Page 59 of Savannah Royals
“Come on, Kat.” He rolls his eyes. “Paul wants to know how last night went. If you learned anything.”
“Couldn’t it wait until we meet at Farley’s later in the week?”
Farley’s is one of our frequent haunts in the bayou, a tavern where we go for drinks several times a month. The owner is a longtime personal friend, and in a similar manner to Ray, he allows us to use the back room of his establishment as a pitstop in our black-market trade.
“Well…I’m supposed to feel you out about something else too.” Abe looks embarrassed, and it’s then I realize why he’s really here.
“About Matthew?” My eyes narrow. “Did Paul have someone at the party? Wereyouthere?”
“No!” He raises his palms in protest. “But Paul has more than just me for eyes and ears, you know.”
I’m silent. And my silence likely damns me.
“I see. I won’t tell him,” Abe decides with a nod.
“Tell him what, exactly?”
“You don’t have to do that, Kat. Not with me. It’s written all over your face.”
“What is?”
“You let him touch you.” Abe shrugs. “It’s fine.”
Anger flares. “Then why are you here, ‘checking up,’ if it’s fine?”
“Isaid it was fine. I don’t care if you have the hots for the doctor. I’m not here right now to serve my own interests.”
“Well, if Paul has a problem with it, maybe he should drag his ass out of the bayou and come talk to me himself,” I say. “Better yet, maybe he shouldn’t be so quick to pimp me out for his nextdream job.”
“Whew.” Abe exhales. “The two of you have a lot to talk about.”
“I just don’t understand why he’s suddenly so interested. Or why he thinks he has the right. He’s never cared about my Academy dates before.”
“Well, they’ve all been meaningless before. Or am I wrong?” Abe’s eyes are pensive, searching.
“I don’t know,” I mumble.
“If you let him touch you—which I can tell you did—I know I’m right. You’ve always cut it off before that point. You’ve saved that for only Paul and me.”
“Are you upset with me?”
“Of course not, Kat. You’ve never been mine. And you’d be bored with me within a week if you were. I’m honestly surprised the doctor has lasted this long. It means Paul’s probably right to keep an eye on him.”
OnTuesday,Paulstopsby at the end of my work hours at Ray’s. When he arrives, I’m busy inlaying emerald snake eyes into the obsidian head of Cleopatra’s cobra ring. The elaborate collar has just recently been completed, after weeks spent troubleshooting a finicky box clasp.
While I work, Paul disappears into the stockroom with Ray. As he emerges, he slips another cash envelope into the interior pocket of his jacket. After Ray leaves, I reluctantly put my project away for the day.
I take a deep breath as we head outside together. “Abe stopped by on Sunday. On your orders, I presume?”
“I just sent him to check in.” He already sounds guarded; Abe clearly warned him.
“Right. About that.” I take another deep breath. “In the future, if you’re ‘checking in’ about my relationship with Matthew, maybe you should doit yourself. Abe is not the one with the problem. Abe is used to seeing me with someone else, and he’s fine with it. Apparently, you are not.”
“It’s not that I’m not fine with it, Kat.” He sighs. “I’m trying to understand. He’s just another mark…right?”
“You wanted me to get to know him, to find out about him and his family. Youtoldme to do this, Paul. You don’t get to be irritated if I decide I like what I’ve found.”
“And do you?” he asks. “Do you like what you’ve found?”
