Page 13 of Sanctuary

Lori looked up as Rosie came out of the bathroom stall and approached the sink. “Feeling better, honey?”

Rosie closed her eyes briefly and blew out a long breath. “It might be too soon to be sure, but I don’t want to move far from this restroom for a little while longer.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you move that fast.” Lori pressed her lips together to prevent a childish giggle from emerging. There should be nothing funny about food poisoning, but the way Rosie had rushed to the bathroom as best she could with her knees clamped together was a visual it was impossible not to laugh at.

Rosie splashed water on her face and rinsed out her mouth. “I bet you’re glad you changed your mind and had the grilled chicken.”

Lori put her hand to her stomach. “So far, so good.”

“Okay.” Rosie straightened and dabbed at her face with a paper towel. “Let’s go sit by the bar and pray that I’m done.”

They left the restroom and took the last couple of seats at the end of the bar, close enough for Rosie to rush back should she need to. Lori ordered a mineral water with fresh lime for Rosie and a vodka tonic for herself.

“I’m sorry, Lori. This wasn’t the night I had planned,” Rosie said after she’d taken a tiny sip of her drink.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve had a nice time, and it was good to get out again.”

“Have I done enough to have my friendship privileges restored?” She smiled, but the uncertainty was clear in her eyes.

Lori placed her hand over Rosie’s. “They were never revoked.”

Rosie tilted her head slightly. “Mm, then how come we haven’t been out together in three months?”

“You know why.” She was hoping to avoid this conversation. Up until the clam chowder had worked its evil magic on Rosie’s digestive system, they had been having a good time, and Rosie hadn’t mentioned fixing Lori up with anyone all night. “But that didn’t mean we weren’t friends, and it isn’t like you haven’t been visiting me at the Sanctuary. Have you really been concerned about that?”

“Of course I’ve been concerned. A few quick lunches while you’re at work aren’t conducive to a solid friendship.” Rosie pouted. “I really thought I’d messed up.”

Lori squeezed Rosie’s hand. Solid friendships were based on honesty, and Lori hadn’t been true to that aspect. “I was mad at you. I just need you to understand that I’m not ready to think about dating yet, let alone start doing it.”

“I pushed too hard, didn’t I?” Rosie asked. “I’m sorry. I hate what the lawyer has done to you, and I want to help you get her out of your system.”

“Me too. But that’s not something anyone can help me with.” Lori finished her drink and ordered another. “I’ve got to work through this by myself, and I’ll be ready when I’m ready. Everyone heals at different speeds, and there’s no fixed timeline to mend a broken heart, you know?”

“I wish there was. I feel so helpless.” Rosie rolled her eyes. “And I hate that the lawyer is parading around like the cat that got the cream.”

With that comment, Lori resisted the desire to throw back her drink and just sipped it instead, though she was glad she’d ordered a double. She had no idea what the lawyer was up to, and honestly, she didn’t want to know…unless it was something bad. But that made her feel immature and petty. At thirty-one, she was supposed to be beyond that behavior, wasn’t she?

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,” Rosie said. “I’m sure the last thing you want to hear about is her, and you’ve never been one for gossip.”

Lori struggled to control the part of her that wanted to hear all about what the lawyer was up to and who she was up to it with. That self-destructive, masochistic part of her that would like nothing more than to convince her she was never worthy of the lawyer, that part that had always been waiting for the shoe to drop on their relationship—boy, she wished she could quiet that voice. She mostly knew it wasn’t true. She mostly knew her own worth. But six years with a narcissistic partner whose self-important ambitions drove their every decision had worn away too many layers of Lori’s resilience. And it was going to take time to grow them back.

“Let’s talk about something else for a while,” Lori said as the silence became awkward, despite the increase in volume as a DJ took to the decks.

“Are you sure we’re okay?” Rosie asked. “If there’s anything I can do to make up for being a pushy princess, you’d tell me, right?”

Lori smiled and nodded. “Of course I would. Your best friend status is in good shape.” It wasn’t like there were lots of other candidates lining up for the position anyway. With her time commitment to the Sanctuary, it was just as hard to cultivate and maintain friendships as it had been for a more intimate relationship. And maybe that’s where she’d gone wrong with the lawyer; she hadn’t given her the attention her ego required. “So how’re you feeling? Ready to brave the ride home?”

Rosie took a deep breath and held her stomach. “I don’t think so.” She gestured toward the restroom. “I’m going to head back in there for a few minutes, and you don’t have to follow me this time—unless I don’t come back in fifteen minutes. Then you should check to make sure I haven’t disappeared down the toilet with the rest of my insides.”

“Ew, that’s gross.”

Rosie grinned. “Not as gross as that horse poop you were poking around in last week. I can’t get that out of my mind,” she said as she eased off her stool.

The restroom door had only just swung closed when the bartender leaned over the bar. She thumbed toward a tall woman a few stools down. “Casey would like to know if she could buy you a drink.”

Lori looked away quickly when the woman raised her glass and gave her the butch nod. She was relatively attractive, but nowhere near Sergeant Gabriella Jackson’s standard of cute. Not that Lori should be comparing anyone to Gabe anyway. She shouldn’t even be thinking of her in her waking moments. It was enough that she’d been a constant companion in Lori’s dreams since last Saturday. “No, thank you. We’re leaving as soon as my friend comes back from the bathroom.”

The bartender shrugged and left to relay the message. Lori slipped her phone from her clutch and opened TikTok so she had something to amuse herself with while Rosie was absent. She hoped it would serve the dual purpose of reinforcing her disinterest in the woman at the middle of the bar.

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