Page 39 of Refuge for Flora

Barrett shrugged. “Probably not.”

“After dinner, you wanna play cards or something?”

What I really want is for you to go home. But he couldn’t say that. He could hear Kirby in his head. “Quarles, that’s your problem. You’re just too nice.”Yeah. Maybe that’s true.Thing was, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be not nice. But he sure wished Jesse would stay at his own home. He heard a voice and asked, “What?”

“I said, why don’t you ever come to my place? Where were you? It was like you were a million miles away,” Jesse said and picked up a French fry.

“Oh, sorry. Thinking. I guess it’s because once I get home, I’m really not interested in going out anywhere. I’d just as soon be here where I can relax.”

“You could relax at my place.”

He was about to say something that might not have been translated as nice when there was a tap on the door. It was so soft that he wasn’t sure if it was actually a knock, but Jesse instantly pivoted toward him. “You expecting anybody?”

He remembered Jonas, one of the other officers, saying he might stop by. “Maybe.” Cup in hand, he wandered over to the door and slung it open. And he almost dropped the cup. “Flora!”

“Hi. You said come by sometime, so I thought…” She stopped. “Oh. You already have company.”

“Yeah. This is my… friend, Jesse. Jess, this is Flora. She’s Mrs.Murphy’s caregiver during the day.”

“Hey. Nice to meet you,” the man said, and Barrett noticed the way Flora was eyeing Jesse. There were going to be questions. He could feel it.

“Same here.” She pointed back over her shoulder “I’ll just?”

“No, no! You’re welcome to stay! Please! Come on in.” Barrett took a step back from the doorway and swept an arm inward.

“If you’re sure… Hey, do I know you from somewhere?”

“I really doubt it.” Jesse stood and stretched. “I’ve gotta go anyway. Work in the morning and all.”

Flora blushed deeply and Barrett was troubled that she’d been embarrassed needlessly. “No, really, please don’t feel like you have to leave because of?”

“No, seriously. I need to get some sleep.” Jesse gathered up the empty fast-food trash and carried all of it to the trash can in the kitchen, then made his way to the front door. “So I’ll see you later, bud.”

“Yeah. Later.” As he left, he hugged Barrett. From where they stood, Barrett could see Flora’s face, and the only way he could interpret her expression wasuncomfortable. Could she tell he and Jesse were more than friends? Or at least had been?

Barrett stood in the doorway and watched Jesse go before he closed the door and turned his attention to his guest. “Hey, want something to drink?”

“I’m sorry I just showed up on your doorstep. I saw the car but I’d already walked down here. I mean, I can?”

“No! I’m happy you did! Now, drink?”

“Just a plain soda will be fine.”

“Comin’ up.” He grabbed one from the refrigerator and popped it open before handing it to her.

“Thanks.” She took a sip and sat there. Barrett recognized the body language?she was drawing in on herself. “So, you and Jesse been friends long? Wait… That’s none of my business,” she said, staring at her hands as they clutched the aluminum can.

There was no easy way to explain it, so he decided to just dive right in. After all, that was one of the things Zyan had said he needed to do. “I know you’re curious about Jesse now. I can understand that.”

“What? No. I’m not. It’s none of my business.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“I’m not thinking anything.”

“Yes, you are. So let me assure you, I’m not gay.”

She nodded, but she didn’t seem convinced. “So bi?”

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