All Chapters of Love in the Line of Fire: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Ilana wasn’t sure how she found herself back at this dusty little corner of the record’s room. All she knew was that she’d wanted to escape Calix and the way her heart kept sinking every time her thoughts drifted back to him.But according to their agreement, she couldn’t leave until she informed him where she was going to spend the rest of the day.Their meeting from a few hours ago still lingered in her mind, draining away any strength she thought she had left. She wasn’t ready to face him again so soon. Even if it was to tell him she was leaving.So, here she was, lounging on one of the bean bags in the dusty little corner of the record’s room. She relaxed - or at least she tried to - her head thrown back and her eyes closed. She tried not to think about the looks shared between Calix and the girl from his office. She tried not to think about the date she’d agreed to only to get a reaction out of him and ending up being disappointed.But she couldn’t complain about any of it so s

Ilana took the cake for the most delusional person alive.It had taken her brain a little while to catch up to the fact that Calix’s choice of seating hadn’t been some subtle declaration for her to satiate her ego or a way of showing his non-existent jealousy, a way to stake his claim.Nope, it was because it was the only available option left. The chairs were arranged in a way that no matter where he sat, it would still have been right next to her, given Daniel's position across from her.Ilana felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she mentally rolled her eyes at herself. The dinner proceeded a little too slowly according to Ilana and she tried to shut off her mind and to get through this as silently as possible but it proved difficult once Amery, having apparently gotten over her initial irritation at being roped into a double date, started speaking.And then she wouldn’t stop.She glanced at Daniel, who had his features arranged in a grimace as Amery droned on about something going

“She’s the girl?” Amery said, her voice laser sharp and she didn’t try and keep it quiet.Calix sighed. “Am, can we not?” He asked and Ilana felt a twinge of annoyance on Amery's behalf because of the way he said the words.Tired, pained. As if it was somehow her fault.Her and Daniel weren’t serious so it wasn’t a big deal but these two apparently were and Calix wasn’t handling the situation well.Ilana bit the inside of her cheek, leaning back in her chair. She'd rather not get entangled in their drama if she could help it.“Just answer the question, Calix.”Amery’s anger was quite opposite to Daniel. It was loud and explosive and not afraid to make itself shown. And it was already starting to attract eyes.“Yes,” Calix confessed, his voice small as if he’d just admitted to a shameful secret. Ilana felt a wave of acid rise up her throat.“You knew everything, Am. Why’re you acting like I cheated on you? Do I need to remind you of our agreement?” He asked, elbows on the table as he

Ilana felt the weight of the man’s body lift away from her but she didn’t move, still pressed against the wall as if some invisible weight was holding her in place.She heard yells and grunts and curses but it wasn’t enough to penetrate the numbness that had settled over her. Her soul still hovered somewhere far far away from her body, detached and unanchored, leaving her a helpless, spectral observer of her own trauma.She felt a shiver run down her spine, a painful reminder of how naked she was; both body and soul.She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, pinned against the wall, detached from reality but then she felt arms curl around her shoulder. She gasped, coming back to her senses with a start.“No. Let me go. Let me go, please. Don’t, please!” she yelled, thrashing against the grip. She needed to leave. Let her soul drift away once again. It was safer that way.“Ilana. Ilana, it’s me, Calix. You’re safe, darling, you’re safe. Everything’s fine,” a voice said, grabbing tight

Calix had insisted Ilana stay with him until she was fully healed. Ilana hadn’t fought him on it, too tired to do anything but sleep all day long.Now that she was actually at his place, she was starting to regret the decision. The times when she wasn’t asleep or curled up in the guest room bed or crying herself to sleep once again, she would feel Calix hovering around her. She knew he wanted to step in, ask questions she knew he was itching to ask, maybe comfort her as well.But Ilana could see the doubts on his face, the question of where it would lead this relationship. He wasn’t ready to forgive her for what she tried to do to his mother but he couldn’t leave her alone at a time like this. She could almost sense the turmoil within him and it only pushed her away from him. She had enough issues of her own to deal with.His confusion and her exhaustion ended up making them avoid each other. Ilana wasn’t ready to talk about whatever had happened that day and Calix didn’t know how to