Chapter 93
Elena's POV
Caleb caught it one-handed, that almost-smile still playing at the corner of his mouth.
Then his phone rang.
Caleb's expression shifted as he glanced at the screen, his jaw tightening. "Marcus," he said flatly, already standing. He stepped into the hallway to take the call, voice dropping to that clipped, business-like tone.
I tried not to eavesdrop. Failed spectacularly.
"...emergency board meeting... no, I can handle it remotely... because I have other priorities right now."
A pause. His fingers drummed against the doorframe, a rare tell of agitation.
"Fine. I'll be there in an hour."
When he came back, his face was carefully blank. "I need to go to Vance Industries."
"Oh." I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest. "That's—yeah, of course. Go."
He didn't move. Just stood there, staring at me like he was trying to memorize something. "You'll be okay here alone?"
"Caleb." I shifted on the couch, wincing slightly as my ankle protested. "I'm not going to fall apart the second you leave. I'm fine."
"You're not fine. Your ankle—"
"Is healing." I cut him off gently. "And I have books, and your leftover coffee, and honestly? I could use a few hours of quiet. You don't need to worry about me."
The look he gave me said he absolutely was going to worry, but he pulled out his phone anyway. "I'll call Lila. She can come keep you company."
"You really don't have to—"
"Elena." He was already dialing. "Humor me."
---
Lila showed up forty minutes later with an overstuffed tote bag and a grin that spelled trouble.
"Well, well, well," she announced, sweeping into the apartment like she owned it. "My girl, shacking up with my boss himself. And here I thought you were the shy type."
Heat flooded my face. "It's not—we're not—"
"Relax, I'm teasing." She dropped the bag on the counter with a theatrical sigh.
She unpacked the bag: chips, candy, two Tupperware containers that smelled amazing. "Also, before you ask, I didn't bring all this. Your broody knight just called me with a very detailed list. Snacks, comfort food, entertainment options."
My chest did something stupid and warm. "He did?"
"Yep. And then he gave me the afternoon off work—with pay." Lila sat down beside me, her expression softening. "Elena. He's got it bad for you."
I bit my lip, trying to suppress a smile. "He's just... thoughtful."
"Thoughtful is remembering your preferences." She gestured around. "This is 'I've memorized every tiny detail about you and will move heaven and earth to make sure you're comfortable' territory. You realize that, right?"
I did. And it terrified me as much as it made my heart race.
"So," Lila said, cracking open a bag of gummy bears. "How'd you end up here anyway?"
The question punctured the warm bubble I'd been floating in. I pulled my knees up—carefully, mindful of my ankle—and wrapped my arms around them.
"I left."
"Left as in 'took a break' or left as in—"
"As in I climbed out my second-story window at midnight and twisted my ankle landing."
Lila's jaw dropped. "You what?"
"I didn't jump. I... climbed down." The memory made my hands shake. "My dad locked me in my room after I told him I didn't want to marry Damon. He was planning to drag me to the engagement party anyway, so I—I ran."
"Holy shit." Lila set down the candy, her whole body turned toward me now. "Elena, are you okay?"
"I don't know." The words came out quieter than I intended. "I might not want to go back. But that was my home for twenty-one years. My father, even if he's cold and awful, he still... he raised me. And my mom—"
My voice cracked. Lila's hand found mine, squeezing tight.
"But if I'd stayed," I continued, forcing myself to meet her eyes, "I'd be trapped. Used as a bargaining chip. Let alone who I could choose to—"
Love.
The word stuck in my throat, too big and terrifying to say out loud.
"You did the right thing," Lila said fiercely. "Running was brave. Leaving was brave. And yeah, it's going to hurt like hell for a while, but you're free now. That matters."
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
"Besides," she added, lighter now, "you've got people in your corner. Me. Caleb, obviously. Even Hector and Ethan, whether you realize it or not. You're not alone in this."
---
"So what's the plan?" Lila asked later, after we'd demolished half the snacks and she'd beaten me soundly at three rounds of some racing game. "You staying here long-term?"
"No." The answer came quickly, firmly. "I can't."
Lila raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Caleb's clearly into the idea."
"That's exactly why." I fiddled with the controller in my lap. "We just... we only just started this. Whatever this is. Moving in together now would be way too fast. And I don't want to be that person."
"What person?"
"The one who clings to him because I have nowhere else to go. The one who depends on him for everything." I swallowed hard. "I need to stand on my own. At least a little."
Lila studied me for a long moment. "You know he wouldn't see it that way, right? He'd probably be thrilled to have you here."
"Maybe. But I would see it that way." I met her gaze. "I've spent my whole life being what other people needed. The girl who smooths everything over and never makes waves. I need to figure out who I am when I'm not doing that. And I can't do that if I just... swap one dependency for another."
"Damn." Lila let out a low whistle. "When did you get so self-aware?"
"Recently." A small, bitter smile tugged at my lips. "Trauma's a hell of a teacher."
"Fair point." She drummed her fingers on her knee. "So what do you need?"
"A place to stay. Somewhere cheap, just for a few months while I figure things out. Do you know of anything?"
Lila hesitated. "I live in a pretty remote area. Outer district, older building. You sure you want to go from this"—she gestured around Caleb's estate—"to that?"
"I'm sure."
"Caleb's not going to like it."
"Probably not." I straightened my shoulders. "But it's my decision, not his."
Lila grinned. "Look at you, growing a spine. I'm so proud." Then, more seriously: "Okay. I'll ask around. But Elena? Don't let pride get in the way of accepting help when you actually need it, alright? There's a difference between independence and self-sabotage."
"I'll try to remember that."