Page 20 of Shadows of Before

Will got two bottles out of the cooler he’d brought and they settled on the padded bench. The setting couldn’t be any more perfect. Water lapped against the side, the air was cooler out here and he was with his best friend. “Your boat’s great. What made you buy it?”

“Annie loves the water. We go out whenever we can. We’re going to have a party to christen her.”

“What’ll you name her?”

“Take a guess.”

“Annette.” Annie’s real name.

“Uh huh.”

Will gave him a smile. This was just what he needed. Uncomplicated guy time. He stared at the water as the sun beamed off of it.

Diego asked, “Heard anything from the Secret Service?”

There was that hole again, in the pit of his stomach. It took him a second to answer. “No. I hate waiting. Most of the time, I feel like I’m about to combust.”

“You gotta find a distraction.”

He choked on his beer.

Diego off took his glasses and his eyes narrowed on him. “What’s up, Will?”

After he swallowed hard, he said, “I got a distraction. And she’s driving me nuts.”

“Wow. Will Kirkland, discombobulated by a girl.”

“I guess. It’s supposed to be no-strings-attached sex.”

“Supposedto be?”

He sighed. “Yesterday, I…I think I wanted more.”

“Did you tell her?”

“Uh-huh. She got furious. Stalked out of my house.”

Diego hesitated. Then said, “Want to tell me about her? Do I know her?”

“I’m not going to do that. She’s a blip in my life.”

“How often do you see her?”

“A few times a week.”

“That’s more than a blip, buddy.”

Feeling rotten, he confessed, “Yeah, too much, I think.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I really don’t want to stop seeing her, D.”

“Then don’t. Enjoy what you have.”

Thinking of the horror on Katie’s face when he hinted he might want to take this further, he snorted. “Easier said than done.”

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