Page 134 of Spark

Once again, I needed more, and Darren was catching on.

“Camaro is trying to play with you,” Darren said, catching me off guard.

I looked down from my chair to find Camaro trying to pry her rope toy out of my hand. I’d been sitting out on the patio, playing fetch with Camaro and watching the waves of the ocean crash against the shore. I’d forgotten to throw the rope I was so lost in thought. Lightly tugging on the rope, I told Camaro to let go, and with one final tug, she did. I rewarded her with a long toss over the grass, and she eagerly ran off in search of her toy. I went back to staring at the ocean.

“She’s getting bigger,” Darren commented as he watched Camaro snatch her rope.

“Almost fifty pounds,” I added. She was getting bigger and stronger by the day.

“Good. She will be a good guard dog for you.”

I almost rolled my eyes. “They say dogs are a girl’s best friend,” I said with a sigh. “My only friend…”

Darren returned my sigh with his own, but his was of irritation. I could see him pinching the bridge of his nose as he sat down in the chair next to me.

“What is it now, Jaden?” he asked, his voice clipped with annoyance.

I had to answer him honestly. With the way my mood was, he would never accept the typical “I’m fine, nothing’s wrong” answer. Honesty was his only policy, and for the most part, I didn’t mind it, except for when it was likely to get me in trouble. Like right now.

“I can’t think of the right word to describe it right now,” I said gently.

“Try.” His voice did not leave much room for patience.

I sighed, and rubbed my face with my hands. “I just feel like I’m at a standstill. Like I’m always waiting. It’s a very hollow feeling inside, if that makes any sense.”

“It doesn’t,” he jabbed.

Of course, it doesn’t.

I cleared my throat. “Let me ask you something.” And I couldn’t believe I was actually going to ask him this. “Would you allow me female friendships if they were from your inner circle?” I asked softly.

Darren’s brow furrowed, his face too serious for me to become optimistic.

“No.”

I felt my face heat with anger and surprise. “Why? You would know them!”

“That doesn’t matter. But I want to know where this little idea sparked from. Is there someone in particular you’re interested in?” he asked.

I gulped back my response, hoping it would be received well. “What about Katherine?”

“Absolutely not,” he said with zero hesitation, zero consideration.

“Why not?” I asked incredulously.

“Because I said so. That is all the explanation you need.”

I huffed and turned away from him. I should have known better than to bother.

But then, he suddenly started chuckling. “I could always set up a playdate for you and Regina, though, if you’d like.”

And now, he was making fun of me. Asshole.

“Not unless you feel like cleaning her blood up off the floor.”

He chuckled again. “At least you would be entertained for a while,” he countered.

“Just forget it,” I said. “I don’t know why I thought you would care anyway.”

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