Page 62 of Talk Birdie to Me

It was time for a deflection strategy.

“Is that Monica hiding over there?” Geena pointed at the pretty brunette across the room who couldn’t be a day over twenty-one. She smiled and waved at the woman. “Isn’t it almost past her curfew?”

Cody choked on nothing at all. He put a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat to hide his laughter.

Ricky was less amused.

Truthfully, Geena had nothing against Monica. Part of her felt sorry for the young woman. Sure enough, the young woman’s brain would fully develop, and she’d realize how awful Ricky truly was. Then Monica would move on with her life to much better things.

“Very classy, Geena.” Ricky’s cheeks were the hot ones now. “Enjoy your… whatever this is.”

“I will,” Geena said. Then she shouted at his back as he walked toward Monica, “I look forward to seeing the last of those forms!”

He stumbled over his feet but quickly recovered, pretending not to hear her.

She still believed he was hiding something. Now that she knew he’d been representing Gary’s owner’s business dealings and that he was probably being held on a cash retainer, she felt confident she was on the right track to not trust anything he put on paper.

It was now a matter of how much she wanted to fight him on everything.

Part of her wanted to be done with it all.

But another petty part of her wanted to shine a very bright light on the shady jerk.

Cody grinned at her like he was beaming with pride at a kid who just learned how to ride a bike. “Those were some class-A serves you threw out there. Good work, Bourque.”

It felt satisfying to have the upper hand for once. And she didn’t care one bit if he thought something was going on between her and Cody. Let him think she was happy and moving on with her life.

After all, it was the truth.

Just not the way he assumed.

Or maybe exactly how he assumed, despite her denial.

They clinked their beer mugs as she said, “Thanks, Brasseaux.”

“I really wanted to punch that guy.”

Geena frowned at him. “I saw that.”

“I wasn’t going to,” he said. “But I wanted to.”

“He is a very punchable man.”

“I can’t believe you were married to that guy.”

She shrugged. “It looked like a good match on paper. Won’t be making that mistake again.”

Cody’s expression turned serious. “Really, though. You okay?”

“Yeah, fine.” And she was. Truly. He’d upset her at first, but the feeling was long gone. In part because of her present company. “I appreciate the concern.”

Her eyes locked with his and found something she hadn’t noticed before. Or maybe she hadn’t wanted to see before.

Caring?

Concern?

Something else?

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