Page 24 of Vengeful Secret

“That’s the one. Thanks, honey.”

“Sure.” I make a mental note to swing by the grocery store after eating.

Sarah already has a booth waiting for me when I arrive at the diner, and she waves frantically to me when I walk in, like I wouldn’t recognize her or something.

I chuckle at her antics and slide into the booth across from her.

“I already ordered home fries for Ciara and those extra hot buffalo wings that you love.”

“Honestly, Sarah, sometimes you can be an angel on Earth.”

She pouts. “What do you mean, sometimes?”

I chuckle. “I am sorry I ditched you guys the other night.”

“You have to make up for it by telling meeverything.”

I look around the diner to make sure no one’s listening, lowering my voice. “We hooked up in the bathroom.”

Sarah squeals. “Oh my God, that’s so dirty but so hot! Was it as fun as it sounds.”

“It was amazing.” That much is true, but of course, the problem with me and Gray had never been physical. “But I’m not going to see him again.”

“Why not?” She frowns. “He seems like a big spender, and he’s good in bed, obviously.”

“That’s not all that I’m looking for in a man, Sarah.”

“What else is there?” It’s like she really can’t imagine wanting anything else.

I laugh. “Well, for one, do you know who he is?”

“No.” She pauses, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Is he famous or something?"

“More like infamous. He's part of the Burke clan.”

“He is not,” she gasps. “Like as in, the Irish mob?”

“One and the same.”

“God, that's even hotter!”

I shake my head. “Maybe to you, but I have Ciara to worry about. I can’t be dating men in the mob, Sarah.”

She looks utterly disappointed but then she nods. “I guess you’re right. It’s certainly a good memory to have, though. Good story to tell.”

“Yeah.” But there’s something bittersweet about thinking of Gray as a memory, as a story. I want so much more than that, even if I’m not supposed to. I sigh and then try to change the subject as our food comes. “What about you? Did you find someone to go home with?”

“Not exactly. But I did get a couple of numbers.”

I smile. “That’s great!”

“It would be, if either of them would text me back,” she says glumly. “It’s so hard to meet people these days.”

“Next time, I’ll be your wing woman.”

Her eyes widen. “You’d do that for me?”

“Of course, I would.”

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