“Toodles.” Zinny blew a kiss and scurried out of the room.
“I should have destroyed those notebooks.” Noir sorted through a few of the items, which included a few photos. She leaned over his shoulder. “You look so young.”
“I was such a dorky kid.”
“I thought you were handsome.” She palmed his cheek.
“You’re just saying that because of what my little sister read.” He smacked his forehead. “So embarrassing.”
“You really thought you were in love with me back in high school?”
He laughed. “I’ve been in love with you since forever. It’s not that part I’m embarrassed about. It’s that I even kept a stupid journal. Put that on paper. It’s weird.”
“No, it’s not. It’s one way to deal with thoughts and feelings. I never could because Anna would have read it and used it against me. You’re lucky you felt the freedom to have something like that, especially in such a large family.”
“Well, I’m sure my mom has read it, since it’s still in this house.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Which would explain so much of why she’s been acting the way she has about our relationship. As if she and my dad have been expecting it to happen.”
“At least she didn’t say anything about it. That would have been truly embarrassing,” Tamsyn said. “What else did you write in that thing?”
“It’s mostly all about you. A few random things about stuff that happened with my family. I stopped doing it when you told me you were in love with Billy Johnson. My thoughts turned pretty dark and I didn’t want those to be in black and white.”
“Ugh. That’s a relationship I’d like to forget.”
“You lost your virginity to him.” Noir arched a brow and puckered his lips like he’d just swallowed an entire lemon. “Something I wish I never knew.”
“Oh, and who you slept with for the first time is a better choice? Little Miss Sunshine herself. I fucking hated Lori Samuels. To me, that felt like a slap in the face. You paraded her around town on your arm like you won the lottery.”
“I most certainly did not. Sadly, I was using her to get back at you for Billy. It was my dad who actually pointed out that fact to me.”
“Really? That’s a little shocking.”
“Oddly, my folks have been right about each and every single one of their children and who they belong with.”
“What about Zinny and Toby? Did they see that one coming? Because he’s like sixteen years older than her.” Tamsyn collected the items and tucked them back in the box. There was nothing that didn’t belong in this room. So far, there hadn’t been anything in the house that was out of place.
“Not like you’re thinking. But when the shit went down with Chablis’ medical records and Toby hired my dad to represent him, they saw the way Toby looked at my little sister. They couldn’t deny it if they tried, and they didn’t do anything to stop it,” Noir said. “Nebbiolo is the only one who has thrown them for a loop, but June is perfect for him and my parents see that.”
“She is sweet.” She leaned in, brushing her lips across Noir’s mouth. “And so are you. I love you. I did have feelings for you back in high school. But the rumors, and where my head was at, I couldn’t have ever acted on them.”
“I know. I doubt we were mature enough to handle the backlash anyway.” He lifted the box and shoved it into the closet.
Tamsyn’s cell buzzed in her back pocket. She pulled it out and stared at the screen. “Holy shit.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s a text from Fred.” She glanced up, catching Noir’s gaze. “I need to go into the station.”
“Why?”
“The report on the remains is back.” She swallowed. “I don’t think he’d want me to come in if it wasn’t my mother.”
“You don’t know that.” He grabbed her hand. “But either way, I’m coming with you.”
She wasn’t going to argue. She could use the support of someone who loved her no matter what.
Tamsyn
Holding Noir’s hand, ignoring the stares from her co-workers, Tamsyn made her way through the bullpen. Normally, the station had always been her home away from home. It represented safety. A place where she could collect her thoughts. Be herself. Be free of judgment. Even when gossip reared its ugly head, this space became a cocoon of protection, wrapping her in a bubble. No one here whispered behind her back or treated her like she didn’t belong. If they thought it, they didn’t show it.
