Page 47 of Not In The Contract

“We’ll start some petitions, okay?” I teased. “For now, I could really do with a sixteen hour nap and an unhealthy amount of bad sitcoms.”

“Things I could help you with if you snuck out for a day or two,” Tamera pointed out unhelpfully.

“It’s not like I’m being kept prisoner.” I yawned. “I’m just so tired. I can barely move.”

“Then I’ll come over,” she decided.

“No, I have a ton of work to finish before Monday.” I pouted. “As much as I want that nap and sitcom marathon, it’s going to have to wait. I’ll come and visit you next weekend, okay?”

“I’m not happy about this, I hope you know that.”

“I’d have to be a dead fish not to know just how unhappy you are.” I chuckled. “I’ll make it up to you. I’ll even take you to that restaurant downtown, the one you’ve been wanting to go to. Does that sound good?”

“You drive a hard bargain, Devon,” she said, her voice comically serious. “I’ll take it.”

I giggled, but my farewell was cut short by my door bursting open. I dropped my phone in shock, jumping to my feet and getting ready to book it to safety.

Alex’s face appeared from behind the door, her sharp eyes narrowed when she spotted me.

“What are you doing standing on the bed?” she asked, but quickly shook her head as if the answer didn’t matter. “Nevermind, just do me a favor: stay in here until I come get you, okay? Donotcome out before then.”

Without another word, she slammed the door.

I stared at the closed door for a full minute before I remembered that I hadn’t hung up on Tamera. I lifted my phone to my ear to catch the tail end of Tamera’s whining.

“-did you go? Hello~? Earth to Devon,” she called. “Were you abducted?”

“Sorry,” I said, my heart still racketing off the inside of my ribs. “Something weird just happened.”

“Do you plan on sharing said weirdness?” she asked patiently, letting my mind work around what the hell happened.

“Alex just flew into my room like a hurricane and told me not to come out until she came to get me.”

It was quiet on the other end for a few heartbeats. “She’s part of the mafia.”

“No, she’s not-”

“She just told you to stay in your room until she came to get you,” Tamera yelled, convinced by her own delusions. “If that doesn’t scream mafia boss, I don’t know what does!”

“It could also mean that whoever is here or whatever she’s doing is private and she doesn’t want me to see,” I countered.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Tamera said conspiratorially.

My jaw dropped. “I amnotspying on her in her own house, Tamera.”

“Why not?” she mocked. “Afraid you’ll get caught by the mafia?”

“You know, I’ve heard their torture methods are nothing to sniff at,” I said sarcastically. “But no, to answer your question, I’m not afraid of getting caught by the mafia. God, you have to stop reading those cheesy romances.”

“Never,” she declared. “Why live in reality when you can be happy elsewhere?”

“For the pure and simple knowledge that not every rich person is connected to the mafia,” I deadpanned.

“Oh, come on,” she pressed. “Admit it; you’re curious about what your hot research subject is doing. Or who she’s seeing.”

I was. And I hated it.

“It’s none of my business.”