Page 128 of The Last Close Call

Lila’s face brightened. “Ooh! Good for you. How was it?”

Rowan turned and put the soup in the fridge, stalling for time as she tried to figure out how to describe it. Intense. Amazing.

Terrifying.

She thought of the warmth of his body as they’d slept spooned together with his arm draped over her waist.

“Uh-oh.” Lila watched her with a wary look. “Someone’s falling hard.”

“I’m not falling.” Rowan rolled her eyes. “I just like him, I think.”

“Good.”

“How can you say it’s good when you don’t even know him? God, I barely even know him. This is stupid.”

Lila shrugged. “Well, I know he’s a cop, so at least you don’t have to worry about him running off with your credit card.”

“Speaking of, how is Dara?” Rowan said, eager to change the subject. She wasn’t ready to analyze things with Jack yet.

Lila sighed, and Rowan went on alert.

“What happened?”

“Trouble in paradise,” Lila said.

“Oh no. What is it?”

“Apparently, she went over to see him, and his ex-girlfriend was there.”

“There there? Like they were together?” Rowan asked.

“I don’t know the details, just that Dara’s upset. Nick told her she was just stopping by and there was nothing to it, but it was late at night, apparently, and Dara’s not buying it.”

“That sucks.” Rowan fisted her hand on her hip. “She seemed so excited about how everything was going.”

“I know. And so soon after Trevor the Douche.” Lila shook her head. “She really didn’t need this right now.”

“Well, maybe it’s really nothing and they’ll work it out,” Rowan said.

“Yeah, but you know Dara. She has trust issues.”

“Don’t we all.”

“Yeah, but hers are man-specific,” Lila said. “But you’re right. Who knows? If he’s really all that great, he’ll find a way to make it right with her. And if he’s not, good riddance. If he’s a cheater, better to find out early.”

Lila was right, but the thought was still depressing. Dara had seemed so happy just the other day.

Lila glanced at the clock on the wall. “Well, I need to run. I’ve still got a bunch of errands.”

Rowan walked her to the door. “Thanks for the soup. That was really sweet.”

Lila put her hand on the doorknob and looked at the laundry baskets on the floor. “Rest up today. Don’t get carried away cleaning and have a relapse.” She opened the door, and cold air wafted inside.

“Lila... about Jack. Please don’t tell Dara and Skyler anything.”

She smiled. “I won’t. But what are you so worried about?”

“I don’t know. Just that it may have been a onetime thing. I don’t really want to talk about it with everyone when it’s in limbo.”

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