Fortunately, she made it to the bell without any blood being spilled, and even better, Josh showed no sign of knowing where his uncle had spent the night.
That evening she took a small break from Jack. She needed the time to convince her friends not to kill her for volunteering their help with his move. Especially since she had a feeling the Blacks would show up as well. She hadn’t missed the way Dex had leered at Maya. Those two were ticking bombs likely to could go off at any time.
She arrived at Riley’s bearing her usual cheese platter spruced up with a side of expensive Honeycrisp apple slices.
Maya answered the door and dragged her inside. “Her highness is making pumpkin bread. I love Halloween.”
“Me too.” Her favorite holiday. She still had to decorate the house, but with all the excitement and stress of having Jack in her life again, she’d put off everything, even carving her pumpkin.
They joined Riley in the kitchen, watching her work. The woman had an economical ease of movement, multitasking and making it look easy.
“It’s so annoying that she can cook like this and still mouth off while doing it,” Maya complained.
Ann grinned. “I know.”
“Don’t hate, Maya. We can’t all have my mad skills.” Riley blew her a kiss, and Maya told her to do something to herself that usually required a partner or at least a rubber toy.
“Ah, I missed this. Such deep friendship.” And there was the finger from Maya. “Our loving way of signing how we feel to one another.”
Maya snickered. Riley nodded to the fridge. “Grab me some milk, would you?”
“I don’t know, Riley,” said Ann. “Are you driving anywhere tonight? You can be such a lush.”
“Smartass.” Riley laughed. “Now talk. Maya and I have some concerns about you and Jack Bloom.”
“Some? Try a ton,” Maya added. “And by the way, you can tell him I don’t need any messages from Dexter Black in the future.”
“Ah, okay.” Ann toyed with the cheese plate in front of her, peeling off the plastic wrap, then putting it back.
“Ack. Stop it.” Maya grabbed the tray away from her. “Talk, woman.”
“I think I love him,” she said in a rush.
“I knew it,” her friends said at the same time. Riley sounded triumphant. Maya looked as if she might cry.
“I can’t help it. He’s amazing in bed. He calls me. He texts me sweet messages. And he’s been so terrific. I had dinner with his family last night. Then he slept over, and I wanted him to be there tomorrow. And the next day.”
“The kiss of death.” Maya groaned. “You’re toast.”
“Pay up,” Riley demanded of her. “Ann, falling in love is a good thing. I never thought you’d go through with that stupid revenge plan. I mean, revenge for what?”
Maya frowned. “For him dumping her for Thorpe, remember? Publically. What did he say about that, anyway?”
“Well, that’s just it.” Ann swallowed. “We haven’t exactly talked about it yet.”
Riley scowled. “Why not?”
“What’s he hiding?” Maya wanted to know.
“I don’t know. It’s not just him. I kind of don’t want to talk about it either. There are old wounds there, and we’re new and having fun. Being with him makes me so happy. Do I really want to go dredge all that up?”
“Yes,” Riley surprised her by saying. She would have pegged Maya as someone to indulge conflict, but not easy-going Riley. “Because as much as it’s fun and games now, you won’t be able to let it go. I know you, Ann. You need to know why, at least. He never mentioned why he left in all the time you guys were apart. Just get it out and let the old wound heal.”
Maya nodded. “What she said. I would have said it another way, but yeah. Deal with it. Ignoring it never makes it go away. Hello? Me and my mother issues? Not going anywhere.”
“I know.” She groaned. “I’m just afraid of ruining this. I tried not to love him. I really did.”
“Sure… Were your legs open or closed when you were trying so hard?”
