“You’re slacking today, Frances,” Ronin yells from over his shoulder.
When did he get so far ahead of me? He’s not even sweating. Just looks like he’s been taking a leisurely stroll, so I flip him off.Showoff!
I pace myself and focus on the colorful leaves, hoping it’ll lift my mood. The cool air feels good against my skin, the birds chatter above. It’s almost peaceful.
My heart is still pounding when I finish the ten-mile run. Does this ever get easier? Ronin is leaning against my car, texting someone. I bet he already finished his post-run stretches. My eyes land on his water bottle. Crap, I left mine at home. I quickly swipe it and guzzle it down.
He continues looking at his phone when he reaches over and pushes the water bottle up so it spills all over my chin.
“Hey!” I squeal, wiping my face with the bottom of my shirt. “What was that for?”
Still texting, he chuckles and says, “I don’t know. Just felt like it.”
I bend over and grab my ankle, feeling the stretch along the back of my calf. “I feel bad for Lucy.” Ronin only found out a few months ago that his parents had a baby while he was imprisoned by Aradon. His sister is thirteen years old now and absolutely adores Ronin.
He finally puts his phone away and looks at me. “She loves me. Anyway, I gotta go. I lost a bet to Jess last night, so I’m making breakfast.”
I try not to imagine what kind of bet they made. “Do I even want to know?”
“Probably not,” he says, tracing away. I shake my head, getting in the car. Those two are such troublemakers.
As soon as I’m home, the sweaty clothes come off and the jeans go on. There’s a note sitting on my dresser. Zarreth hates technology, but I love his letters. When I’m not mad at him anyway.
He must’ve dropped it off while I was out running. I don’t want to look at it. I can’t believe he left last night…after everything. I know our sex didn’t end the way we wanted it too, but it was a big deal. It’s the furthest we’ve gone since we’ve been back. And he just…left.
Ugh! This is why I never dated before. I hate feeling suspicious or jealous or whatever this feeling is. I’m not Zarreth’s mom. I’m not his wife. He doesn’t owe me an explanation.
I finally look at the note.
I hope you slept well. I have a lead. I’ll update you once I find out more. - Love, your hot buttered love muffin.
I think someone finally won the cringiest pet name competition. I don’t think I can top that one.
I wonder if he’s really chasing a lead, and why he won’t just tell me what’s going on. He knows I don’t like being left in the dark—not when it comes to Dante. Unless…maybe there is no lead. What if he’s doing something else? What if he really is lying to me?
I need Jess, so I shoot her a quick text.Meet me at my house after
work and leave Ronin behind.
It’s about Zarreth
“Why’d you bring a shovel?” I glance at Jess, digging my spoon into the pint of ice cream. She leans it against the wall, sauntering over while I scoop up the perfect chunk of cookie dough. Snatching the spoon from my hand, she quickly pops it in her mouth and sits on the counternext to me. “Hey!” I protest.
“If we’re burying a body together, the least you can do is share your ice cream.” She takes another bite while I grab a second spoon, deciding she has a point.
“Would you seriously bury a body with me, no questions asked?”
She looks at me like I asked her if coffee counts as a food group. “Obviously, so where’s the body?”
“There is none.” I smile when her face falls. “Yet.” Should I be worried she perked up at that?
“So, what’s going on?” She nudges me out of the way, digging for some more cookie dough.
“I think Zarreth is hiding something.” I set down my spoon, suddenly losing my appetite. “Or cheating on me.”
Her spoon drops, and her eyes get as big as pancakes. “No fucking way! Why do you think that?”
“He’s just been acting strange lately, being vague about where he goes. If he’s not cheating, then he’s up to something big, and I plan to find out what it is.”
