Page 23 of Death and Donuts

“Gah!” I swatted at Vena, who held the spray bottle with a smirk. “Aren’t you mowing your grass?”

“Please, I keep this grass maintained like a golf course. I only needed a minor clipping. What’s with the frowny face?”

I shoved my phone at her then grabbed a towel to mop my face.

“Interesting,” Vena said when she read the text. “But why is it making you frown?”

“I just agreed to go on a date with Shepard. And Cross is making me feel?—”

“You better not say guilty. You don’t owe either of them anything.”

“No. But I like them both. A lot. More than a lot.”

“Excellent. Then keep it equal until you know for sure. If Shepard kisses you, you kiss Cross. If you go on a date with Shepard, you go on a date with Cross. If you eat Shepard’s cannoli, you eat Cross’ too.”

I saw her point, but I didn’t think I could treat my relationship with them so transactional like that. “No cannoli references, and I’ll think about the rest.”

“Nothing to think about. Just do it. Keep the playing field as even and as groomed as my downstairs.”

I made a face.

She snickered. “It’s glorious. You should see it.”

“No, thank you.”

CHAPTER SIX

I smoothedmy wavy hair and stepped back to check myself in the mirror. Dressed in a white button-up with a snug black skirt, I looked decent. My face was “pretty enough” even with a slightly small nose. Personally, I thought my eyes were my best asset. Vena claimed it was my chest. Sure, I was curvy, but nothing to bring a guy to his knees.

So why, then, were Cross and Shepard so persistent about me?

Shaking my head, I turned away from the mirror and picked up my phone to reread Cross’ text messages. He’d been outright flirting this time. Plainly stating his interest in me. Sure, he’d hinted before and kissed me…and enjoyed sneaking into my bed. But he’d never been so straightforward.

Neither had Shepard. Until now.

Vena’s advice to keep it fair had been replaying in my head. Screw being fair tothem. What about being fair to me? I was slowly slipping into a situation I worried wouldn’t end well for anyone. If I were smart, I’d walk away from both of them.

With a sigh, I pocketed my phone and opened my notebook to work on the list of potential desserts I could make for Shepard to serve at Blur until Vena was ready.

On the way out, I grabbed the fairy trash I’d made. She radiated anticipation with each step.

“Please don’t do anything I’m going to regret,” I said.

She paused opening her car door and really looked at me.

“You okay? You sound…tired.”

I got in behind the wheel and waved to Gunner, who was on guard duty again. Vena waited until we were on our way to turn and look at me.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“You say play the field, but what happens when one of them eventually wants me to choose? Bridges will be burned, and I’ll need to say goodbye to a secure job or having my dream handed to me. Or both.

“I don’t mind working for my dream, Vena. If I earn it myself, no one else will be able to take it away from me.”

“Hey. Whoa. Where’s all this negativity coming from?”

“What if I’m just a game to them? As soon as I said yes to a date with Shepard, suddenly Cross started playing his cards too.”

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