Diabolical

With another sigh, Callie curled up on the sofa, seeking comfort in Elias’s arms. Her voice was soft as she spoke, uncertainty tainting her words. ‘What will people at the academy say if they know about this?’ ‘This?’ ‘About…what happened last night.’ Elias’s voice was resolute. ‘They will say Simon is a scumbag who deserves to be locked up. They’ll say you did the right thing to break up with him.’ Callie was less confident. ‘What if they judge me, look at me funny? People will talk.’ ‘About what? You did nothing wrong.’ Callie bit her bottom lip. ‘I shouldn’t have agreed to have that walk with him. I just thought it would be the last I saw of him in a long while.’ Elias listened patiently. ‘And... During the two weeks when he worked at the health centre, he really acted as if he’d gotten over me. So, I thought I was just saying goodbye to a colleague. I never imagined he’d—’ ‘Don’t.’ Elias’s voice cut through her words. He turned her to face him, his eyes locking onto hers. ‘Callie,