

“No, wait. It gets worse.”

“What?”

“She asked who had been helping me.”

Ryan went quiet for half a beat.

“I told her,” I continued.

“You told Klein I’ve been tutoring you?”

“I did.”

“And?”

I smiled because I had been waiting hours to give him this part. “She said Ryan was one of her favorite students.”

Silence filled the line, and I could practically see his face.

“You’re lying.”

“I am not.”