Page 564 of Dark Love

“A weasel without television, phone, or internet for the next year or two. Do you think he’ll get a job?”

“Doubtful.” But what I don’t doubt is that he’ll think twice about making any more prank phone calls. I’m done wasting time on the weasel. “Do you think the girls will be mad at us?”

“Imogene will probably be irritated that she couldn’t come along.”

That woman has spunk. “What are you going to do when she’s healthy enough to do just that?”

Payne shrugs.

“When she asks for throw pillows, you need to be afraid.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

“Oh, you two are getting serious. How does it feel?” Payne stops in front of the car.

It should be scary. “Wonderful. If you love her, just say yes to the pillows.”

Friend For Tea

Dahlia

It’s been four days since Marlie called and everything shifted again in my world. Four days where Vex barely left my side. And four days that I didn’t go to work.

Fear should be building inside of me. Instead, I’m calmly prepping a platter of cookies for tea with Imogene.

“Do you think the boys will ever come back inside?” Imogene folds herself into one of the barstools.

“Eventually. But men need to stare at their new toys for a while, especially ones that involve fire.” Vex watches it like a little boy in a candy store.

“Is there a bigger barbeque anywhere?”

“Probably not.” But we’re now the proud owners of a smoker, flattop, gas grill, and wood grill. “As long as they don’t set fire to the house, I don’t care.”

“That gives us time to chat. How are you feeling after Monday?”

We can’t talk about Marlie freely even here. “Sad. But this time off has helped.”

“Are you going to go back to work?”

“Vex doesn’t want me to.”

She laughs. “Of course, he doesn’t. That man is besotted. He’d handcuff you two together if you’d let him get away with it.”

Or lock me in his library. Both sound wonderful. “I’m going back to work next Wednesday.”

“Have fun with that. If he’s anything like Payne, it’s going to be an uphill battle.” Even with the frustration in her voice, Imogene keeps a soft smile on her face.

Payne can’t be half as stubborn as Vex. “What’s he doing to drive you nuts?”

“The therapist said I need to think about moving out. Payne almost flipped out. He seems to think this arrangement is permanent.”

“Like you moved in forever?”

She nods.

“What do you want?” That feels like a big question. One I should be asking myself.

“I want to spend forever with Payne. But not like this. It’s like… does he love me because I’m broken? Do I only feel this way because of what happened in the—” Her voice breaks.

Her heart must be breaking. I lean across the bar and take her hand in mine. “Vex and Payne do this kind of thing a lot.” Too often. Yet not often enough. “Did you ask if he’s ever fallen for another woman?”

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