My tone was dry, but Folk shrugged again. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“Then stay.” I stood to dump the squished Jaffa Cake and wash my own hands. “Can’t promise it’ll be fun, but we like having you around.”
I gave him some space to think about it while I tidied up the kitchen. When I looked up again, he was gone, and I found him in the living room, wearing a T-shirt that was technically his, watching Flounder and Ariel have the time of their lives while Ivy bounced up and down on his lap.
It was a nice scene. Too nice, maybe. I couldn’t look at it for long without a lump in my throat. But with a space on the couch waiting for me, I had nowhere to hide.
I brought Folk more water and took a seat next to him. He drank half and handed it back. “You need hydration too, friend.”
Friend. A sweet endearment, but it somehow scraped at my soul. I didn’t want to be his buddy. Hispalthat he kissed a couple of times before real life hauled us back in. But what else was there? I had too much going on to be anything useful for anyone, let alone the kind of lover a man like Folk deserved.
Lover. Jesus.Calm the hell down.Even if we’d got to finish what we’d started in Paphos, we were never destined to be that.
I drained the water glass and set it on the floor.
Ivy migrated a little in my direction, her head on my belly, while her tiny feet remained dumped in Folk’s lap.
I thought about moving them. Then he fell asleep, and disturbing him felt like the worst thing I could ever do. So I let them both be and over-thought myself into a headache until it was time to take Ivy back to Lauren.
By then, she was asleep too. I scooped her over one shoulder while I gathered her things and wrote Folk a note.
Then I left him asleep on my couch with the most ridiculous hope that he’d still be there when I got back from my bar shift in eight hours’ time.
9
FOLK
Had to leave to take Ives and open the bar. Stay as long as you want.
I read the note three times, rubbing the kinks out of my neck with my free hand, stretching my legs, my arms, my back.
It was seven o’clock. To the best of my knowledge, Decoy had opened the bar an hour ago. Who the heck knew how long I’d been asleep on his couch before then. Last thing I remembered was Ivy laughing at the singing crab on the TV screen. Decoy’s simmering presence next to me. His cut-wood scent and soft breaths. Dude didn’t have to touch me to make me feel like he had me in the sweetest, tightest hug.
Apparently he didn’t have to be anywhere near me to turn me into a soft-headed wreck.
Somewhere, my phone vibrated. I forced myself upright and found it on the coffee table right next to where Decoy had left his note.
Priorities.
The phone buzzed again, screen flashing. I saw Locke’s name and sighed. Then remembered I hadn’t told him I was home, that I wassafe, and guilt burned away the final remnants of sleep.
I grabbed the phone. Four texts from Locke, one from Alexei.
One from Decoy.
It took everything I had to open Locke’s first.
Locke:u back yet?
Locke:maaaate, it’s been days. throw me a bone
Locke:alexei just rode in without you. if he’s about to come tell me you’re crab food, i’m done with this life.
Locke:never mind. enjoy your sleep. love ya
I loved Locke too, and making him worry wasn’t my favourite thing. I sent him a quick text, then opened Alexei’s message.
Alexei:I know where you are, but Mishka is worried. Tell him you are safe before I do.
