“Right.” I nodded and glanced back down at tablet in front of me, my brain scrambling for a question I could ask him. I’d prefer it to be something really hard so he got it wrong, but after firing back what I assumed was a real doozy at him and having him answer it with ease, I realized that maybe that was destined to be my role in this relationship. Which was just peachy.

The entire study session took a header after that, with Elliot getting more and more frustrated until I began to worry that he was going to chuck the book at my head. While normally frustrating Elliot was one of my favorite pastimes, today it just made me feel stupid. Right when I thought that I couldn’t stand another minute of this torture, Callaway showed up, his characteristic smile on his face.

“Regan, if you’d come with me, please?” he said. I glanced over at Elliot, but he just threw up his hands in a please take her away sort of way that made me feel about two inches tall. Thankful for the escape, I put down my tablet and hurried to follow Callaway out of the library section. He led me quickly across the main atrium and down a hallway and into a tiny room I could only assume was his office. It was either that or a broom closet, I thought as I squeezed inside and into the tiny chair Callaway offered me. Without preamble, he pulled out a tablet, typed a few things in, and handed it to me. Before I could ask what was going on, my mom appeared on the screen.

Chapter Twenty-One

Elliot

Regan didn’t come back for the rest of the study session. Which was best for all involved since throttling your partner with your bare hands was probably frowned upon. I glowered over my book at the other partners as they cheerily talked through what they read and took turns quizzing one another. Tess and Eliana reminded me of bookends with their matching red hair and smiles, and even Corban and Blake seemed to go together somehow despite the fact that their appearances were as polar opposite as humanly possible. Why Regan? I wondered for the millionth time since picking up that letter. Every time I thought I’d put my annoyance with that girl behind me, something like this would happen and it would all come rushing back. Where in the world had Callaway taken her? If anyone needed more study time, it was Regan.