Page 63 of Wicked Promises

I set my jaw. “You should’ve told me that my mother was there.”

“Oh shit,” Eli whispers.

I ignore it and focus on Caleb. The churning feeling in my stomach, that’s been with me since we left Lucky’s, only worsens.

“I didn’t know.” He reaches for me. “I only saw my mom.”

I keep out of range. It would be too easy to let him placate me with touch. He knew his mom—his high and mighty mother—was working there? Didn’t think to mention it along with the brief mention of the diner.

My stalker frequents that place. She’s got to be a suspect, right?

“She’s working where?” Liam asks.

“Lucky’s Diner,” Caleb and I say together.

My face heats. But then, when no more questions come, I look harder at Caleb. Then his friends. They’re all being a little… cagey.

“What did you do?” I ask.

Eli smirks. “We went to the junkyard.”

“The junkyard,” I repeat. “Why?”

Theo clears his throat. “Maybe we should take this to… anywhere else.”

Eli snaps his fingers. “To the couch!”

Liam and Theo gather the pizza boxes and follow Eli. I start to go, too, but Caleb holds me back.

“How was it?” he asks.

I tilt my head. “Which part?”

“Seeing them. I should’ve known Mother knew where your mom was, but I… believed her when she said she didn’t.” His expression darkens. “I wish you hadn’t gone alone.”

“Riley was with me.”

That doesn’t appease him.

“It was weird to see your mom. She was definitely shocked to see me, too. I think mine is working as a chef there, which makes sense… It’s what she knows, after all.” I look away.

He grips my chin, twisting my head back around. “Don’t hide from me.”

“Seriously? After all your hiding?”

“I can see you leaving as we speak.”

I push at his chest. “And where have you been? Lurking in the shadows. Following me and so-calledleadsaround town.” My voice drops. “We should be doing this together.”

His face softens. “Is that what you want?”

“To work with you on this? To spend time with you actually doing shit instead of avoiding each other?” I roll my eyes. “Of course that’s what I want.”

He smiles, and it lights up his face. The times Caleb Asher truly smiles are few and far between. But when hedoes, he’s easily the most handsome guy I’ve ever seen.

My heart skips a beat.

Damn you, heart.