I laugh as I walk toward the kitchen. “My life is good the way it is.”
“Says the woman who hasn’t had sex in months.”
“I’m going to need a reminder of why we’re best friends.” My lips twitch as I try not to smile. “Speaking of reminders…it’s been how long since you slept with a man?”
She runs her hand through her hair. “This is why we need to go on a shopping spree. We need to stop thinking about men, and start thinking about ourselves.”
“I’m all for that,” I say as I reach for my purse and my coat. “Matiz awaits.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sebastian
I breathea heavy sigh of relief as I slide the key into the lock of the apartment. I’ve been home twice since I had dinner with Matilda. Both times it was for a four-hour stretch in the middle of the night.
I clocked in three-and-a-half hours of sleep followed by a shave, a shower and breakfast before dawn broke.
On Saturday morning I was surprised when I opened the refrigerator to find an assortment of fruit and vegetables. I grabbed two apples and an orange, then left the apartment mindful of the fact that Matilda was fast asleep in her bedroom.
I did the same this morning. The only difference was the bunch of bananas sitting atop the counter.
She’d been to the grocery store twice in as many days to pick up food for us. I appreciated it and told her as much in a note that I left on the counter.
I was tempted to text her to thank her, but I didn’t want to wake her at four a.m., even though seeing her face was what I’ve craved all weekend while I worked this case.
“Did you catch the bad guy?”
Her voice is like liquid sunshine as it washes over me when I step into the foyer.
I look to where she’s sitting on the sofa, her knees curled up to her chest. She’s wearing a blue T-shirt and faded jeans with holes in the knees. Her feet are bare. As is her face.
I’ve never seen a more striking woman without a stitch of makeup on.
“We caught him,” I say as I pocket my keys. “It took all fucking weekend, but he’s downtown in lock up.”
“Is he the one who killed that woman in the park?” Her brows perk as I walk closer to her. “It’s been all over the news since Friday night.”
“That’s the one, “ I reply as I lower myself to sit on the corner of the wooden coffee table. “I’m beat. How has your weekend been?”
Her eyes drift from the mindless chatter that’s taking place on the television screen to my face. “Fine. Quiet.”
Her phone buzzes next to her and a flash of a text message pops onto the screen. Her gaze falls to it before she fishes it into her palm.
“I need to get ready.” She shifts in place, stretching her legs. “I’m heading out.”
She must have a date.
I don’t welcome the unwanted wave of disappointment that washes over me. My plan since I boarded the subway to come home was to shower and then pass the fuck out in my bed.
I know she’s due back at work tomorrow so I assumed she’d have a low-key evening planned. Apparently, I assumed wrong.
“I won’t wait up,” I quip.
She pushes herself up to her feet. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look dead tired and that’s not a lame attempt at a homicide detective joke.”
I laugh. “So I look like shit?”
Her gaze glides over my face. “No. I didn’t say that.”
