Page 115 of Blood and Bonbons

“Don’t do it,” I said. “She’s still at the love-’em-and-leave-’em phase of her life.”

“What about you?” he asked, looking at me.

“I’m trying to focus on a career and keeping Vena out of trouble. It’s more than enough for now.” I took in Anchor’s wrinkled shirt and still-damp jeans. There were blood splotches—probably not his own—in a few places.

“Do you want to use our shower? I can throw your clothes in the wash while you’re in there.”

“Maybe once the sun’s up,” he said.

“Don’t be silly. We’ll be fine for five minutes, and you can keep the door open if you want—so you can hear everything.”

He glanced at the front door then the hallway.

“You know what? I think I will.”

He only glanced at Vena’s door once on the way to the bathroom.

Too late, I wondered if Anchor would be able to smell Cross in the shower, and I mentally kicked myself. But Anchor didn’t say anything as I showed him where the towels were.

“Toss the clothes into the hallway, and I’ll grab them.”

“I really appreciate this, Everly.”

“Any time.”

I closed myself into my bedroom and changed out of my uniform. A wad of tip money fell out of my apron, a reminder of how wrong the whole night had gone. No tips counted and divided with the bartenders. No tabs closed out. How much money had Shepard lost tonight? And all because Vena and I had been dumb enough to go into Juicy.

Weighed down by guilt, I opened my door and picked up Anchor’s clothes. Vena’s door was open again, but she wasn’t in there. She wasn’t in the bathroom either. I peeked.

I found her by the washer, leaning against it with a grin on her face.

“You’re such a good friend, Everly. I’m going to buy you breakfast tomorrow.”

I gave her a narrow-eyed stare.

“What are you up to?”

“Nothing. Just showing the person I love most some appreciation.”

“I don’t trust you.”

She watched me put Anchor’s clothes into the washer.

“Notice something missing?” she asked.

“No?”

“That fine specimen of man in our shower goes commando.”

“Or he kept them on for protection,” I whispered to her. “Behave.”

She gave me an innocent look. But when the shower turned off, she straightened away from the washer, and excitement danced in her eyes.

“This one’s for me,” she said softly.

I opened my mouth to ask what she meant.

“Everly?” Anchor called before I could.

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