Page 104 of Darling Obsession

“There was a disturbingly aspirational tone in your voice just now,” Dani notes.

“I just never thought they’d be Quinn’s color,” Nicole says.

“They aren’t,” I insist. “And there’s more to him than red flags, guys. We actually have something pretty major in common. His dad died when he was young, too. Fourteen.”

“Oh, good,” Dani says. “So he has daddy issues? And this is what you’re leading with? His childhood trauma?”

“Hey, I don’t have daddy issues,” I protest.

“Because you had a great dad. What was his dad like, before he died?”

I actually don’t know the answer to that.

And I do think my friends have reasons to be concerned.

Maybe Harlan is damaged. Maybe he really doesn’t want anything more than dirty but casual sex. But when he gave me the key to his kitchen, it gave me a spark of hope that maybe thereissomething more going on between us.

And maybe what worries me the most is that I’m not as scared of him as I should be. That I’m not running for the hills.

“I don’t know why,” I tell my girls, “but I just feel weirdly at ease here, in his home. I can’t explain it.”

“Maybe you don’t have to,” Nicole says supportively.

“Maybe he just matches my crazy,” I suggest. “We do kind of get along…”

“So what do you think happens when two crazy people fall in love?” Dani inquires.

“We’re just sleeping together,” I say.

“When do you ever just sleep with a guy?” she counters. “The moment your ass hits his mattress, you’re making him breakfast and organizing his closet for him. You start nesting. Nurturing. You get attached.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Nicole adds. “It’s your nature.”

“I’m not getting attached.” I hesitate, but then admit, “He said our relationship is sex-only. Like, we can keep sleeping together, if I want to, but nothing else.”

“Oh, hello, red flag,” Dani says fake-pleasantly. “Thank you for waving in my face so I couldn’t possibly miss you. Oh, no, thanks, I’ll find the exit myself. Fast.”

She gazes at me expectantly.

I frown. “You love sex-only relationships.”

“Forme. Not foryou. Know thyself, woman.”

“I think Lady Gaga said that,” Nicole quips. Then she says, “Oh, hello, kitty,” totally throwing me off. I look over to see her reaching out for the little black cat that’s wandering over to the edge of the pool. It has to be the same one I saw in Harlan’s sitting room, the first time I came over.

It sniffs Nicole’s fingers, then rubs its little cheek against her.

“I see his cat is black, too,” Dani says dryly. “Is this part of the vibe? He’s a witch and this is his familiar? Oh, since he’s a man, I guess he’d be a wizard or a warlock, right?”

“Actually, ‘witch’ is gender-neutral,” Nicole provides helpfully. “The use of wizard and warlock to mean male witch is more of a fantasy thing and not really accurate.”

I roll my eyes. “He’s just a regular human, ladies. And that’s just a stray cat from the neighborhood.”

Nicole’s eyebrow spikes. “This neighborhood?”

“It does seem weird…” I consider the cat. “It looks so healthy. Someone must be taking care of it.”

“Don’tfeed her.”

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