Page 58 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

By the time midnight approaches, the evening has yielded precisely one ornate invitation and zero useful information about Duncan's involvement in our viral situation.

Now, as we ride back through Seattle's empty streets, I slump against the limousine's leather seat, the exhaustion of the night finally catching up with me.

The city lights blur into streaks of neon through the rain-speckled windows.

"Well, other than Duncan's invitation, that was spectacularly unproductive," I mutter, slipping off my heels with a groan of relief.

"Not entirely," Callum says."We confirmed he's enjoying this too much to have orchestrated it."

"You don't think he's involved?"

"Oh, he's involved," Callum clarifies."But he's reacting, not initiating.Someone else started this."He taps the invitation in his pocket."And next weekend, we'll see just how deep his involvement goes."

I close my eyes briefly, longing for my bed and the oblivion of sleep.My phone buzzes insistently in my clutch.Then again.And again.

With a sigh, I check the screen.

SUSANNA:RED ALERT.Mom's pipes went Old Faithful again.Apartment flooded.We've evacuated to your place.

VIKTORIA:Charlie's with us too.Her “Dear Old Dad” dropped her early.You have any cereal that's not twigs and sadness?

MOM:Sorry, kheegees.Dr.Finnegan says to tell you pipe is fixed but floor is swimming.Also, we ate all your ice cream

I stare at the screen in mild horror.

"Problem?"Callum asks.

"My mother's kitchen is underwater again, and my entire family has commandeered my apartment."I scroll through more incoming texts."Apparently including my niece Charlotte, who wasn't supposed to arrive until next week."

His brow furrows."Your niece?"

"Charlie.Viktoria's twelve-year-old daughter," I explain, realizing I've never mentioned her before."She's been with her dad for summer visitation, but apparently got homesick."

"I didn't realize your sister had a child," he says, genuine surprise in his voice.

"Viktoria, yeah.Charlie's going through a phase where her parents' divorce is suddenly the greatest injustice in human history."

"Ah," Callum nods."The delayed reaction."

"Exactly.She was eight when they split.Seemed fine.Now at twelve, she's realizing it's permanent."I look up from my phone."Her dad remarried last year.Nice woman, but not her mom."

The car slows for a red light, casting Callum's face in crimson.

His expression has softened into something less CEO, more human.

"Do you need to go home?"he asks.

I glance again at my messages.

SUSANNA:We've made a blanket fort in your living room.Also, we finished your wine.

VIKTORIA:Charlie brought her anime posters.Hope you don't mind but she's already thumb-tacked Naruto to your wall.

MOM:Your refrigerator has no real food.We ordered pizza.Dr.Finnegan recommends the meat lovers.

"Home is apparently now a combination slumber party and refugee camp," I sigh."Four Petrosian women in my one-bedroom apartment.I love them, but I might actually murder someone before sunrise."

Callum blinks, his forest-green gaze lowering before lifting again."You could stay at my hotel suite."