Page 41 of Bad Medicine
After the things I had witnessed with Greg, how could I not be hesitant to get anywhere near Rocco?
But for all my worry, Francesca didn’t seem the type to associate with a truly evil man, not the kind of evil I had witnessed from Greg. Rocco had been nothing but kind and generous, both as a man and as a lover, never demanding things I wasn’t ready to give, never making me fear for my safety. If anything, there was a sense of security when I was near him. A feeling that I could stop fighting and struggling for a while and just exist.
Peace.
“Hello? Earth to Mia.”
Linny’s amused voice snapped me out of my musings, and I turned to find her smirking at me.
“I’d say you were away with the fairies there, girl.” Pursing her lips, she went on. “What were you thinking about?”
Biting down on the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling, I ground out, “I’m trying to remember where I left my keys. I can’t take Jas trick or treating if I can’t lock up the house behind us.”
“You didn’t leave them in the fridge again, did you?”
“I only did that the one time, Linny.”
“I’ll check!” Jasper shouted, taking off toward the kitchen in a rush of white faux fur and stampeding feet.
“They aren’t going to be there. I’d remember if I had left them—”
“Found ‘em!” Jasper called, returning to the front door with one fist raised in triumph. Sure enough, clenched in his little fist were my house keys, jingling lightly as he ran. “Deywerein da fridge, Mommy,” he said with a smile, presenting me the keys like they were the world’s greatest trophy. I supposed when they were all that stood between you and a night of candy hunting, that’s exactly what they were. “Dey were right next to da wine.”
Linny burst out laughing.
“Well, I guess that explains that, huh?”
“Oh, hush, Linny. It was the bottle you bought me, so if anything, it’s your fault.” We shared a smile, and I was once again reminded how grateful I was for my friend. “Now, are you coming with us, or what?”
“You know I’d never miss this.” Holding out her hand, Linny waited until Jasper had latched on to her, his tiny pumpkin bucket dangling from his other hand as they descended the porch steps and started for the sidewalk. Grabbing the pillowcase I had laid out earlier, I ensured I locked the house, popping over to check that Linny had locked up her place too, before I joined them, already two houses down and full of giggles.
We made it three more blocks, Jasper sprinting from house to house like he was in a timed event, before Linny started up.
“So, I met a really nice young man at the DMV the other day.”
“Linny,” I groaned.
“What?” she asked with much pretend innocence. “I just figured that you were so busy, always working and parenting and stuff.” Linny shrugged, linking her arm through mine as we trailed Jasper down the street, dodging the neighborhood kids as they raced around on sugar highs. “He’s new to town, just moved here from Connecticut. Jason is his name, and he’s very handsome and polite. I gave him your number—”
“You did not!”
“I most certainly did. Showed him your photo, too. He said he was single and that he’d think about giving you a call.”
“Lin, you can’t just do that.” I was embarrassed and I hadn’t even met the guy. I could only imagine what I’d feel if he ever actually called.
“Sure I can,” she continued, totally unashamed. “You spend so much time looking after everyone else, I figured it was my job to look after your more base needs.”
“Good grief, Linny. Stop.”
But my stomach flopped over at her words.
Base needs. Right. That was what Rocco was probably taking care of at this very moment. Picturing him with that young blond girl again, I grit my teeth and tried to remember I had no claim on him. He was free to do what he wanted and so was I.
I just didn’t think that Jason from the DMV was what I wanted at all.
“Oh, relax, girl. You’re too uptight.” Pushing me away lightly, Linny made a growling noise. “You’re the lion tamer,” she said, indicating my quickly thrown together costume. “Go tame Jason’s lion.”
“That’s not even a thing,” I said, but I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. As we rounded the corner, making our way back to our street, for which my aching feet were eternally glad, I wrapped my arm around Linny, pulling her close. Jasper, finally appearing to run out of steam, placed himself on my other side, sliding his warm little hand into mine. “Besides,” I said, holding my two favorite people close. “Who needs a man when I have the two of you?”
