Page 51 of Trigger

“Charming.”

“Incidentally,have you found a place yet?” I asked him. “Or do you plan to live in your carfor the rest of your life?”

“Notyet. I didn’t have the time.”

Igazed into the distance, debating with myself whether to say anything. On theother hand, I wanted to help him out, although he could be a pain in the ass attimes. Most of the time.

“Icould call my landlord,” I muttered, looking out the window. “If you’re lookingfor a place, that is. There might be one available in my building.”

Whenhe looked at me, I shifted in my seat, feeling uncomfortable under the intenseblue stare.

“Onsecond thought, it’s probably a bad idea,” I said, wiping away the invisibledirt on the car window. “Forget that I said anything.”

“It’sa great idea!” Thorsen exclaimed, wide-eyed. “My back hurts like the devil. Iwas five seconds away from begging you to let me stay at your place for onemore night.”

“Okay,I’ll give him a call then.”

I helda phone to my ear when Thorsen added, “We’re going to be besties, Dominic. Ipromise you that.”

Iwould have hung up, but it was too late. The man on the other side alreadyanswered.

Thorsen

Justlike that, I wasn’t homeless anymore, and I could thank no one else but Dominic“The Trigger” Carter for it. My reluctant partner who mostly ignored me,tolerated me, disliked me, but who was there for me every time it counted—everysingletime. I was supposed to move in tomorrow, so it wasone more night in my car, but still, small miracles.

“Thanksagain, Dom,” I said after we entered his apartment. “You saved my ass.”

“Noproblem.”

Ididn’t want to leave, but I didn’t want to be a pain in the ass either, so Ireached for the duffel bag I brought with me.

“I’llget out of your hair. Can I wash my clothes here before I leave?”

“Ofcourse,” he replied when his phone rang.

I wentto the bathroom to give him privacy and started to put my clothes in thewashing machine.

“I’mfine, Vic.” I heard him say. “I don’t need to see Dr. Ruben. I feel muchbetter.”

Silence.

“Whatabout you? Are you coming over tonight or…?”

Itiptoed to the door, holding my breath in suspense.

“Isee. Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Briefsilence.

“Okay.See you then.”

Whenhe entered the bathroom, I pretended to study the control panel on the washingmachine.

Heleaned against the wall, staring at his sneakers. “Erm… Vic’s not coming. Herbest friend Abigail broke up with her boyfriend, so Vic will stay with her andkeep her company.”

“Mhm,”I murmured, removing the invisible speck of dirt from the sink. “It’s probablyfor the best. I mean, you wouldn’t want her to get sick if you’re coming downwith something, right?”

“Right,”he murmured, staring into the distance.

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