Page 58 of Vow of Obsession

"I had a group of women your age vetted, and these are the ones that were cleared to come for the interview."

"Vetted?" I have no clue where Warren is going with this.

"Screened. I had them looked into and portfolios made," Warren says as though this is supposed to clear everything up for me.

"For what?" Why is it so hard to get an answer when Z got it in seconds?

"I'm interviewing possible friends for you."

I stare at my husband. It takes me a few seconds to even comprehend his explanation. And once I do, I’m still unsure if I heard him correctly.

"What the hell?" Cosima whispers. I'm sure her mind is as boggled as mine.

"You're interviewing possible friends for me?" I repeat, wanting to make sure I have this right.

"You said Marks was your best and only friend." Warren shrugs as though him holding interviews to find me new friends isn’t the most outlandish thing.

"Oh my God." Cosima starts to laugh.

"Are you trying to find me new friends overall? Which is insane," I quickly add. "Or are you trying to replace Marks?" While I think his actions are the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard, I’m starting to suspect they aren’t just to get me new friends.

"If a better so-called friend comes along, then I'm sure that person would then take this best friend spot. No?"

"I can't." Cosima laughs even harder, practically doubling over at this point.

"Warren." I take his handsome face in my hands. "That is not how that works. You don't interview friends."

"Why not?"

"Friends happen naturally." Holy crap, I love this man. He really does want to make me happy so he can keep me right next to him.

“I can be her friend, but you won’t let her go anywhere.” Cosima is quick to chime in.

“You don’t need to shop every two seconds,” Z tells her.

“And you don’t need to run your mouth every two seconds either, but here we are. Why are you not shutting the fuck up?”

“Watch it,” Z warns her, his expression turning really pissed off. Cosima does have a special skill set to get calm Z to be, well, not so calm.

“Do you want to go shopping?” Warren ignores them, his attention on me.

“It might be fun to hang out.” I shrug one shoulder.

“Might? I’m right here.” Cosima motions up and down at herself, making me laugh.

"All right." Warren lets out a small sigh. "I'll have something arranged."

"I'll go with them." Z steps forward.

"No! He'll ruin everything." Cosima stomps her foot.

"You're a spoiled brat, you know that?"

"And you're an asshole." Cosima gives him the sweetest smile. "Did you know that? I'm guessing you do."

"Enough!" Warren barks at them. "I've had enough of all this. Everyone out of my office." I know he's not speaking to me because his hold on my waist tightens.

Both Z and Cosima leave Warren's office, bickering back and forth.

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