I nod meekly and fetch Monty’s leash. “I’m coming. He won’t walk well for you without me.”
Denver stands, taking the leash from my hands and carefully clipping it to Monty’s collar.
“Get what you need. We’ll wait.”
Fifty minutes later and I feel a little better. We’ve walked in silence, but watching Monty’s tail fly around in excitement when we saw another Chinese Crested in the park made my heart lift a little. At least I know it’s still there. It’s felt broken beyond repair the past forty-eight hours.
My hand reaches up on instinct as we walk past one of my brother’s favorite benches to stop and stretch against when I would sometimes run with him. But all that’s there is an empty space above my heart where my necklace used to rest.
We exit the park, heading out onto Fifth Avenue. Denver’s quiet next to me, but I feel his gaze on me constantly.
“Can we head back now? I think Monty’s had enough.”
“Of course.” His deep voice is grounding, providing something strong and solid to hold on to.
“Thank you for taking me to the… to see him the other day.” I sniff. “We were a long time and?—”
“We can go whenever you want, for however long as you want.”
I swallow the thick lump in my throat. “I appreciate that.”
His attention is fixed on something further up the sidewalk. I spot Theodora strutting toward us in a tight cream dress like she’s on her way somewhere.
“Sin,” she gushes as she reaches us. “How are you? I’ve been worried.” She smiles at Denver. “Hi.”
He nods at her before she looks back at me.
“Have you found it?”
I shake my head and her face falls. When I came out of the restrooms at the shoot, Theodora made all of the other models empty and search their bags incase my necklace had fallen inside. It hadn’t, but I appreciated her trying.
“Oh, it’ll be somewhere. Maybe you should post about it online? Tell people to look out for it. Your followers will recognize it. You’ve always got it on. We could turn over Manhattan together until we find it.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Her eyes move to Denver when it’s obvious I’m not in the mood for a conversation. “Three times in two days. I’ll start thinking it’s me you’re following around, and not Sin.”
His eyes flick to mine and away, his jaw clenching.
“Three?” I ask.
“We had coffee together this morning.” Her gaze moves back to Denver, and she bites her lip shyly. “I’ll get vanilla for next time now that I know you like it.”
Denver clears his throat and a prickling sensation inches up my spine.
“Nice to see you, Theo,” I say. “Sorry we can’t stop. Monty’s just got out for his walk and he’s so desperate he might relieve himself on your Louboutins if we stay and chat any longer.”
Her face falls as she eyes Monty with horror. “They’re new.”
“Even more of a reason then.” I breeze past her, Monty trotting happily next to me. “Sorry, baby,” I tell him in apology for using him as my scapegoat.
Denver’s back beside me immediately, matching my increasing pace.
“I went to ask her if she’d heard anything else about your necklace. She said she was friends with the model that left first. She was going to ask her to check her bag for it.”
I roll my eyes dramatically. “I told you; I don’t give a shit what the two of you do. Go on a date with her if you like. Screw her into the mattress all night and then marry her for all I care.”
“Okay.”
