Chapter 140
**Hadassah POV**
Out of nowhere, someone comes into the kitchen with a portable speaker blasting music. Clearly, he doesn’t think the chef is still in the kitchen because the moment they lock eyes—he freezes like he is caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The chef stands tall with a warning look on his face before he bursts into wild movements—his dancing raising a roar of laughs and encouraging cheers.
Henry extends his hand to me and I shake my head vigorously, but he doesn’t take no for an answer. He swipes a fresh uncorked bottle from the counter before he steals me away. He doesn’t even get a few moves in before Calum encroaches him from the rear. Calum taps his right shoulder and when Henry looks—he flashes to his left to pluck the bottle from his hand. And sends him staggering with a rough shoulder check. Henry gawks, but lets it go, receding as I gape at Calum.
“You’re so rude.”
“I thought tonight was best friends only?”
I grab the bottle from him before I take an unladylike swig and Calum lets out an excited holler. He goes down on one knee with his mouth wide open and angled toward the ceiling. I straighten my head so I can look down and try to aim as I pour a swaying stream that cascades into his mouth. Most of it misses, splashing his face with red wine and we both explode into laughter.
***
Our riotous laughter booms through the fancy hallways. Calum and I are using each other to walk back to our presidential pad—he’s using me for support and I’m using him. And I’m sure it must look like two leaning towers stuck together.
“They are going to be so maaad,” I say with slur, hiccups breaking apart each word. “Especially Ellis.”
“And Emilia,” he adds melodically. “She won’t like that we skipped out together like that. She’s sooo jealous of you, bro.”
“*Noooo*.”
“*Yeaaaah*.”
“I’m so jelly of *her*.”
Calum brings us to a sloppy stop and his head slants to the side like a curious cat. “You are?”
“I think so,” I confess freely. “I mean, I feel so left out—I guess. I mean, I knew every girl you liked before you did. And then you and Emmy happened without… me. That sounds so weird, I know.”
“You a silly billy,” Calum says with a delirious laugh. “That’s because you were held hostage all the way across the world. Kinda held hostage.”
“There you go.” I slap his shoulder clumsily, and still he fumbles like I had the force of ten men behind the light blow. “Saying what you not saying.”
“You’re not saying what—” his finger prods his heart, “—what your heart be saying, sis.”
Suddenly I break into a toddler-like sob, pouting and throwing up my hands. “Okay, okay, so I did. I w–wanted to stay with Torin because I truly thought I’d be safer. But also because… I wanted to see truth in his lies.”
“My poor baby,” he coos.
He shuffles forward with his arms wide and tangles his arms around me in a soothing embrace. “You fell for the devil’s brother.”
I draw away, but he keeps his hands on my waist as I paste my hands on his chest. “But Ellis… he saved me,” I whisper reverently. I grab the lapels of his suit jacket to bring him closer. “His love is my salvation.” I try to stare directly into Calum’s eyes, but I can’t find them no matter how hard I squint. “And you…you are my beginning and my end.”
“It will always be us,” he confirms with a dreamy smile.
“Hey,” I say. “Realize no matter how drunk we get—we never hook up.”
“Because that it would be super disgusting,” he says with a laugh bubbling his throat before it breaks free and my own joins his, “I’m not into incest,” he adds and we laugh even harder.
Eventually, we reach the double doors and Calum starts searching himself.
“*Oooo*—the keycard is my girlfriend.”
I grab my boobs and my hands drop to my sides. “And mine is with my boyfriend.”
“Sneaking in is no longer a choice,” he says before he raps on the door several times.
Eventually, we hear voices, talking, floating towards us before the door whips open. And that’s just it, no check, no reaction. Calum pushes the door open to stare after Emilia who speaks animatedly to Ellis who listens with sincere interest—his face stoic but those nods are avid. Emilia goes on about her story and they both trade military jargon and I hear keywords like ‘ops’ and ‘tours’ about something in the middle east.
“What the hell is this?” Calum says, staggering inside to bounce his finger between the two of them.
Emilia collapses on the couch adjacent to him to recline on it. “Whilst you two had your little playdate. Ellis and I found out that we have a lot in common. Alot of times our operations went parallel from each other but of course we were on opposing sides. But the missions he did when he was still a countryman were legendary.”
Calum scoffs bitterly. “Well, when you two are done sharing war stories—I’ll be in bed.”
“Don’t you want to sneak there with Hadassah, too?” she says with a jeering smile.
Calum looks at me but gestures to her expansively with both arms extended. “See!” he says dramatically. “What I tell you—jealous, jealous girl.”
Ellis rises and saunters toward me and every time I blink—his face gets blurrier.
“No, no,” I say, moving to brush past him. “I don’t want to interrupt your time with your new best buddy.”
His arm ropes around me to reel me back. “You’re my best buddy,” he says and the bass of voice vibrates through me.”
“Ah ah,” Calum says, staggering away. “That position is—taken.”
Emilia laughs as she sweeps in to help him to their room.
I release myself, and the moment I do. Ellis lifts me up, carrying me towards the staircase.
“I’m glad you and Calum patched things up,” he says with a smile in his voice. “Where did you two go, anyway?”
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
His anger radiates through him. “What the fuck does that mean?”
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