Page 134 of Destined To Fall

At that, Laura pushes me off the couch.

“Hey! I’m serious.”

“And I’m the dramatic one, really?”

“No, really. It feels weird.I can’t get it to stop racing. It kinda hurts.”

“You’re not having a heart attack, you twatwaffle.”

“Is this PTSD? Maybe I need anxiety meds?”

“You definitely need your head examined. Are you physically okay, though?”

“I still think I’m having a heart attack, or maybe a stroke—” I’m interrupted by a cushion flying at my face.“If the bodily injuries cease, I’ll heal. The bruising is mostly gone.”

“Well, your phone sex voice has definitely improved. If you’re thinking of a career change…” She trails off, and it dawns on me. I have a job.

“Oh, shit.”

“Yeah, about that. Don’t be mad—”

“I think after everything, you’re due a free pass.”

“Yes! Yes, I am. Okay, well, after you fell asleep the other night, I may have taken down the website and canceled all your upcoming bookings for the next few weeks.”

“Oh.”

“Oh? Are you mad? You’re allowed to be, but you can’t yell at me.” She grins, but I can see the worry it’s masking.

“No, it’s fine. Um, thank you.”

“Oh. You’re, um, welcome.”

“So, no clients?”

“Are you…relieved?”Am I?I don’t know how to answer that.“Because, if you were—are—I also maybe typed up a blanket email to go out to all your current clients if you want to close up shop for a while…or permanently. All but Antony and Lewis, of course.” Of course. I would owe them more than that. They’ve been with me the longest and have always been good to me.

“Wait. How did Antony take it? What reasoning did you give?” Instantly her face schools into her lawyer one and I know.“You told him.”

She bites her lip.“I told him you ended up in hospital, and I alluded to the why.”

“Jesus, Law.”

“You know he wouldn’t have taken some bullshit brush off.” No, he wouldn’t.“He may have asked for a name…”

“But you don’t have one.”

“I don’t, but I knew how he could get one.”

“Laura, what did you do?”

“I just put the information out there. I’m notliablefor any outcome that arises because of that.”

“Any outcome? You make it sound like…like…”Well,shit.“I don’t want to know.”

“So, about the email?” She not so subtly circles back.

Before I can think better of it.“Okay.”

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