Page 74 of Sanctuary

It would damn well have to be at that price. But at least she looked like she was enjoying it. “Jen’s confident she can get it done in four days,” Lori said, “and she got a cancelation, so she’s starting on Monday. With any luck, you could be officially moving in by the middle of August.”

“That’s fast,” Rosie said to Ellery. “Your landlord must be nice.”

Ellery nodded. “I’ve paid up until the end of the month, but we were in contract negotiations, and he’s been kind enough not to insist on any notice.”

“Should we take a table,” Lennie said in a way that clearly wasn’t a question.

“You’re right; we’ve kept you long enough,” Lori said when Ellery didn’t respond. “Have a lovely evening. And I’ll see you next week, Ellery.”

Ellery seemed to force a smile. “I arranged to come over mid-week and see how Jen’s doing. Is that okay with you?”

“Absolutely.” Lori got up from her stool to hug Ellery; she looked like she needed one. “We’ve got a few youth groups coming in, but I’ve got some new college volunteers, and I’ll be able to step away for a while. And Mom will be there too. She’s looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Great. I’ll combine it with a follow-up on Cash.” Ellery picked up her ice bucket. “I’m assuming he’s doing well?”

“No boring work talk.” Lennie placed her hand on Ellery’s shoulder then gave a smile that looked more like a grimace. “It’s a rule.” Then she literally pulled Ellery away.

Rosie clutched Lori’s arm. “If I ever get involved with someone like that and for some reason can’t see how toxic they are, promise me that you’ll tell me.”

“You wouldn’t listen.”

“I would. I definitely would,” Rosie said.

Lori shook her head. “It’s like she’s got her claws dug in so deep, Ellery can’t get them out. You’ve known her for longer than I have; why doesn’t she dump the leech?”

Rosie whistled. “Ooh, it’s not like you to gossip or cast judgment.”

Lori put her hand over her mouth. “I know, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re right, and I don’t have the answer.”

“She looks so unhappy,” Lori said. “Is that what I looked like all those years?”

Rosie swirled the stick in her drink, which Lori took as an affirmative answer.

“But it’s not what you look like now.” Rosie clinked her glass to Lori’s and took a drink.

Lori blew out a long breath, and regret flooded her soul. “I never thought that I’d be someone who wasted years of my life in an unhappy relationship.”

“You always have such a lot happening in your life. Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s going on when you’re so deeply enmeshed in it.”

“Mm. I won’t be making that mistake again. Spending time with Gabe has made me see what a good relationship could look like, and that’s what I want. That’s what I deserve.”

Rosie raised her glass. “Hell, yeah, I’ll drink to that.”

Lori drank the last of her mojito and ordered another round. Her phone vibrated, and she checked the message.

We’re having a few beers after the game. If u and Rosie are still out, do u want to join us? Or we could join u?

She slid her cell over to Rosie for her to read the message. “Shall we? Shay will be with her.”

Rosie grinned wickedly. “You don’t need to ask me twice,” she said then held up her finger. “But if Shay’s with someone or she starts putting the moves on someone, we’re out of there, right? I don’t want to see that.”

“Definitely.” As she fired off a response to Gabe, she thought about what Rosie had just said. What if someone came on to Gabe? Or worse, if Gabe spotted someone she liked, and she took her home. Maybe joining them wasn’t such a great idea after all.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Shay tossed Gabe’s phone back to her after reading the message she’d just sent to Lori. “You see, I thought we’d had a good conversation the other night. And I thought I understood what you were doing. And it kind of made sense, in a Gabe-logic way. And I’m here for you, to support your self-imposed exposure therapy. But, and this is a big but, Saturday nights are supposed to be your night to blow off the steam you’ve built up over the week. It’s your time to release the sexual tension you’re feeling from being around Lori and playing happy family with Solo’s babies. And I’ve got to point out, in case you’ve already drunk too much, and you’ve lost track of what time, or day, or even what year it is, that it’s Saturday. We’ve watched some baseball, and we’ve had some beer. Solo’s gone home to her wife, and now the four of us are supposed to be looking for the rest of the evening’s entertainment.” She tapped Gabe’s forehead three times. “Is any of this ringing a bell? Do you remember telling me all about your plan to not drive yourself insane from lust?”

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