“He’s together. He’s adjusted. He’s confident. What’s the fun in that?” she asked.
“Are you high?” I asked back.
“When we go out, he also usually picks someone up, gets someone’s digits or is showered in those napkins and receipts,” she said.
Also fact.
“But when that happens, he’s sitting at a table with you,” I reminded her.
She thinned her big, beautiful brown eyes at me. “Okay, Ms. Sworn Off Men, I just got turned down, and Liam treats me like a friend. Have a heart.”
So, I was determined to be a spinster, looking forward to it, actually (Liar! Dreamer screamed in frustration) and was definitely adopting seven cats when I had a good six months of living expenses in checking, a minor medical emergency covered in savings and a beach vacation under my belt.
But that didn’t mean I didn’t want my friends to find partnered-up happiness.
So I didn’t let up.
“Liam is your friend,” I pointed out.
“Will, the way he treats me, a girl knows, that’s all I’ll ever be,” she said softly, hurt in her tone.
Ouch.
Yeah, a girl knew.
And if she was into him, that was killer.
How I thought I’d be able to live with Gabe in my friend posse after I convinced him to retreat, I didn’t know. But Shanti, mercifully, didn’t have a Kev in her history, a Kev who was haunting her present.
“Okay, backing off,” I told her.
“Thanks,” she said then took another sip.
I changed the subject. “So do you know what’s happening with Mr. Shithead?”
She focused on me. “Nice pivot, bitch, but don’t think you’re getting around talking about Gabe with that gambit. Alexis told Rhea who told Sally who told Raye that she saw Gabe with you and your cakes last night. And Raye told me.”
I loved living here.
But, as you could see, it also had its drawbacks.
“Though, just to say, Raye wants us at headquarters tomorrow at eleven so we can have a briefing,” Shanti continued. “Clarice got some deets, and Jinx too.”
“Do we know what’s going on?”
She shook her head. “No. Titus says he hasn’t heard anything about a woman being taken by anyone, though, he’s going to ask around. So we need to know what we can know and make a plan so we can find out what’s going on.”
I wasn’t thrilled at having my day of doing nothing interrupted by having to do something, but I was worried about Mr. Shithead, so I’d be there.
“Now, Gabe,” Shanti prompted.
I blew out a breath.
But this was my girl, so I also gave it up.
“He thinks I’m his latest challenge,” I stated.
“Sis, you are his latest challenge,” she replied.
