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I pushed it away.
Elias got enough of me.
This time—and Todd—were for me.
“You know I just want you to be happy, right? That’s all I’ve wanted whether we were together or not,” Todd said.
Words Elias would never say, but I reminded myself that didn’t matter.
“I’ve wanted the same for you. Always,” I said.
I put my hand on top of the table and covered Todd’s.
“I know. And I know I didn’t respond…well,” he said.
He’d been heartbroken and then angry when I’d broken up with him. Had said some things I knew he regretted, but nothing he’d said or done had approached what I’d deserved.
“I know, but it was a shock. Me breaking up with you came from nowhere, and I didn’t handle it the best I could have,” I said.
“It was a shock. But that’s the past now. We were just kids. And I don’t have any hard feelings. If nothing else, I hope we can be friends. We were friends before we were anything else, and that friendship was important to me. Still is,” he said.
“I—”
Whatever was going to say was cut off by the buzz of my phone.
“Somebody’s eager to talk to you,” Todd said, looking at the phone that lay next to me.
I didn’t bother to look. I knew exactly who it was—the same person who’d called twice before—just as I knew I was pushing my luck.
“Do you mind?” I asked.
Todd shook his head, and I stood, took a few steps away, and then answered the phone.
“Hello?” I said, not bothering to hide the annoyance in my voice.
“The driver’swaiting for you. Get back here. Now,” Elias said.
He hung up before I could respond, and I stared at the phone, not that it was the phone’s fault he was such an asshole.
I walked back over to the table but didn’t sit down.
“Duty calls?” Todd said, the expression on his face one I couldn’t quite read.
“I’m sorry, but it does,” I responded, not allowing how close to the mark he’d hit to show on my face.
He stood, and this time he hugged me without asking for permission.
I pressed my body against his and hugged him tight. Felt the familiar pang of nostalgia. Held him a moment longer, hoping to feel something else.
When I heard a throat clearing behind me, I pulled away.
I turned and looked at Narek, one of Elias’s men, who had driven me over. He gaze was aimed at Todd, and when he looked at me again, I saw that he looked almost apologetic.
That told me all I needed to know.
I turned back to Todd. “It was so good to see you,” I whispered.
“You too, Kayla. And I hope to see you again soon,” he said, a little smile playing on his face.
I nodded and then walked away.
With each step, thoughts of Todd faded.
In their place came nerves about what was awaiting me.
