Page 379 of Dark Love

“You’re okay.” Payne stands up again. “Hand us another bottle. We’ll try again on the way to the car.”

I hand them another bottle. “She needs to go to a hospital.”

“No. No. No, hospital. I don’t want to go to the hospital.” The trembling from vomiting amplifies into the full-on shakes you see right before a person has a seizure.

We should have brought a doctor, but risking Barb’s life wasn’t an option and there aren’t any other doctors that I trust enough to bring on one of these types of excursions. “Payne?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got her.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

Too Smart

Dahlia

Today was a long day. Too long. I set my bag and keys down on the table by the door as I hang up the coat Vex insisted I wear before leaving his house.

What crime lord makes you eat breakfast and wear a jacket before you go out?

Nothing about him makes sense.

And now I have his number in my phone.

He hasn’t texted.

Not once all day.

Did I really expect him to?

Yes.

A loud knock, like a fist hitting the front door, makes me jump.

Is that him?

With the size of Vex’s hands, wouldn’t his knock sound more like anexplosion?

I peek out the window by the door. There’s a very grumpy teenager pacing on my stoop. “Hope, what’s wrong?”

“Where have you been? You didn’t come home all weekend.”

Uh oh. How did she even notice that? We didn’t have any plans to work on her book this weekend. “I’m fine. Would you like to come in for a snack?”

“I’m not hungry.” But she steps inside. “Dinner is soon. And if I don’t eat enough, Dad worries that I’m sick.”

That sounds like Max. “He loves you.”

“He does. And he could love you too.” Hope gives me an expectant look.

“I still haven’t changed my mind. Come with me to the kitchen if you want to talk. I need to eat. It’s been a long day.” And a long time since the strange, but good, avocado toast.

“You could come over for dinner. Nonna is making lamb chops with mint sauce. It sounds weird, but it tastes delicious.”

Lamb and mint?!? “I’m too tired, but thank you. A bowl of ramen suits me just fine.”

“Ramen is a snack, not food.” She wrinkles her nose at me.

“I’ll put vegetables in it.”

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