Page 49 of Devotion

They gasp, and I explain, because I know they’re about to ask anyway.

“He didn’t seeeverything, but he saw enough. Enough that it turned into an argument in the parking lot that ended with him calling me a bitch.”

They’re in shock, probably wondering why I didn’t message the group chat with the juicy details, but I honestly didn’t feel like talking about it before now.

“Damn, so it’sover-over,” Dove says, and I nod.

“Yup.”

I’m reminded of how Martinez and the other detectives shared a laugh at my expense, but don’t think I should mention it to the girls. Knowing them, they’d be waiting outside the station with baseball bats.

“Well, you did nothing wrong,” Eliza reassures me, although I don’t really need it. “Martinez dragged his feet for months, never making it clear where you two were headed, so this is on him. As my grandfather used to always say, either shit or get off the pot.”

I frown at her grandfather’s analogy, but understand the meaning.

“Agreed, but our stagnation was mutual,” I point out. “He never defined what we were, but neither did I. I think I just always knew something wasn’t right with us, you know?”

“And I say good for you. You didn’t settle, and now you’ve already got anewhottie to take your mind off things. Win-win,” Eliza adds, and the others nod in agreement.

Dove gasps when an idea hits her. “You should totally invite him to dinner this weekend!”

“What? No!”

I’m outnumbered when Isha takes Dove’s side. “Why wouldn’t you? This way, we can evaluate him early, so you don’t waste another six months with some prick that doesn’t deserve you.”

“Or… we should acknowledge that she just exited a situation-ship with a co-worker and might need some time to process,” Eliza reasons, giving my hand a quick squeeze. “Only do what you’re comfortable with, when you’re comfortable with it.”

She lets my hand go when our drinks arrive, and I’m grateful they’ve moved on to discuss timesthey’vegotten handsy in public. My thoughts are still on Damien, though, imagining what it might be like if I were actually able to put in that call to him.

Imagining if things were normal, if he weren’t… who he is… I might’ve taken Dove’s advice.

But that can’t happen, I can’t un-know the things I know about him, the “work” I’ve seen him do. So, I sober up quickly, releasing the thought.

This weekend, I’ll be arriving at Dove and Chris’s engagement party alone. And as far as my plus-one, now that Martinez and I are through, it’s officially aplus-none.

18

Damien

Tonight, it’s just me andthe madam, and she’s as entertaining as ever. Even more so, now that Mira’s made a few tweaks and got the audio intact.

Layla’s consistent in wearing her “work uniform”, and the sight of her proudly straightening her hat, like it’s a crown, has me holding in a laugh. It’s strange watching her now. After our encounter the other night—one in which she was as consumed by me as I was by her—she’s suddenly tangible in my world. No longer some unreachable object.

But… a woman. Made of flesh and blood, order and chaos, innocence and carnality.

And I’m addicted.

She rocks back in her chair, and my focus shifts to her legs, bare and smooth, perfect where they rest propped on her desk. A pair of dark underwear are barely visible from the side. I remember her scent, and my eyes fall closed as my cock hardens. But the sweet, sultry sound of her voice has them opening again.

She answers a call, giving her usual spiel to welcome her next customer onto the line. Then, she’s silent while she listens, leaving me curious as to what’s being said on the other end. Her head falls back, and when she rolls her eyes, the frustration becomes apparent, and I understand what’s brought it on when she reiterates the caller’s dilemma. A dilemma that starts and ends with a man named Norman wanting insight into why his cat’s been showing signs of depression in recent weeks.

Despite her annoyance, Layla gives Norman her full, undivided attention, asking question after question to get a feel for how to provide a response that will leave Norman feeling emotionally satisfied. That’s what her work seems to truly be about—reassuring people that their sucky lives will improve in time if they’re willing to make a few minor adjustments.

In a sense, what she does is lessseeing into the great beyond,and more…therapy.

In that instance, I suppose she’s followed in her father’s footsteps.

She feeds Norman a few lines about how the spirits are telling her that his cat is merely projecting the energy within the home, and that Norman would be wise to look inward. She adds that self-reflection will reveal the deeper issue he needs to unravel, and when he does, his furry friend will likewise be free from negativity.

---