Free Spies and Prejudice by Talia Vance Page B

she’s brought under her wing.
    I try.
    I bite my tongue when Tanner glares at Drew the entire time I’m introducing him. I even smile when Tanner suggests that everyone watch some lame action movie with zero plot and a lot of pointless car wrecks. At least we won’t have to talk to each other.
    I make sure that Drew is sitting next to me as we settle in for the movie. I’m going to sneak off to go to the bathroom, and Drew is supposed to ping me if anyone leaves the room.
    Jason sits on my other side. I owe him one. With Mary Chris and Ryan taking occupancy of the love seat, Tanner has no choice but to take one of the beanbags on the floor.
    Mary Chris turns down the lights to make it seem more like a real movie theater. Mr. Moss spared no expense on the giant flat screen and surround sound, so the effect is pretty close. Better, since we can relax on the couch and talk as loud as we want.
    As the movie starts, Tanner sprawls on the beanbag. He stretches his legs out in front of him and puts his hand behind his head for support, completely at ease in the dark. His chest rises and falls in time with his breathing. He laughs at something on the screen. His laugh is unguarded, completely transforming him. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh before.
    I want to hear it again.
    “What do you think?” Drew whispers in my ear. “About ten more minutes?”
    “Huh?” I forgot about Drew. And the plan. What is wrong with me? “Yeah. Perfect.”
    I spend the next nine minutes watching the minutes tick down, trying to focus on the task at hand. I try not to notice when Tanner shifts to his side, keeping my eyes fixed on my watch. One minute left. Tanner’s laugh rolls up and down my spine. His laugh. No one else’s.
    I leap to my feet when the ten minutes are up.
    “Are you okay?” Jason asks.
    “Yeah.” A total lie.
    Jason nods, and Drew pats me reassuringly on the leg. I step around Tanner and fly down the hallway in the direction of the bathroom. I round a corner and stop to catch my breath.
    Okay, so Tanner has a sense of humor. A lame one if this movie is any indication.
    I need to focus. I set the phone to vibrate and tuck it in my back pocket.
    Mr. Moss’s office is at the end of the hall. Mr. and Mrs. Moss should still be in the living room drinking mochaccinos and watching a baseball game. I have at least an hour before the game ends. I only need a few minutes.
    I move quickly, ducking into the darkness and closing the door about halfway. Enough to give me some cover, but not enough that I can’t claim I wandered in by mistake. I wait for my eyes to adjust to the dark and move over to a credenza on the far wall. Mr. Moss has a lot of papers scattered about, but it’s easy to skim when I know what I’m looking for. My mother’s letterhead.
    I work my way through two stacks of paper and am starting a third when my phone starts to vibrate.
    Not now.
    I reach back and shut it off. Whoever Drew saw get up is probably just going to the bathroom anyway.
    I keep flipping through the stack of papers but stop when I hear footsteps coming down the hall.
    I look around for hiding places in case I need one in a hurry.
    I set the papers back on the credenza and move over to the large wooden desk. I can duck underneath it if I need to.
    I don’t get the chance.
    Tanner’s large frame fills the space between the door and the hallway. “What are you doing in here?”
    Tanner doesn’t bother turning on the light as he enters the room. He just crosses the dark and strides toward me like he’s going to escort me right back outside.
    I shouldn’t have to answer to him, but something about his purposeful walk tells me I better. I try to laugh, but it comes out sounding like a squeak. “You caught me.”
    “Caught you what?” Even in the dark, I can feel his icy stare.
    I try to think. “Waiting for someone.”
    He steps closer. “Who? That Drew guy?” He says Drew’s name like it’s a bad word.
    I try to back