Page 44 of Heathen

I've been a borderline hermit since we met, and she knows me better than anyone else in my life. She knows just how out of character it would be for me to be hanging out with anyone else.

I look up from my phone, letting my eyes roam over the property, wondering if I should tell her everything.

When I decide not to get into my last couple of days, I have to wonder why I wouldn't share such important news with her. I can't seem to come up with a reason not to, but I still don't speak up about the warehouse, the marriage, or the Mafia-like goons that seem to be keeping tabs on me for some reason.

"I apologize for not reaching out to you," I say, trying to change the subject.

"With your new friend?"

I smile at the inference in her tone. I should've guessed that she would assume correctly that it was a guy.

"What's new with you?" I ask.

She chuckles. "Avoiding the topic, huh?"

"Not much to talk about," I assure her.

"So secretive."

"It's new."

"And you don't want to jinx it?"

I shrug as I spot a bench off to the side of the putt-putt green.

I can't tell her that whatever this is with Ellis is destined to end, sooner rather than later. I can't explain to my friend what's going on when I don't fully understand myself. Everything I've done in the last seventy-two hours has been completely out of character for me, and there's no telling how many more life-altering decisions I'll make before I snap back to reality.

"This is weird," Morgan mutters. "But I guess you'll fill me in when you can."

I fight the wave of guilt because, honestly, I've made my decision to keep quiet, and I know it won't change.

"Anything weird going on in your life?" I ask, wondering if the goons from the warehouse have contacted her.

I hate that I've possibly put her in danger, and I can't help but wonder if Ellis bringing us here, where Dima and his men can't find us, somehow breaks some part of the contract that would lead them to her doorstep.

"I went on a blind date," she says with little enthusiasm.

"Yeah? How did that go?" I ask, although I already anticipate the answer.

"The blind date was a dud, but I got the number of a super-hot guy who was waiting for his car at the valet stand."

"While on your date?" I ask with a chuckle.

"Yeah. Why waste an opportunity, you know? I knew I'd never talk to the blind date guy again, so there was no point in wasting a full face of makeup and a wax session."

"If you're mentioning getting waxed, that means you got more than his number, Morgan."

Her laughter tells me all I need to know.

"The sex was so hot, but then he got a little weird."

I sit down on the bench and stare into her face on my phone. "Weird how?"

She shrugs, looking away as if she's too embarrassed to speak. That says a lot because this woman can talk about everything and it doesn't even make her cheeks pink.

"Was he a huge Russian guy?"

It's her turn to give me all of her attention. "Kaylee, please tell me what's going on."

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