“Because the universe is a sadist. It likes to see us suffer.”
Her voice was so quiet he barely heard her. “I hope that’s not true.”
Guilt whispered in his ear. What was he doing being all doom and gloom when he was supposed to be making her feel better?
“Want me to play ya a song?” It was trite and trivial, but it was the only thing he could think of to change the subject. Even though she liked to tease him about his “countrified” choice of musical instruments, he knew she enjoyed hearing him play. “Unless it’ll hurt your head,” he was quick to add.
“My head hurts regardless,” she assured him. “So go on. Play something. But not the blues. I’m blue enough already. Play me something sweet. Play me something to remind me that things aren’t all bad all the time.”
He pondered his options for a few moments and then pulled his harmonica from his pocket. The metal was warm from his body heat when he placed the instrument against his lips. And he’d barely played the first handful of notes when he heard her chuckle.
It was sweeter music than what was coming out of his mouth harp.
“Invisible String,” she whispered into the dark. “That’s a good one.”
Pleased she’d accurately picked out the Taylor Swift tune, he continued to play, careful to keep the volume low in deference to her aching head. By the time he finished, he thought again she might’ve fallen asleep. Her breaths were deep and steady.
Shoving his harmonica back inside his pocket, he went to slink out of the bed and leave her to her rest. But she stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“Do you think there really are invisible strings tying people together? Like, fate or kismet or whatever?”
“I think when it comes to love and fate, people have it all wrong.”
“What do you mean?” He could hear the frown in her voice.
“I mean, lots of folks put stock in that wholefatedlovers thing as if it’s the most romantic notion ever. But I think it’s just about theleastromantic idea there is.”
For a while, she said nothing. Then, “I hate to sound like a broken record, but what do you mean?”
“I mean, if we have no choice over what happens to us, if the universe is pullin’ all the strings, then that means if ya fall in love with someone, it was preordained.Youhad nothin’ to do with it. And I just can’t reckon how anyone could think that’s the ideal.” He cocked his head as he considered his next words. “Whatisromantic is the idea that out of four million men, you wouldchooseone.”
He could almost hear the wheels turning inside her head. “So then what happens when the one you choose doesn’t choose you back? What happens when the one you choose?—”
He knew what she was driving at. And he made sure to stop her in her tracks. “You’ve loved once. You’ll love again. You’ve got too much of the stuff inside ya not to share it with someone.”
The catching of her breath told him he’d hit the nail on the head. And despite his best intentions, he’d gone and made her cry.Again.
Not knowing what else to do, he went against his better judgment and every ounce of self-preservation he had and folded his body around hers, big spoon and little spoon. Like lovers.
Except…all they’d ever be is friends. Especially now that he knew she might have once considered the idea of letting them be more.
8
Lake Shore Drive
“What a bitch.”
“Excuse me?” Julia took her eyes off the traffic on Lake Shore Drive long enough to glance over at her partner.
I should’ve taken State Street up to Division. There’s a boatload of traffic lights, but at least that route isn’t bumper-to-bumper this time of night, she thought as she slammed on the brakes to keep from rearending the car in front of her. It had stopped on a dime when a bolt of lightning spread its electric fingers across the sky, followed immediately by a crashingboomof thunder.
Midwesterners were supposed to be used to thunderstorms. But you couldn’t tell it from the way everyone started driving like they were eighty years old with cataracts and automatic braking.
“Bethany Chastain,” Dillan sneered. Then he added, “Excuse me.SenatorChastain.”
It was true the senator had been…less than cooperative. In fact, there’d been times she’d seemed almost hostile. But Julia gave the woman the benefit of the doubt.
“She’s been through hell tonight. And her husband just came out of surgery. I think she’s allowed to be a little contrary.”
