Page 61 of One More Heartbeat
Lie to him. Reassure him Peony reacts to you the same way she does him.
But I can’t lie to him. He needs my help with her so he can focus on his book when Athena is off duty. During those times his mother can’t help out. And I love spending time with Peony. Love spending time with the only link I have left to Kenda.
I pick up my phone from the coffee table and stop Beyoncé midsong. “It went great. We had a lot of fun. Didn’t we, Peony?”
At her name, she turns in Athena’s arms and grins at me. I take a step forward. The urge to kiss her on the forehead, like Mama did when I was little, flickers in my chest.
I then catch the look in Athena’s eyes—a look heavily laced with jealousy or annoyance or resentment—and it’s enough to snuff out the urge.
Or maybe her reaction is just my imagination, triggered by grief. And at knowing that Kenda had kept Peony’s existence a secret from both Garrett and me.
“How did the self-defense lesson go?” Or am I better off not knowing?
Athena’s hair is messier than it was when she left. An I’ve-been-freshly-fucked messy. It’s also damp around her hairline.
“It was good. Garrett didn’t go easy on me, which was great.”
“You’re a fast learner.” Garrett smiles at her like she’s his prized student.Oh, God, did they make out?
Please tell me they didn’t make out.
“Yeah, he’s not known for going easy. My body was sore for a week after he taught me moves.” I was also highly turned-on during our lessons, which had left me wanting to dry-hump him while he was on top of me, my body pressed into the mat.
Needing to get out of here before I can torture myself any further, I say goodbye to Peony and Athena and walk to the front door. Garrett comes with me.
“You want to tell me your secret?” he asks, escorting me to my car. The golden sunlight bathes the driveway and a narrow strip of the flower bed alongside it in a warm glow. The trees and bushes create shadows over the rest of the ground.
“My secret?” The question comes out on a choked squeak. Which secret? The one where I’ve been secretly in love with him since college?
“Yes. Your secret. How did you get Peony to accept you? It’s obvious she’d prefer it if I disappeared.” His tone isn’t bitter or sad. It’s hopeful. Hopeful I have the magic equation he’s searching for.
“I don’t think there is any secret to it. You told me she’s scared of your brothers and father. One of my employees adopted a kitten last year who was scared of men. It had been abandoned in a dumpster, and the vet figured a man may have dumped her in there, and that’s why she was scared of men.”
The corner of Garrett’s mouth tilts up. “So you think a man dumped my daughter in a dumpster, and that’s why she’s scared of me?”
I playfully punch him in his rock-hard stomach. “No, silly. But the explanation makes sense. A man killed her mama. Maybe she generalized that to mean all men are dangerous. They’re all someone to fear.”
“That’s what I thought, but…I don’t know.” He rubs his neck. He’s a man who’s often in motion when he’s stressed, who paces, who gardens, who moves. It speaks volumes about our friendship—I try not to resent the word too much—that he’s okay being still with me. “Did your employee’s kitten ever get over her fear of men?”
“Eventually. But I don’t think Peony is scared of you. Not anymore. She didn’t seem scared this time. Just…um…”
“Indifferent?”
I nod. “Which is good. It means she’s progressing. I’m positive things will improve soon.” I reach for his hand and lightly squeeze it. “Keep making her feel loved and protected, and you’ll get there, Garrett.”
I press my front teeth into my bottom lip, wondering if I have the right to ask the next question. I probably don’t, but I have to know. “Is there something going on between you and Athena?” Dread splits the words down the middle, a flash of lightning ready to ignite everything in its path. To burn me with the truth.
Garrett chuckles. “Odd thing to say.”
“I know. I’m just…curious.”
“What exactly are you asking?” His raised eyebrow tells me he isn’t all that clueless of the implication behind my question.
“Are you hooking up with her?”
A laugh rumbles low in his chest. Our bodies aren’t touching, but that doesn’t prevent the sound from vibrating through my body. “There’s nothing to be curious—or jealous—about.” A teasing smirk tilts the corner of his mouth.
“I’m not jealous.” I roll my eyes as if the idea of me being jealous is preposterous.
