The Third Message novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Every Number

Lana's POV

The next evening, Miles was waiting outside my dorm with a coffee I had told him I didn't want.

He held it out.

"Rule two," I said, and didn't take it. "You broke rule two, in front of a witness."

"June has already sent me a bill for the pretzel."

"I told you, no rescuing."

"You also said 'put me down' and then held my shirt."

My face went hot.

"That was a reflex."

"It was a very specific reflex."

I took the coffee. It was the exact order I had never given him, with oat milk.

"Where did you get this order?"

"June."

"I'll kill her."

"She wants a cut of my salary first."

We walked toward the music building, side by side in the cold, with a space between us the width of one hand.

He didn't fill it.

At the stairwell door, I stopped.

"I'm going to tell you something, and you can't say anything back."

"Okay."

"I've been checking my phone for months. Every few seconds, like in the studio. You noticed."

"I noticed."

"You thought I was waiting for him."

"I thought maybe you were."

I took out my phone and opened my contacts.

I held the screen so he could see it.

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