“Well then, I’m swinging by Ramona’s quickly then. See you soon.”
Aspen calls out a goodbye as the front door bell jingles. I set the alarm and lock up, pulling on the door to double-check myself. Ramona is waiting for me at the top of the stairs after she buzzes me into her building. Her studio is on the right before the stairs and I peek in to see what she’s working on, but the lights are off, so it’s hard to tell what she’s painting.
Shadow pokes her head around the corner of her apartment door and gets excited when she sees Chonk. He’s less bothered by dogs than people. He greets Ramona excitedly as we go into her apartment.
“I have something to tell you,” Ramona says.
“I haven’t even sat down and you’re trying to give me bad news.”
She ruffles her hair with one hand, averting her gaze. The dogs are playing in the middle of the living room and she pretends to be really interested in their antics. “Sit down then,” she says.
I throw myself down on her new sofa. “Go. I have to swing by the grocery store and home before my sting operation tonight.”
Her eyes widen, and I go on. “Yes, in case you forgot, I’m the target of some pretty special horror bullshit these days.”
“Stavros called me.”
And my mood veers sharply left to raging anger. “Oh, for Christ’s sake, Ramona, you have got to be kidding me! You don’t spare my feelings when you’re giving me advice based on your disasters with Stavros. If you’re about to tell me you’re taking him back again, I will lose my mind. Lose. My. Mind.”
Ramona pinches the bridge of her nose. “I knew you’d be mad.”
“No, I was throwing out the worst-case scenario, hoping you’d surprise me with something less damning. How many times are you going to let him break your heart?”
Her gaze turns pleading. “I didn’t take him back. Not yet, anyway. I told him I was still staying with you because I didn’t want him to know I rented this place and started over.”
“That makes no sense whatsoever. Wouldn’t you want your cheating ex to know you’re moving on and planting roots in a place he’s not?”
She shakes her head. “Stavros is afraid of you, Maeve. I said I was staying with you because he said something about coming to visit me to talk in person.”
I slam my eyes closed, Ramona pipes in. “He never goes out of his way, though. Not this long of a distance. He’s never done it before. But...”
“But what, Ramona?”
She sighs. “It’s different this time and he might chase after me. He said I seemed indifferent and he wants to remind me of what we have together.” Ramona averts her gaze. “And that he wanted to do it in person.”
“If he shows up at my house, I make no promises about what I will or will not do to that man.” I eye Chonk. “Maybe I give my dog the attack command and see what happens for shits and giggles.”
“Maeve, please.”
I growl. “I hate what that man does to you over and over. Fine! I won’t make Chonk attack him, but if Stavros shows up to my house holding food, I can’t speak to what atrocities Chonk will do to get to it.” I hold my hands out to the side. “Please tell me you’re going to hold strong this time. He shorts out your brain when you see him in person. That’s why he wants to talk to you in person. He’ll woo his way into your pants and then force you back into a relationship mid-orgasm.” I stand and collect Chonk. “Sex isn’t a solid foundation for a relationship. I should know after how long I’ve gone without it. Make him work for your affections if you’re even entertaining the idea of letting him back in your life.”
“I’m sorry, by the way. For being gruff when I was asking about your future with Lincoln. I can see that what you guys have is something… not to be trifled with. You have to know I only want your happiness. Forever happiness.” Her eyes water and I’m not sure if it’s because she’s thinking about Stavros or something else. “Lincoln is healing you. When I look at you, I don’t see the grief lurking anymore. There’s light now.”
My chest tightens. More guilt. Rexy. “It hasn’t been easy, and my knee jerk reaction is to tell you you’re wrong.” Because if she sees light, does that mean Rexy is gone? That he no longer inhabits my heart?
“I wanted to tell you about Stavros in person in case he surprises us all, but really, Maeve, I wanted to apologize too. I realize I’m in no way qualified to give any advice.”
“Stop it. You were just being my friend.” I hug her awkwardly as Chonk pulls his leash to get back to Shadow. “Do you have any salad I can borrow?”
“You’re so weird,” Ramona replies, pulling a face. “In the fridge.”
“Now I don’t have to stop by the grocery store before going to Lincoln’s. I have everything else I need at home. Also, we’re going hiking. Don’t stay up all night.”
Just like that, we’re back in neutral territory. Best friends are good like that. They give and they take. Always in equal measure. They tell you hard truths, and support you through bad decisions they tried to stop in the first place. I take the lettuce, and Ramona wishes me good luck with the sting. Except she winks when she says sting and humps the air at the same time.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MAEVE
Lincoln was busy with his friend Isaac, setting up cameras when I arrived. He stole away for a minute to kiss me senseless in the coat closet so Turner didn’t see his tongue down my throat, but now I’m in the kitchen preparing chicken, green beans, and a salad with Turner. He’s standing on a stool cutting the
