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“Always, baby girl, always. I’m only repaying the favour.”

We disconnect, and I stare at my phone. Should I be jealous? Few people impress Samuel. He’s jaded. His past, like mine, has made him so. It’s why we’re two peas in a pod. But there’s something about Cal that he admires. I can see it in his stance and how they are around one another. I get the impression the feeling is mutual. After all, Cal went to him to track me down.

I move back into the main area and look at Chloe, who is busy trying to occupy herself on her phone.

“Let’s do this,” I say, which earns me a great big smile.

“Perfect,” she says, moving to the first rack. “We’ll start with casual and move up. Just so you know. I also have a case full of dance and gym gear. Apparently, all the brands you like. Mr Frazer asked your friend which you preferred.”

I roll my eyes. “I feel ganged up on. They’ve been colluding behind my back.”

Chloe laughs. “They both clearly care about you,” she says, and I decide against correcting her. I’m not going to try to guess what’s going on in Caleb Frazer’s head.

CHAPTER 28

CALEB

Imake my way into the restaurant, where my friends are waiting.

“Is everything okay?” Xander says as I drop into my seat.

At eleven, when I finally checked my phone, I realised there were multiple messages from the guys and that I’d forgotten about our weekly poker night. I’d sent them an update, and we’d all agreed to meet for lunch.

“Yeah, sorry about that. It was quite a day.”

“What’s the latest?” Tristan asks.

“It looks like an electrical fire. Due to the age of the building, its completely gutted. Went up like a tinder box.”

“Was anyone hurt? They said it was overnight, but the news was vague,” Xander says.

I shake my head, although the vice-like grip that restricts my breathing every time I think about April being in the building is back. I can’t think about what could have happened.

“What happens now?” Tristan asks. “Isn’t that the building that housed the dance school? The one the protests and flash mob were about.”

“It is, was.” I run a hand through my hair. “I have back-to-back meetings with the planning and fire departments all afternoon, not to mention the council. The board is also chasing me.”

“Sounds like you have your hands full,” Quentin chips in. “What about the businesses? The dance teacher? The one who’s been ruffling feathers.”

Betty and Don's insurance will cover their losses. For April, after reading Elijah’s file, she has nothing. Her business literally went up in smoke.

“That’s what I was doing last night. April, who runs the dance school, was M.I.A. We knew she had got out, but was living there. I wanted to check she was okay.”

“Shit!” Marcus says. “Is she okay?”

I don’t miss the looks the boys shoot one another.

“She’s fine. I tracked her down to the local hostel.”

There’s a pregnant pause.

“What?” I say as four sets of eyes lock on me.

“Nothing,” Tristan says innocently, making the others laugh.

“So, what happened when you tracked her down?” he asks.

I inwardly groan, as this conversation is about to go downhill incredibly fast if I know my friends.