Page 134 of Slay Ride

“Now would be better. My husband will be home around three, and he wants to know as little as possible about my little hobby. It pisses him off, but he says as long as he doesn’t have to be around it, it’s whatever.”

Yeah, I get it. I wouldn’t like it if this were Cat’s hobby, either. My skin crawls at the thought.

“I can be there in twenty,” I say. “Is the agreed amount the same?”

She confirms, and I end the call.

Back in the living room, Shorty has taken up his spot in her lap once more. He kneads her stomach, his eyes half closed as a beam of sunlight warms his stupid back.

“I’m heading to the store. Do you need anything?” I ask.

Cat nibbles the pen. “No, but don’t forget that everyone’s coming over around six. I called that wing place you like, but they don’t deliver. You’ll have to pick up the food.”

I brush the hair from her face and lean down to kiss her forehead. “I’ll get it taken care of.”

Then I leave the apartment to do something I know I’ll regret.

By the time everyone arrives, the apartment has never felt so small.

Maverick and Eve sit at the kitchen table. The two have become best friends since the winter retreat, and they’re evendiscussing moving in together. That’s if Eve stops setting him up on disaster dates with her straight friends.

Kindra, Ezra, and Jim crowd together on the tiny loveseat. Kindra and Ezra sat down first, and Jim just sort of did what Jim does and inserted himself into the situation. I’ve never seen Kindra look more uncomfortable.

Grim and Rose even showed up for a few minutes, but they made their excuses and left as abruptly as they arrived. No one knows where they’re headed, but no one ever does.

And then there’s Cat. She bustles around the apartment, refilling drinks and playing the part of hostess.

“Bennett, where are the wings? Didn’t you pick them up?” Cat rushes around the kitchen in search of the food she won’t find.

“Shit, sorry. I completely forgot.”

She nibbles her lip and looks around the kitchen once more. “Didn’t you go to the store this afternoon? Where’s the cake?”

A gasp comes from the living room, followed by Kindra nearly shouting, “You bought a what?”

Everyone heads into the living room.

“Who bought what?” Eve says. “I’m a nosy bitch, and inquiring minds want to know.”

“Jim bought a cruise ship,” Ezra says.

We all turn to look at the man beaming up at us with childlike enthusiasm.

Jim stands, puffing his chest as he walks to the head of the room. “We had so much fun with our vacations, so I thought, why stop here? Why not expand and have something for us to do year-round?”

“Maybe because some of us have jobs,” Kindra says.

“Or school,” Cat adds. “Plus, I get seasick.”

Maverick holds up his hands. “Hang on, let’s not shit on this just yet. I mean, a cruise ship does sound like a pretty nice vacation.”

“Murdering at sea could be fun,” Eve adds. “I’m in.”

Jim holds up a finger with a sparkle in his eye. “Oh, I can promise none of you will want to miss this. I have plans for certain . . . changes. It will be very interesting.”

“Just so long as there are no secret passages that everyone refuses to tell me about,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “I’m still pissed about that one in Alaska.”

Ezra laughs and shakes his head. “Wait, you still don’t know?”

---