Page 42 of Instinct & New Identity

“You okay?”Ileaned in and whispered just for her ears alone.

“Yes.I’mfine,” she replied, sounding like she didn’t really mean it.Plus,Igrew up with a sister.Iknew “fine” was code for the exact opposite.

Did this have to do with her sudden weirdness back at my parents’ house?Ordid someone say something to her here at the pub?

I decided this was not the time to bring it up since she seemed uncomfortable.I’dwait until we got home and ask her then.

We grabbed our coats and began to say goodbye to everyone.

“Are you planning to work at the office tomorrow, or do you not usually work onBlackFriday?”RuthieaskedCat. “AfterIpick upDashand get him some new necessities,Iwill be in the office for a few hours to follow up on some paperworkIhadn’t finished, so feel free to come in and work.”

“Okay, great.IthinkI’lldo that,”Catreplied. “Iusually do work for a few hours, andValworks the lunch shift tomorrow anyway.Plus,Iwould love to meetDash.”

“Me too!”Valjoined in. “Ican swing by before my shift to meet him.”

“Ooh,I’llcome too,”Ellieadded.

The women all hugged and said their goodbyes, and we made our way out.

* * *

“I finally have a night where a cat isn’t going to lie on my face, soI’mgoing to bed soIcan get a good night’s sleep,”Valmurmured as we walked in the door to my place.

She waved behind her as she walked down the hallway to her bedroom.

“Night,”Catresponded back.

Cat andIcontinued toward the kitchen, andIknewIneeded to grab her before she snuck into her room.Shemust have sensed this because she plowed through the kitchen speed-walking.

“Cat,”Icalled out to her, but she kept walking.

“Cat,”Irepeated a little louder this time.

She stopped when she got just beyond the kitchen at the entry to the other hallway—my bedroom was to the right, and her room was to the left.Shestopped but didn’t turn back, which only confirmed something was wrong.Shewouldn’t face me.

“What’s wrong?”Iasked asIwalked up behind her. “Talkto me.”

She finally turned to face me as she spoke. “I’mfine.Idon’t…” she said, then looked back toward the kitchen as if to check and make sureValhadn’t walked in.

Whatever it was, she didn’t feel comfortable havingValthere.Iknew she wouldn’t talk about it here, butIalso didn’t want her to just walk away and go to bed, soIgently grabbed her arm and led her to my room.

I closed the door and then turned to her. “Talkto me.You’vebeen off since we left my parents’ house.Didsomething happen there?”

“Vince,I…” she started to say then tilted her head down as though trying to figure out what to say.

“DidChetget in your space?Saysomething to you?”Iwondered, thoughIhad tried to keep my eyes on him all night.

She lifted her head, a new determination in her face and posture. “Howdo you feel about kids?” she asked, looking at me strangely.

She hadn’t said a word the entire ride home, and this was what she asked.Iknew there was more to it, butIwasn’t sure what.

Treading carefully, not knowing where she was going with this,Iopted to be vague. “Ilike them.”

“Would you like to have more someday?” she asked, her face stoic.

More?Istared at her for several moments before swearing.Iknew exactly what happened.

“Let me guess…Tracytold you aboutLauraLynn.”

---