Page 29 of Lethal Seduction

He stops and turns. "Listen, Patrick. Please don’t be upset." Running his fingers through his hair, he sighs. "I know I made the first move and now I’m backing away like a jerk, but we worktogether, and I don't think this…" He gestures between us. "You know what they say… never dip your pen in the company ink."

"For sure," I say. "I was going to ask you not to say anything to anyone. Seas the Day is a gossipy place, and I don't want it to be weird for us when we work the same shifts," I lie. My heart hurts and the tears are building, making it hard to swallow. I need to get out of here before he sees me lose it.

"Absolutely." He waves goodbye and walks away without looking back again.

My throat grows tighter as I watch him walk around the back of his home and disappear from view. "Fuck my life," I say, putting the car into reverse. Backing out of the driveway, I whip the car around without squealing the tires. "You're never going to find the right guy." I turn the wheel and press on the gas. I can still feel Jake's lips pressed against mine. I wish there'd been more between us—not just a quick make-out session that went nowhere. I wipe a tear from my cheek and check the time. "Dammit."

It's getting late and I'm in no shape or mindset to drive home and be alone, but what other choice do I have? An internal debate begins to wage. Should I tell Tina what happened? She's my best friend, but it's embarrassing since Jake didn't want to pursue anything further and he also didn't seem to want anyone to know. "Phone, call Tina."

The phone doesn't even ring before she picks up. "Patrick… what's up?"

"I made out with Jake."

"You slut."

"I know."

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Did you have sex?" Tina's voice is so loud and high pitched the speaker on my phone rattles. "Was his cock as big as I’ve always envisioned?"

"I said we made out."

"You're going to need to be more specific. Making out to someone like Devon could mean he was impregnated."

I laugh. "I'll tell you everything tomorrow, but you have to promise to keep this to yourself."

"Deal."

"Swear to it," I demand.

"I swear on the life of Katniss Everdeen in the critically acclaimed movie,The Hunger Games, but notMocking Jay Part One. We both know that was trash."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, bestie," Tina says.

I kiss into the phone. "Love you, bestie."

Once I disconnect the call I continue to drive toward home, merging onto the freeway. If I manage to get home before Diamond calls it quits for the evening, she'll be able to warn me if someone has broken into my place again.

I push on the gas. My nerves are shot. I shiver, thinking about how my apartment has been broken into and how there was a murder not far from work. I shake my head. "It's fine. There's nothing to worry about."

Brake lights ahead signal the continuation of the unrelenting traffic problems Los Angeles is known for—the sign I need. Exiting the freeway a few miles from my neighborhood, I pull over to the side of the road. My hands are shaking. Something is wrong, but I don't know what it is. An inner voice is telling me not to go home.

I pull out my phone and call Tina.

"You're scaring me," she says. "You never call me after we say goodnight. Are you dead in a ditch?"

I smile. "No, but if I was, you'd be the first person I call."

"What’s going on? I’m almost home from work. Do you want me to meet you somewhere so we can talk about how big a slut you are?” The genuine concern in her voice gives way to the lighthearted naughty shit-talking tone she always gets when we're discussing sex.

I can't help but smile, already feeling better. “I was hoping I could come over and watch movies… maybe spend the night?”

Tina doesn’t respond right away. I’m not worried she’ll say no, but I know she’s trying to figure out what’s really going on with me. “Stop at the gas station on the corner and get some popcorn and wine coolers. It’ll be like old times.”

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