Page 76 of Toxic Things I Love About You

“Lord have mercy, I need a break or you're going to have to explain my death to Parks and Gage. Death by too many orgasms.”

The phone rang on the side table and we both groaned.

“I guess the honeymoon is over. Back to reality?”

Roman rolled us both over as he reached for the phone.

“It’s Gage. The honeymoon is never over though. Not when I’m married to you. Now, what if I told you that you can go play with someone right now?”

He didn’t have to tell me twice, and I was already sliding off him and heading for the shower.

TWENTY-SEVEN

epilogue 2

“You look so prettyin your therapy chicken harness.”

Gertie strutted down the sidewalk of the city like she didn’t give a shit. And really she didn’t. Or maybe she did, and I wasn’t picking that up. If a pigeon and shit on the sidewalk.

“Is she done stretching her legs yet?” Roman asked.

“Romy-poo, she needs to move to get that guy out of her system. You know how she gets constipated when she sits around after pecking someone to death.”

Roman’s eye was twitching again.

“Emilee, I told you to stop bringing her when we have to interrogate people.”

Gertie chortled and flapped her wings as a dog got far too close. I picked her up, giving her a break.

“Roman, don’t start on me again. We can’t just leave her home alone. It’s not my fault that she always goes for the eyes. Like, maybe she just knows that the eyes are the window to the soul? And everyone we deal with is pretty much soulless, anyway.”

Roman’s hand was on my lower back.

“Fine. But stop telling everyone who makes you mad that you will kill them and bury them under the chicken coop.”

“But, I will.”

I could hear the sigh he made.

“Yeah. I know. Let’s lead with the element of surprise. Fine. Just. We need to get going. Is she pooped out or not?”

Gertie seemed rather content to just sit in my arms.

“We’ll just throw on a diaper and then we can go. She seems much happier.”

Roman muttered something as he pushed me along the sidewalk. It had been three weeks since Vinny had mysteriously disappeared. Two and half weeks since the Lords nearly disappeared. Two weeks since we went on a well-needed vacation and honeymoon. One week since I started making major changes in my business. And days since Roman, I found a new apartment that was just for us and our little Gertie.

“Look, we have to go meet Parks and Halle. Gertie will be fine. She’s always fine.”

Gertie pecked Roman when he reached for my forearm.

“I don’t think she likes the idea of being fine. I think she likes the idea of being part of the family. Maybe we just bring her with. It’s not like we are going anywhere fancy. Halle just needs me to meet at your club and get the guy she wants. Gertie can hang out in your office.”

He rolled his eyes.

“I hate how you have become her pawn. It’s the opposite of everything we’ve talked about.”

We got to the door of the new apartment. It was one of Roman’s buildings, and the perfect view of the city park.

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