Page 105 of Darling Obsession

I startle at the sound of Harlan’s voice. I look up to find him standing at the opposite edge of the pool in his suit, glowering at us. “And especially don’t feed her cake,” he says.

Nicole withdraws the piece of cake she was offering the cat. It’s stretched out on the side of the pool now, soaking up the sun and the attention.

“She has a special diet,” he mutters.

“I thought she was a stray,” I say. Is he pissed that I have friends over?

His dark gaze shifts to me. “She is. She throws up people food.”

“Oh.”

I notice Dani and Nicole exchanging a look.

“These are my best girlfriends. Dani and Nicole.”

“Hi,” Dani says.

“Nice to meet you,” Nicole says.

“This is Harlan,” I add, when he doesn’t introduce himself to my friends.

“Hello,” he says gloomily.

“I must’ve lost track of time,” I tell him. “What time is it?”

“About four o’clock. I came home early. I’m going to take a shower.”

With that, he turns and heads into the house.

I’m not sure how to takeI came home early. Does he often come home early, or did he hope to see me?

As soon as he’s gone, Nicole says, “She?”

“I guess it’s a girl.”

“Well, is it a stray or not? He seems to know a lot about her.”

I break away from the floatie island, and paddle my popsicle toward the side of the pool. “Sorry, girls. I think you need to head out.” I know they’re both politely ignoring the elephant in the pool right now, namely their first impression of Harlan, but that won’t hold. “I want to make him dinner tonight for being so nice to me.”

“See?” Dani says. “Nurturing. Next thing, you’ll be adopting the cat.”

“He does seem really nice,” Nicole says with wide eyes that say the exact opposite.

I frown. “You don’t know him. Maybe he had a rough day at work.”

“And doesn’t he have someone who cooks for him?” Dani says. “I thought you said there was a chef.”

I haul myself up on the side of the pool. “There is, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t put in the effort.”

“Uh-huh. And what effort is he putting in?” she inquires.

I throw out my arms, indicating his luxurious home, which he’s welcomed me—and them, by extension—into.

Dani just says, “Please.”

My girls climb reluctantly from the pool. And after we dry off, I walk them to the front door to see them off.

They hug me goodbye. Then Dani holds me by the arms, fixes me with her shrewd blue eyes, and says seriously, “Real talk. What happens if things get rough? If Lorraine gets sick again? Do you really think he’s going to be there for you?”

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