Page 98 of The Sound of Temptation

I put on an innocent, surprised expression. “Oh, hi. I didn’t’t realize you were in town.”

She shakes her head. “You wouldn’t’t have had to realize anything if you’d answered your phone.” She runs an assessing gaze over me from head to toe. I smooth my hair down and hope she can’t see the food stains on my pants. “I’ve been busy.”

“Busy doing what?” She snaps, and before I can answer, she shoves her way past me and walks into the house.

“Hey, where are you going?” I close the door and hurry after her.

She’s standing, her back to me, in the middle of my pig pen of a living room. “Dina, I told you I’m busy.”

She spins around to face me, her hazel eyes sweep the length of me, and she shakes her head in dismay.

“You look like hell. When’s the last time you showered?”

“What are you doing here?” I demand.

She yanks my fridge open and glares at me over the door.

“What are you living on? There’s no food in here.”

“I’ve been eating Ramen. And if you’re not going to tell me why you’re here, I’m going to ignore you.” I snap and press play on my remote. Beethoven fills the air and I close my eyes and take a deep breath and let it soothe my rattled nerves.

The music stops abruptly and my eyes snap open.

Dina is walking around gathering the piles of paper that are strewn everywhere.

I sit on my stool, eyeing her dispassionately. She strides back toward me, her eyes moving around the rest of the room. She frowns as she takes in the dirty mugs and plates that cover almost every surface. “I’m not sure what’s going on with you—”

“Nothing. I’ve been painting.” My surly response is interrupted by a yawn.

“Have you been up all night?” She walks over and sits next to me.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I shrug. “I can’t sleep, duh.” I lean back into the couch and close my eyes.

“Yes, Why can’t you sleep?”

I scowl at her sarcasm. “I messed things up with Carter.”

“Oh, is that why he looked so rough?” She says vaguely.

I grab her forearms. desperate to hear more. ““You’ve seen him?”

She wrinkles her nose and leans away from me “You need a shower.”

I hold her even tighter. “If you don’t start talking, I’ll sit on you.”

She yanks away indignantly. “Oh my God. You’re practically rabid.” She straightens her shirt and watches me with wary eyes. “Yes. I saw him. He looks like shit. Says you broke his heart.” She looks at me expectantly.

“He told me he loved me. And now, he hates

me.” I make my saddest face at her. I wish she’d sit down and hug me. I need one.

She squints at me and there’s not much sympathy on her face. “I feel like you’re leaving things out.”

I shift in my seat.

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