Page 116 of Smooth Sailing

His mouth got tight.

I got up on my toes to kiss it.

It stopped being tight.

There you go.

Another pro.

Give the man a quick peck, he might not get over it, but he won’t belabor it.

With that accomplished, I walked a travel mug of coffee to Emmylou.

13

GOODNIGHT

Diana

I’d hit my limit.

I wasn’t proud of it, but it couldn’t be denied.

This was why I was lying curled up on my bed.

I told myself I was giving time to Madison, Elias and Emmylou, who were out in the living room, re-bonding.

But really, I just needed space from all the crap I’d learned that day.

Emmylou might have given every indication she day-to-day steamrolled her family in her role as matriarch of the O’Keefe clan, but Maddy exhibited some Emmylou Mini-Me characteristics when she put her foot down she didn’t want either of her parents there when she was interviewed.

She wanted me.

So she got me.

We weren’t in a room with a table and chairs like you see on all the true crime shows.

Detective Scott put us in a room with a couch and some armchairs. They were utilitarian, but more welcoming and comfortable.

Though, that was the only thing that was comfortable.

Hugger had phoned in the midst of this, and I couldn’t pick up the call, so he texted that they weren’t going to be able to escort us back home, but he was making other arrangements.

When it was all done, we had an Aces High escort, including Ink, Driver, Cruise, Gash and a police escort.

Whatever the boys were talking about was taking some time, because the interviews (yes, plural) took hours, and Hugger and Big Petey weren’t back yet.

On this thought, I heard the door open, lifted my head and saw Hugger coming in.

I wasn’t prepared for the wave of relief that hit me just seeing him.

But I couldn’t deny a wave of relief hit me, or how huge it was.

I started to push up on an arm, but he took one look at me and ordered stonily, “Don’t fuckin’ move.”

Surprised at his tone, I didn’t fucking move.

I watched as he walked to the end of my bed and then I watched as he toed off his boots, put a knee to the bed, and last, I watched as he crawled up it.

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