Page 23 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

I shrugged. “It’s probably better this way.” I held back all the emotion that wanted to be unleashed. I refused to cry at my own party.

“If it makes you feel any better, he regrets it already.”

I didn’t believe that. “Honestly, it doesn’t, but that’s okay. Like I said, it’s not your fault.”

“I know, but I feel terrible. Although maybe this will make you feel better.” She pulled her phone out of her purse with a mischievous grin. “So, before I met Miles, I pretty much loathed all men.”

I thought I remembered her mentioning that once in a conversation. I found it hard to believe, given how in love she and Miles were. He practically slobbered all over his wife and kids.

“That’s about how I feel.” I laughed.

“Then this is the perfect gift for you.”

I felt my cheeks pink. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”

She waved her hand. “Of course I did. We’re friends,” she said so sincerely.

That meant the world to me. I could use all the friends I could get.

“Okay, so this might be a little disturbing, but totally worth it.”

“Are you going to show her now?” the sweetest voice drawled from across the room. Shelby Prescott was the owner of the boutique across the street from my restaurant, M&M’S on Main. She was a gorgeous southern belle who had relocated here and was the nicest woman on the planet, even if I couldn’t afford the clothes she sold. She was a huge patron of the restaurant. And I adored her for it.

Shelby zoomed our way, and with her came Emma, the daughter of Mr. Carrington, who owned half the town, and Jenna, who owned a comedy club in nearby Edenvale. Tristan and I had gone there a couple of times. I really needed to stop thinking about him. But that was going to be kind of hard considering what Aspen had gotten me for my birthday.

The ladies all surrounded me. It was nice of them to include me, as I knew the four of them were all super close friends. Some of them had been friends since high school. The same high school I had gone to.

Aspen’s eyes lit up while she tapped on her phone. “So, there’s a zoo in the Midwest you can pay to name a cockroach after anyone who, let’s say, has wronged you in any way, and they will feed said cockroach to their meerkats.”

I giggled. “Is this a real thing?”

“Oh yes, darlin’.” Shelby looped her arm through mine. “It’s absolutely disgusting.”

All her friends laughed and gave each other knowing glances, like there was an inside joke I was missing.

“It’s some of the best paid TV around,” Aspen added. “They do it every Saturday morning, but you have to get your order in by Friday, for future reference.” She winked.

“I’m sticking with cats from here on out,” I assured her.

That made them all laugh again.

“You sound like Aspen a few years ago,” Emma said. “It was right before she met Miles, I believe.” She seemed to imply that I was going to meet my Prince Charming soon.

Not happening.

Aspen rolled her eyes. “Miles was an aberration; you know, except the good kind. Regardless, if Kinsley wants to stay single, I support her. Most men deserve the fate of the cockroach.”

“You’re just being silly,” Shelby sang. “This pretty little thing here is going to find Mr. Right. I can feel it.”

“I don’t think so,” I contradicted her.

“That’s what Aspen said.” Jenna wagged her brows.

“Maybe we should watch the execution,” I suggested, not liking where the conversation seemed to be heading. And honestly, an execution of a cockroach by the name of Tristan sounded delightful.

“Let’s do it. It’s a good one.” Aspen was awfully excited.

I didn’t know she had this semi-evil side to her. I liked it.

“I had to record it for you this morning, and I may have watched it a few times.” Aspen held up her phone and pressed play.

Everyone huddled around me.

A female zookeeper held up the largest, most terrifying cockroach I had ever seen. It was even hissing. I didn’t know they could do that. “This guy right here, his name is Tristan from London. His crime is dumping his girlfriend two days before her birthday. Wow. What a scumbag.”

Amen.

The zookeeper, without any fanfare, tossed Tristan into the enclosure of hungry meerkats. “That’s for you, Kinsley from Colorado. Happy birthday.”

Shelby squealed while the rest of the ladies chanted, “Get him!” Meanwhile, I watched half in horror, half in utter fascination, as the meerkats fought over the cockroach. Two of them tore it in half and greedily devoured him. It was disgusting, but oddly satisfying, and probably the best birthday present I could have asked for this year.

When it was all done, I blinked a few times, not knowing what to say other than “Thank you.”

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